Bill Pleis – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Bill Pleis isn’t exactly a name you hear every day in baseball circles, but his six years with the Minnesota Twins really mattered during the franchise’s early days. This lefty from St. Louis pitched in 190 Major League games from 1961 to 1966, and he became a steady bullpen presence while the Twins were still finding their footing after moving from Washington.

Pleis actually notched the Minnesota Twins’ very first win in their new home state, beating the Washington Senators 5-4 in 10 innings on April 22, 1961, at Metropolitan Stadium. That big moment happened just days after his major league debut in Baltimore. There, he picked up his first win by shutting down the Orioles in extras.

His timing was uncanny—he landed right in the middle of a huge franchise transition and made some baseball history.

The road from a quiet high school kid in Kirkwood, Missouri, to a major league pitcher wasn’t exactly smooth. Pleis worked his way through the minors, dealt with trades and team moves, and faced his share of personal setbacks. His story includes pro baseball, military service, and a later career in scouting, showing just how many hats one guy can wear in America’s pastime.

Early Life and Background

William Pleis III was born on August 5, 1937, in St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up in a working-class family with deep roots in American industry.

His dad served in the military, and the family didn’t have much, which shaped Pleis’s early outlook. He got a late start in high school baseball, but that was just the beginning of a pretty unusual path to pro sports.

Birth and Education

William Pleis III came into the world in St. Louis, Missouri. His parents, William Pleis Jr. and Celeste Pleis, were building a life together there.

His father worked as a millwright at General Motors, and his mother worked at McDonnell-Douglas. They both represented that blue-collar, mid-century American workforce.

One of Pleis’s earliest memories was his dad coming home from World War II. That reunion was a turning point for the family.

Pleis went to Kirkwood High School in Kirkwood, Missouri. He didn’t discover his baseball skills until later than most.

He tried football as a kid, but honestly, it just wasn’t his thing.

Family Influences

The Pleis family really embodied hard work and dedication. His dad’s service in World War II brought a sense of discipline and grit that Bill carried into his own career.

Both parents kept steady jobs at big companies, which gave Bill and his sister some stability. His mom’s work at McDonnell-Douglas and his dad’s job at General Motors were classic examples of the Midwest’s booming industry.

Even though they didn’t have much, the family supported Bill’s sports dreams. The persistence and work ethic his parents showed day in and day out ended up being crucial as Bill moved into the tough world of professional baseball.

Path to Professional Baseball

Pleis didn’t get into organized baseball until pretty late in high school. He didn’t join the Kirkwood team until his junior year in 1954, mostly because he was just too shy, not because he didn’t care about the game.

“I loved baseball, but I was very shy,” Pleis said about why he waited so long to try out. “I was too shy to go out.”

His senior year in 1955 changed everything. Pleis helped Kirkwood reach the Missouri state tournament, and he pitched so well that scouts started to take notice.

During that playoff run, he threw a two-hit shutout against Brentwood, striking out eight. Then he pitched five shutout innings in Kirkwood’s 8-0 win over Festus, showing off the skills that would launch his pro career.

That late success led to him signing with a professional team just weeks after his 18th birthday in August 1955. A tryout camp changed the course of his life.

MLB Debut and Minnesota Twins Career

William Pleis III made his big league debut on April 16, 1961, at age 23 with the Minnesota Twins. He spent his entire six-year career with the team, pitching in 190 games as a lefty.

Joining the Minnesota Twins

Bill Pleis broke into pro baseball at a pretty exciting time for Minnesota fans. The Twins had just moved from Washington, D.C., where they’d been the Senators.

He stood 5’10” and weighed 175 pounds. He batted and threw left-handed, which always helps a pitching staff.

The young pitcher from St. Louis went to Kirkwood High School before joining the Twins. He skipped college and focused on baseball.

His debut came during the Twins’ first season in Minnesota. The team was still building its roster and needed reliable pitchers.

First Win at Metropolitan Stadium

In his rookie season in 1961, Pleis pitched in 37 games for the Twins. He finished with a 4-2 record and a 4.95 ERA, striking out 32 batters in 56.1 innings.

He picked up 2 saves that year, mostly working as a reliever.

Pleis allowed 59 hits and walked 34 batters in his first season. He also hit 4 batters and threw 1 wild pitch.

