Former Yankees Catcher, All-Star Prospect, Dies: ‘I Knew I Was Setting History’
The New York Yankees received news that a former backstop who played a big role in a historic MLB moment has died.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - APRIL 29: A view of the New York Yankees logo on a ball bag before the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 29, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) Getty Images As one of the oldest and most consistently competitive franchises in baseball history, the New York Yankees have had plenty of notable alumni over the years. Through features like Monument Park and events like Old-Timers’ Day, the organization regularly honors its previous players.
And in tributes to some of those players who have passed this year, fans have had the chance to remember World Series pitcher Zack Monroe , standout reliever Wayne Granger and others. On Sunday, news surfaced that former Yankees catcher Billy Bryan has joined that list, dying at age 87 earlier in the week. “Billy's athletic talent was evident from an early age.
Following high school, he proudly served as a member of the Air Force Honor Guard in Washington DC, where he also competed on both the basketball and baseball teams,” according to an obituary . “His exceptional skill on the diamond earned him a professional contract as a catcher in the MLB farm system, and in 1960 he realized the dream of every young ballplayer — reaching the major leagues. Billy went on to play for the Kansas City Athletics (1960-1966), the New York Yankees (1966-1967), and the Washington Senators (1968), leaving a legacy on the field that few can claim.
” MORE FROM FORBES Brewers Boss Sends 5-Word Red Sox Willson Contreras Message After Spikes-Up Slide By Peter Chawaga New York Yankees Former Catcher Billy Bryan Dies At Age 87 Before joining the Yankees, Bryan was a standout prospect for the American League’s Kansas City Athletics organization. He earned a Class B Northwest League All-Star nod in 1961 for a campaign that saw him slug 25 home runs and 85 RBI. He became a semi-regular catcher for the Athletics shortly after and played for five seasons with the team before joining the Yankees.