Will McEnaney was a relief pitcher from 1974-1979. Will was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 1970. He was in the minors from 1970-1974. Will was called up to the Reds in July 1974 and was 2-1 with 2 saves and a 4.33 ERA in 24 games.
McEnaney was an important part of the Reds' bullpen in their 1975 and 1976 championship years. He teamed up with Rawly Eastwick to make an effective lefty/righty duo. McEnaney had his best season in 1975. He was 5-2 with 15 saves and an ERA of 2.47 in 70 appearances. He made one appearance in the 1975 NLCS and pitched in five games in the World Series. Will got the save in game 7 of the World Series.
In 1976 McEnaney wasn't as effective. He made 55 appearances and was 2-6 with 7 saves and a 4.85 ERA. Will appeared in game 3 and 4 of the 1976 World Series and earned the save in both games. McEnaney was traded with Tony Perez to the Montreal Expos for Woodie Fryman and Dale Murray in December 1976. I was a 10-year-old Reds fan and was shocked at the deal.
McEnaney was also shocked by the deal and by the death of his mother. Soon after he arrived in Montreal he started to use drugs and drink more heavily. In 1977 Will was 3-5 with 3 saves and a 3.95 ERA in 69 games. During spring training in 1978 he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Tim Jones. Will started the 1978 season with the Pirates but was rocked in six appearances (10.38 ERA). He spent the rest of the year in the minors and had a 6.24 ERA.
Will was released after the 1978 season and signed with the St. Louis Cardinals for the 1979 season. After posting a 2.08 ERA in seven AAA appearances, McEnaney came back to the majors and was 0-3 with 3 saves and a 2.95 ERA in 45 games. Will was released by the Cardinals during spring training in 1980. He pitched for a few minor league clubs and in Mexico until 1985.
Will got his life back together and is doing well now. In 2000 he was managing a company that refinishes bathroom tile. A Sports Illustrated "Where are they now" article from July 17, 2000.- Edit 4/11/10: Will's company went out of business when the economy tanked, so now he works as a salesman for Dick's Sporting Goods in Florida and operates the scoreboard at Roger Dean Stadium for the Class A Jupiter Hammerheads. Thanks to Wicked Ortega for the link.
Liked to face: Bill Buckner (.000 in 15 AB); Bill Madlock (.167 in 12 AB); Steve Garvey (.000 in 7 AB)
Hated to face: Ted Simmons (.471 in 17 AB); Chris Speier (.455 in 11 AB); Jerry Mumphrey (.556 in 9 AB)
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