He showed flashes of promise, even if his control wavered at times. The Twins’ coaches saw something in his left-handed delivery.

Role as a Relief Pitcher

Pleis spent most of his career in the bullpen for Minnesota. Out of 190 appearances from 1961 to 1966, he started only 10 games.

His best season was in 1965, when he posted a 2.98 ERA in 41 games. That year, he went 4-4 with 4 saves and struck out 33 in 51.1 innings.

He collected 13 career saves and finished 80 games. His overall record was 21-16 with a 4.07 ERA over six seasons.

Pleis struck out 184 batters in 280.2 innings. He walked 126 and gave up 269 hits as a Twin.

His last season in 1966 was short—he pitched in just 8 games before retiring from pro baseball.

Career Highlights and Achievements

Bill Pleis made his mark as one of the Minnesota Twins’ first pitchers, picking up the team’s first-ever win in Minnesota. His biggest impact came during the 1965 season, when he helped the Twins win their first American League pennant and reach the World Series.

Key Seasons and Performance

Pleis had his best run from 1963 to 1965 with the Minnesota Twins. Over those three seasons, he racked up a 10-3 record as a reliever.

In 1963, he went 6-2 with a solid ERA, really establishing himself in the bullpen.

He followed up with a 4-1 record and four saves in 1964. His steady arm made him a valuable piece of the pitching staff.

The lefty pitched in 190 Major League games over six years. He kept a 21-16 record with the Twins from 1961 to 1966.

One of his highlights was his only complete game, on June 28, 1963. He beat the Washington Senators 11-4, tossing an eight-hitter with just one walk and six strikeouts.

1965 American League Pennant

The 1965 season was the peak of Pleis’s career as he helped the Twins to their first American League pennant. The team finished with a 102-60 record, grabbing their first division title since moving.

Pleis played a big role in the bullpen that year. His experience and left-handed pitching gave the Twins much-needed depth.

The Twins clinched the pennant in dramatic style, and Pleis was part of a staff that backed up a powerful offense. That championship was a huge milestone for the young franchise.

1965 World Series Appearance

Pleis got his shot at the 1965 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was a seven-game battle and the biggest stage in baseball.

Pitching dominated the series. The Dodgers took the title, but Pleis’s role in the bullpen gave the Twins another left-handed option against some tough National League hitters.

That World Series was the highlight of Pleis’s playing days. He showed he could handle the pressure as a reliable reliever.

Significant Game Moments

Pleis made an immediate splash by earning the Twins’ first win in Minnesota on April 22, 1961. He beat the Washington Senators 5-4 in 10 innings at Metropolitan Stadium, a moment fans still remember.

He debuted on April 16, 1961, in Baltimore during a doubleheader. Pleis came in with the game tied in the ninth and retired the Orioles in order in the 10th to seal the win.

Just two days later, he picked up his first save by closing out a 3-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox. That performance helped set his role as a dependable bullpen arm.

Pleis always brought a competitive edge. Managers trusted him in tight spots, and he delivered under pressure.

Major League Statistics and Pitching Style

Bill Pleis finished with a 21-16 record and a 4.07 ERA over six seasons with the Minnesota Twins from 1961 to 1966. He showed versatility as both a starter and reliever, with solid control in big moments.

Career Statistics Overview

William Pleis III pitched in 190 Major League games over six years, totaling 280.2 innings. He struck out 184 batters and kept his WHIP at a respectable 1.407.

His top season was 1963, when he went 6-2 with a 4.37 ERA in 68 innings. That year, he threw his only complete game.

Pleis bounced between starting and relieving—he started 10 times and came out of the bullpen in 80 games, collecting 13 saves. That flexibility made him a valuable part of the Twins’ staff.

Key Career Numbers:

• Games: 190
• Wins: 21
• Losses: 16
• ERA: 4.07
• Strikeouts: 184
• Saves: 13

His best ERA came in 1966 at 1.93, though he pitched just 9.1 innings that year. He averaged 5.9 strikeouts per nine innings for his career.

Pitching Strengths and Techniques

As a left-handed pitcher, Pleis leaned on control and changing speeds instead of pure velocity. He walked about 4.0 batters per nine innings, which shows he usually had a good handle on the strike zone.

