Bill Seinsoth

Played baseball, holds records at Arcadia High and at USC; Los Angeles Dodgers first-round draft pick; killed in an auto crash shortly thereafter in 1969.

What is Bill Seinsoth known for?

William R. Seinsoth, better known as Bill Seinsoth, was born on April 4, 1947, in Los Angeles, California. A notable alumnus of Arcadia High School in Arcadia, California, he made a name for himself as an outstanding baseball player. His promising career began at a young age, and he continued to excel in the sport throughout his academic years.

His performance as a first baseman at the University of Southern California earned him various commendations, particularly during the 1968 College World Series, where he was awarded as the Most Outstanding Player. His college career was remarkable, with an average of .337, and he was able to hit .368 with 14 home runs and 52 RBI in 1969.

Seinsoth also had a stint with the Alaska Goldpanners of the Alaska Baseball League from 1966 to 1968. In fact, he was named the Goldpanners' team MVP in 1967. Over the years, he was drafted five times, with the pinnacle being a first-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1969. Unfortunately, he played professionally for only one year without reaching the majors due to his untimely death in a traffic collision on September 7, 1969, in Torrance, California.

His former coach, Rod Dedeaux, famously noted that had Seinsoth lived, the name Steve Garvey - another famed baseball player - might not have risen to such prominence. His life has been subject of a 2016 book, "Seinsoth: The rough-and-Tumble Life of a Dodger," authored by fellow Arcadia High School graduate, Steven K. Wagner.

You can learn more about his career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference. His life was certainly notable, and he continues to inspire many young athletes to this day.