Bill Essick (Vinegar Bill)

(Deceased) Bill Essick (December 18, 1880 – October 12, 1951), nicknamed “Vinegar Bill,” was an American baseball pitcher, minor-league manager, and highly respected scout for the New York Yankees. He briefly pitched for the Cincinnati Reds in 1906 and 1907 before building his reputation as a manager and talent evaluator. Essick is best remembered for helping bring Joe DiMaggio to the Yankees. After DiMaggio suffered a serious knee injury in 1934, many major-league teams lost interest, but Essick remained convinced that the young outfielder would recover. He arranged for DiMaggio to be examined by a doctor and strongly encouraged the Yankees to complete the deal. DiMaggio subsequently became one of baseball’s greatest players and an enduring Yankees legend. Essick also helped the Yankees acquire or sign other notable players, including Hall of Famers Lefty Gomez and Joe Gordon, as well as Frank Crosetti and Ralph Houk. His ability to recognize talent helped strengthen the Yankees teams that dominated baseball during the 1930s and 1940s.