Pleis thrived in relief situations. In his final season, he posted a 2.25 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He kept home runs to a minimum, giving up just 1.0 per nine innings in his career.

Between 1963 and 1965, he found his groove and stayed consistent in both starting and relief roles. In 1963, he managed a 2.31 strikeout-to-walk ratio, his best year by that metric.

He always focused on location rather than power. Pleis got ground balls and counted on his defense, and he worked well in high-pressure relief spots.

Left-handed hitters had a tough time with him, mostly because of his arm angle and pitch mix. His 13 career saves really highlight how he came through in big moments for the Twins.

Retirement and Transition from Baseball

Bill Pleis wrapped up his six-year Major League Baseball run with the Minnesota Twins on September 15, 1966, at just 29 years old. When he left, the Twins lost a steady bullpen arm who’d been there since the early Minnesota days.

Final Years in MLB

Pleis spent his last seasons almost entirely in relief for the Twins. His final outing came against the Detroit Tigers on September 15, 1966. He pitched an inning, gave up a hit, struck out one, and walked two.

Those 1965 and 1966 seasons marked the end of his career. He kept coming out of the bullpen, but not as often as before. His role shifted from being a key reliever in the early ’60s to more of a veteran presence.

Manager Sam Mele counted on him as a reliable option. Even as younger arms started to take over, Pleis’s experience and his read on hitters still mattered.

Retirement in 1966

William Pleis III called it a career after the 1966 season. At 29, he stepped away from the game after six years in the majors, all spent with the Minnesota Twins.

He finished with 21 wins and 16 losses over 190 games. Pleis put up those numbers entirely in a Twins uniform, becoming a part of the team’s early Minnesota legacy.

He made the decision to retire after the 1966 season ended. Unlike some players, Pleis had already started planning for life beyond the field while he was still playing.

Legacy as a Minnesota Twins Player

Pleis holds a unique spot in Minnesota Twins history. He was the winning pitcher in the franchise’s very first victory in Minnesota, picking up the win on April 22, 1961, in a 5-4 game against the Washington Senators at Metropolitan Stadium.

All 190 of his major league appearances came with the Twins, from 1961 through 1966. He stuck with one team his whole career, and that loyalty became a big part of his story.

He helped the Twins settle into Minnesota after their move from Washington. Pleis’s steady bullpen work brought some much-needed stability in those early Twin Cities years.

After he retired, Pleis stayed close to the game by working as a scout. He still loved baseball and had a knack for spotting talent at the pro level.

Post-Baseball Career and Personal Life

After leaving pro baseball in 1966, William Pleis III moved into scouting and stayed close to his family, playing a part in developing the next generation of players. He focused on finding talent and sharing what he’d learned with younger athletes.

Scouting and Contributions after Playing Career

Once he retired from the Twins, Pleis jumped into baseball scouting. His 13 years in pro ball, including six in the majors, gave him a sharp eye for talent.

He really knew pitching mechanics, and that helped him as a scout. He understood what it took to make it in pro baseball at any level.

Pleis had played for a few different organizations during his career, so he saw a range of team philosophies and approaches to player development.

He also spent time in various minor league systems. That background helped him judge players at different stages in their careers.

Family and Personal Interests

Pleis married Sue on October 16, 1959, while he was still playing. Funny enough, she apparently didn’t know he played baseball when they first met in St. Louis.

They built their life together as Pleis moved from playing to retirement. Sue gave him some much-needed stability as his career shifted.

He kept his ties to St. Louis after baseball. He grew up there and went to Kirkwood High School.

His dad, William Pleis Jr., worked as a millwright for General Motors and served in World War II. His mom worked for McDonnell-Douglas, so the family always felt connected to St. Louis’s industrial side.

Influence on Future Generations

Pleis spent decades in professional baseball, moving through different organizations. He used what he learned to help mentor younger players and scouts.

He started out as a pretty shy high school student. Honestly, he didn’t even try out for the baseball team until his junior year.

As a pitcher, he faced plenty of setbacks and bounced between teams. Those experiences gave him stories and advice that really resonated with developing players.

When he played for manager Luke Appling, who later made the Hall of Fame, Pleis picked up some real insights into baseball leadership. Appling treated him “like a son” when they worked together in Memphis.