BOSTON GLOBE –
Major League Baseball held its first amateur draft in 1965, and with the fifth overall pick, the Red Sox selected Billy Conigliaro, an outfielder from Swampscott High School.
It was no surprise, as Mr. Conigliaro’s older brother, Tony, was the immensely popular power-hitting right fielder for the Sox.
Billy Conigliaro overcame the pressure and made his own path, debuting with the Sox in 1969 with two home runs in his first start, and going on to a five-year career in the majors that included winning a World Series ring.
Mr. Conigliaro died Wednesday at age 73, according to the Red Sox.
No cause of death was given.
The Revere native was a baseball and football star at Swampscott.
He was drafted as an outfielder, but several teams considered him as a right-handed pitcher.
“Billy was phenomenal,” said Channel 5 sportscaster Mike Lynch, whose father, Dick, was Swampscott’s baseball coach.
“The Red Sox just didn’t take him because he was Tony’s brother.”
Mr. Conigliaro played 347 games in the majors, the first 247 with the Red Sox before he was traded …
Click source to read more.
RECENTLY: Tom Brady, Ageless Male
