Andy Pilney Explained

Andy Pilney
Birth Date:19 January 1913
Birth Place:Frontenac, Kansas, U.S.
Death Place:Kenner, Louisiana, U.S.
Player Sport1:Football
Player Years2:1933–1935
Player Team2:Notre Dame
Player Sport3:Baseball
Player Years4:1934–1936
Player Team4:Notre Dame
Player Years5:1936
Player Team5:Boston Bees
Player Years6:1936
Player Team6:Syracuse Chiefs
Player Years7:1937
Player Team7:Columbia Senators
Player Years8:1937
Player Team8:Scranton Miners
Player Years9:1938
Player Team9:Indianapolis Indians
Player Years10:1939
Player Team10:Erie Sailors
Player Years11:1939
Player Team11:Hartford Bees
Player Positions:Halfback (football)
Outfielder (baseball)
Coach Sport1:Football
Coach Years2:1942
Coach Team2:Washington University (backfield)
Coach Years3:1943
Coach Team3:Georgia Pre-Flight (assistant)
Coach Years4:1946–1953
Coach Team4:Tulane (backfield)
Coach Years5:1954–1961
Coach Team5:Tulane
Overall Record:25–49–6
Awards:
Andy Pilney
Position:Pinch hitter
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Birth Date:January 13, 1913
Birth Place:Frontenac, Kansas
Death Place:Kenner, Louisiana
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:June 12
Debutyear:1936
Debutteam:Boston Bees
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:June 26
Finalyear:1936
Finalteam:Boston Bees
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Games played
Stat1value:3
Stat2label:At bats
Stat2value:2
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:1
Teams:
  • Boston Bees (1936)

Antone James "Andy" Pilney (January 19, 1913 – September 15, 1996) was an American football coach and player of football and baseball. He played football and baseball at the University of Notre Dame in the mid-1930s and then professional baseball from 1936 to 1939. Pilney had a three-game stint in Major League Baseball with the Boston Bees in July 1936. He served as the head football coach at Tulane University from 1954 to 1961, compiling a record of 25–49–6.

College playing career

Pilney played football as a halfback at Notre Dame. In 1935, he led the Irish to a come-from-behind win against top-ranked Ohio State in a contest considered to be a "Game of the Century". Pilney was selected by the Detroit Lions in the third round (26th overall pick) of the 1936 NFL draft.[1]

Professional baseball career

Pilney began his professional baseball career in as an outfielder. While he spent most of the season with the minor league Syracuse Chiefs, he played three games with the Boston Bees in July. He appeared twice as a pinch hitter and once as a pinch runner, but did not play the field. He continued to play in the minors until . As a member of the Indianapolis Indians American Association franchise, Pilney played outfield in 68 games, and batted .261 with eight doubles. On July 14, 1938 he appeared with the Indians in the first-ever All-Star game to be played at Perry Stadium in Indianapolis; batting for starting pitcher Vance Page, he struck out.

Coaching career

Pilney began his college football coaching career in 1942 when he was hired as backfield coach at Washington University in St. Louis.[2]

His final game at Tulane on November 25, 1961 resulted in a 62–0 loss to rival LSU at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Pilney's successor, Tommy O'Boyle, also lost his final game at the helm of the Green Wave in 1965 to LSU by the same score, 62–0 in Baton Rouge.

Life after coaching

Following his departure from Tulane, Pilney continued to live in the New Orleans area, in the Jefferson Parish suburb of Metairie. He served three terms on the Jefferson Parish Council representing District 4 from 1964 to 1976.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1936 NFL Draft Listing . March 20, 2023 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  2. News: Washington U. Picks Gorman . Associated Press. . February 13, 1942 . November 20, 2011.