Bill Walsh In 1955, the Sacramento Solons, piloted by local pitching legend Tony Freitas, packed up and traveled to Yuma, Arizona for spring training. One of the most intriguing rookies in camp was a 6-6, 230 pound former sailor from Watertown, South Dakota by the name of Bill Walsh. The 22-year old chucker made quite an impression on the Sacramento Union’s sports editor Bill Conlin, who immediately labeled the young man: “Big” Bill Walsh. The rival Sacramento Bee sent a photographer down and later ran a picture on the front page of the sports section of Bill holding two of his, seemingly, diminutive teammates, Richie Myers and Lenny Attyd, in his outstretched arms. The youngster pitched well in his first spring training camp, but was farmed out to Salem in the Northwest League. His manager was the venerable Hal Luby, a 24-year veteran of the Pacific Coast League. Bill’s teammates included Sacramento natives Tommy Agosta and Ronnie King. In his first year ...