Billy Evans

Birthdate 2/10/1884
Death Date 1/23/1956
Debut Year 1903
Year of Induction 1973
Teams MLB
Positions Executive, Umpire

History’s youngest MLB ump at 22, Billy Evans officiated from 1906-27. Later he was the 1st MLB executive to hold the title of General Manager.

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In the collection:

Evans negotiates 1951 contract for HoFer Hal Newhouser as Tigers GM

Evans negotiates 1951 contract for HoFer Hal Newhouser as Tigers GM

The youngest umpire to call a World Series game at just 25 years old, Evans had a long and illustrious career as an MLB arbiter. After studying law at Cornell University, Evans went on to become an accomplished sportswriter at the
Second page of letter from Tiger GM Billy Evans to ace Hal Newhouser

Second page of letter from Tiger GM Billy Evans to ace Hal Newhouser

Hal Newhouser rejected Evans’ first offer of $42,000. In this letter, Evans ups the ante by $3,000. Evans writes, “That is more money than any other player on the Detroit Club receives. I feel it will be more money than any other pitcher in the American or National League
Page one of the contract offering $45,000 to Newhouser

Page one of the contract offering $45,000 to Newhouser

The first page of the Uniform Player’s Contract calls for Hal Newhouser to make $45,000 for the 1951 season. In it is the “Loyalty Clause” which states, “The player agrees to perform his services hereunder diligently and faithfully, to keep himself in first-class physical condition,and to obey
Page two of the standard 1951 contract

Page two of the standard 1951 contract

The second page of Hal Newhouser’s deal stipulates that the club may terminate the contract if the player shall at any time, “fail, refuse, or neglect to conform his personal conduct of good citizenship and good sportsmanship, or keep himself in first class condition.” It also puts
The third page is signed by Billy Evans

The third page is signed by Billy Evans

The third page of the standard four-page document holds the signature of Billy Evans in his position as General Manager of the Detroit Baseball Company. By virtue of his long career and of his many seasons in front offices of teams, Evans’ signature is not particularly rare. However his induct
Final page of Newhouser's 1951 pact

Final page of Newhouser's 1951 pact

The final page of the contract contains more legal stipulations for both the pitcher and the team. Hal Newhouser would never again post a double-digit win total in any of his five remaining seasons. From 1951 until his retirement in 1955, Prince Hal won only 22 games against 18 losses. The 1951 seas
Fellow HoF ump Jocko Conlan writes about Bill Klem and Leo Durocher; mentions Evans

Fellow HoF ump Jocko Conlan writes about Bill Klem and Leo Durocher; mentions Evans

In this handwritten letter, Jocko Conlan has high praise for fellow Hall of Famers Bill Klem and Billy Evans. Conlan got his start as an umpire after his playing career ended when the National League offered him a job for the 1941 season. Bill Klem was the supervisor of the NL arbiters at the time.

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"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball…"

~Jacques Barzun, 1954