LITTLE ROCK, AR — William Terry “Bill” Valentine, Jr., 82, of Little Rock, has died.
From 1976 to 2009, Bill was general manager of the Arkansas Travelers baseball team.
Before his career with the Travs, Valentine spent 18 years as an umpire in various professional leagues, culminating with five years in the American League.
A notification from the family says Valentine holds the distinction as one of the only two umpires who ever threw Mickey Mantle out of a ballgame.
He came back to Little Rock in 1969 and joined Jim Elder on the air for Travs broadcasts for the next eight years.
Valentine also worked as a television sportscaster and radio deejay on KARK before being hired by the Travs in the mid-1970’s.
His promotions included Clunker Car Night and appearances by the San Diego Chicken and Captain Dynamite.
Attendance at Arkansas Travelers games grew from 67,000 in 1975 to 223,000 in 1980.
Career honors include inductions into both the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and the Texas League Hall of Fame.
The National Association of Minor League Baseball Teams named Valentine Executive of the Year in 1976, 1977, 1978, 1988, 1999, and 2007 as well as proclaiming him “The King of Baseball” in December of 2014.
In March of 2009, he announced his retirement to fans at a game in the newly completed park.
Valentine is survived by his wife of 24 years, Nena Rose Hays Valentine.
From 1976 to 2009, Bill was general manager of the Arkansas Travelers baseball team.
Before his career with the Travs, Valentine spent 18 years as an umpire in various professional leagues, culminating with five years in the American League.
A notification from the family says Valentine holds the distinction as one of the only two umpires who ever threw Mickey Mantle out of a ballgame.
He came back to Little Rock in 1969 and joined Jim Elder on the air for Travs broadcasts for the next eight years.
Valentine also worked as a television sportscaster and radio deejay on KARK before being hired by the Travs in the mid-1970’s.
His promotions included Clunker Car Night and appearances by the San Diego Chicken and Captain Dynamite.
Attendance at Arkansas Travelers games grew from 67,000 in 1975 to 223,000 in 1980.
Career honors include inductions into both the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and the Texas League Hall of Fame.
The National Association of Minor League Baseball Teams named Valentine Executive of the Year in 1976, 1977, 1978, 1988, 1999, and 2007 as well as proclaiming him “The King of Baseball” in December of 2014.
In March of 2009, he announced his retirement to fans at a game in the newly completed park.
Valentine is survived by his wife of 24 years, Nena Rose Hays Valentine.
