Bill Stein knew his role over 14 big league seasons; Later took role as minors manager

Originally published June 16, 2018
Bill Stein had a couple big nights for the Texas Rangers in June 1983, he knew his role, he told UPI that month.

"When I have a chance to play I want to produce and my chances of doing that are enhanced when the guys are on base for me," Stein told UPI. "But I'm not an everyday player. When Wayne Tolleson gets healthy, he'll be back at second and I'll be on the bench because I'm a utility player."

While Stein knew his role through a major league career that spanned 14 seasons, he took a different role later, as a minor league manager.

Stein's career in baseball began in 1969, taken by the Cardinals in the fourth round of the draft out of Southern Illinois University.

He started with the Cardinals at AAA Tulsa. He then played at AA Arkansas, returned to Tulsa and made St. Louis in 1972.

Stein got into 14 games for the Cardinals that year and 32 the next. He moved to the White Sox for 1974 and saw 13 games. After 76 games in 1975, Stein saw 100-plus games each of the next three seasons.

He hit .268 over 117 games in 1976, then .259 over a career-high 151 games with the Marines in 1977.

Stein continued playing in the majors each year through 1985. He moved to the Rangers for 1981 and set the American League record for most consecutive pinch hits with seven while playing for manager Don Zimmer.

"He was fun to be around," Stein told The Tulsa World years later. "Zim never had to tell me to pinch hit. Whenever we had the tying run in scoring position late, it was automatic. I had a bat and was ready to go. It didn't matter whether a lefty or right-hander was pitching."

Stein played his final five seasons with the Rangers. He started his managerial career by 1988, when he took over at short-season Little Falls. He moved to Columbia in 1989 and stayed for 1990. He managed at short-season Bend for 1991 and single-A Clinton for 1992 and then coached at AA Shreveport for 1993.

• UPI, June 26, 1983: Though Bill Stein has
• Tulsa World, May 9, 1993: Captains' Coach Stein Fondly Recalls Title Year With Oilers