https://www.timesunion.com/probaseball/article/Former-Yankees-pitching-coach-Connors-13010985.php
Former Yankees pitching coach Connors, Schenectady native, dead at 76
Updated 3:45 pm, Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Played here: Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte. The "Core 4" made briefer appearances than their teammate Williams, playing 62 games combined for the Albany-Colonie Yankees in the early 1990s.
Played here: Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte. The "Core 4" made briefer appearances than their teammate Williams, playing 62 games combined for the Albany-Colonie Yankees in the
... moreBorn here: Johnny Evers. The feisty second baseman was born in Troy in 1881 and immortalized in Cooperstown after 18 years in MLB, mostly with the Cubs.
Born here: Johnny Evers. The feisty second baseman was born in Troy in 1881 and immortalized in Cooperstown after 18 years in MLB, mostly with the Cubs.
Born here: Johnny Podres was born in Witherbee in the Adirondacks, then settled in Queensbury after a 15-year MLB career. He died in Glens Falls in 2008.
Born here: Johnny Podres was born in Witherbee in the Adirondacks, then settled in Queensbury after a 15-year MLB career. He died in Glens Falls in 2008.
who won 138 MLB games and recorded the final out of the 1955 World Series for the Brooklyn Dodgers, the first of four rings.
who won 138 MLB games and recorded the final out of the 1955 World Series for the Brooklyn Dodgers, the first of four rings.
show boxing out at left, attended and played basketball for Linton High School in Schenectady. Linton beat New York's Powers Memorial (and No. 33, Lew Alcindor) in 1961. (Photo courtesy of Bob Pezzanno)
lessshow boxing out at left, attended and played basketball for Linton High School in Schenectady. Linton beat New York's Powers Memorial (and No. 33, Lew Alcindor) in 1961. (Photo courtesy of
... morewho has since forged a Hall of Fame career as a coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Miami Heat. He has five championship rings as a coach, and is now the team president of the Heat.
who has since forged a Hall of Fame career as a coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Miami Heat. He has five championship rings as a coach, and is now the team president
... morewho coached the Albany Patroons from 1982 to 1987 and guided them to a Continental Basketball Association championship in 1984.
who coached the Albany Patroons from 1982 to 1987 and guided them to a Continental Basketball Association championship in 1984.
who is the president of basketball operations for the New York Knicks after winning 11 titles as coach of the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.
who is the president of basketball operations for the New York Knicks after winning 11 titles as coach of the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.
who set Section II scoring records for Glens Falls High School. (Times Union archive)
who set Section II scoring records for Glens Falls High School. (Times Union archive)
Born in Brooklyn, but played high school ball for Shaker.
Born in Brooklyn, but played high school ball for Shaker.
Sam Perkins, who went on to play 17 seasons in the NBA, averaging 15 points and 7½ rebounds a game.
Sam Perkins, who went on to play 17 seasons in the NBA, averaging 15 points and 7½ rebounds a game.
: New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis grew up in Albany and played Albany Pop Warner football. He will be playing in Super Bowl LI.
: New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis grew up in Albany and played Albany Pop Warner football. He will be playing in Super Bowl LI.
: CBA graduate and Clifton Park native Joe Vellano is a defensive tackle for the Atlanta Falcons. In photo, Vellano poses with the NFC championship trophy Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, after his Atlanta Falcons defeated the Green Bay Packers 44-21 to advance to Super Bowl LI in Houston. (Photo courtesy Paul Vellano)
less: CBA graduate and Clifton Park native Joe Vellano is a defensive tackle for the Atlanta Falcons. In photo, Vellano poses with the NFC championship trophy Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, after his Atlanta
... more: Josh Keyes, a linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons, is from Chatham.
: Josh Keyes, a linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons, is from Chatham.
: New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia played for RPI and was a graduate assistant coach.
: New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia played for RPI and was a graduate assistant coach.
LPGA golfer born in Saratoga Springs won 17 official events and two majors.
LPGA golfer born in Saratoga Springs won 17 official events and two majors.
Saratoga Springs native now works as on-course reporter on PGA broadcasts.
Saratoga Springs native now works as on-course reporter on PGA broadcasts.
Found stability with Cus D'Amato's club in Catskill after rough upbringing in Brooklyn. Here he is shown at the Arbor Hill Community Center in 1989.
Found stability with Cus D'Amato's club in Catskill after rough upbringing in Brooklyn. Here he is shown at the Arbor Hill Community Center in 1989.
He fought (and racked up speeding tickets) in Albany before gaining international fame (and infamy).
He fought (and racked up speeding tickets) in Albany before gaining international fame (and infamy).
The greatest player in RPI history led Engineers to NCAA championship in 1985.
The greatest player in RPI history led Engineers to NCAA championship in 1985.
After RPI, he scored 1,420 in 1,337 NHL games, earning induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012.
After RPI, he scored 1,420 in 1,337 NHL games, earning induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012.
The left winger from Czechoslovakia scored 133 points in 131 games for the River Rats in from 1996 through 1998.
The left winger from Czechoslovakia scored 133 points in 131 games for the River Rats in from 1996 through 1998.
who has become the most successful River Rat by scoring 1,025 points over 1,240 games, all with the New Jersey Devils.
who has become the most successful River Rat by scoring 1,025 points over 1,240 games, all with the New Jersey Devils.
Billy Connors, a native of Schenectady who had brief stints as a major league pitcher with the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets before making his mark on the game as a Yankees pitching coach and executive, passed away on Monday at age 76.
He was best known as a pitching coach who was adept at developing young prospects into major leaguers, but had an equally important presence in the front office for the Yankees, where he served as the team's vice president of player personnel from 1996 to 2012. A close friend of George Steinbrenner, Connors helped develop Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera and resurrect Dwight Gooden's career.
Connors began his rise to baseball prominence at a young age, playing on Schenectady Little League teams in 1953 and 1954 that reached the Little League World Series in Williamsport, winning the title on their second trip.
During the 1954 Little League World Series, Connors would play against Ken Hubbs, who went on to win the 1962 National League Rookie of the Year award, and with whom he'd again cross paths in the professional ranks.
"Ken Hubbs was my best friend in the minors,'' Connors told the Times Union in 2000 for a story about that 1954 championship team.
A 1959 graduate of Linton High School, Connors was inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame in 2001.
''I'm thrilled at being included with some real heavy hitters already picked for the Hall of Fame,'' Connors told the Times Union in a 2001 story about the induction. ''It's certainly a great honor to be remembered by your hometown.''
He went to Syracuse University, where he played basketball, before signing with the Cubs as an undrafted free agent in 1961. He appeared in 25 major league games over three seasons as a player, compiling an 0-2 record with a 7.53 ERA with the Cubs in 1966 and the Mets from 1967 to 1968.
Connors retired from the Yankees after almost 30 seasons in 2015, and noted to the Times Union that he had 56 seasons in professional baseball, counting his time as a player in the minor leagues and as a coach with the Yankees, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners and Chicago Cubs. He had three different stints as pitching coach with the Yankees: from 1989 to 1990 under managers Bucky Dent and Stump Merrill, from 1994 to 1995 under Buck Showalter, and in 2000 under Joe Torre, filling in for Mel Stottlemyre.
