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In memory of

Bill Heckel Jr.

1973 - 2006
If you are interested in making a donation to the Muscular Dystrophy Association in memory of Bill, click this link.

CDL Record for Bill Heckel Jr.'s Boston Red Sox:
Year
Wins
Losses
Pct.
G.B.
B.A.
E.R.A.
Highlights
1969
80
82
.494
16
.245
4.39
1970
88
 74 .543 1 .224 3.33
1971
91
71
.562
--
.244
3.79
AL East Division Champions
1972
84
 78 .519 9 .232 4.10
1973
87
75
.537
--
.242
3.79
AL East Division Champions, American League Champions
1974
69
93
.426
26.5
.230
4.03
AL Babe Ruth Winner: Rico Petrocelli
1975
80
82
.494
13
.247
4.22
1976
94
68
.580
--
.253
3.76
AL East Division Champions, AL Babe Ruth Winner: Rico Petrocelli
1977
90
72
.556
10
.254
3.59
1978
89
73
.549
11
.252
3.82
1979
70
92
.432
33
.235
3.79
1980
63
99
.389
44
.243
4.37
1981
74
88
.457
32
.248
3.94
1982
68
94
.420
34
.252
4.69
1983
82
80
.506
11
.265
3.96
1984
94
68
.580
--
.288
4.37
AL East Division Champions, American League Champions
1985
98
64
.605
--
.286
3.90
AL East Division Champions, AL Babe Ruth Winner: Harold Baines
1986
98
64
.605
--
.293
3.87
AL East Division Champions, AL Babe Ruth Winner: Tim Wallach
1987
100
62
.617
--
.287
4.11
AL East Division Champions, AL Babe Ruth Winner: Jim Presley
1988
95
67
.586
--
.284
3.74
AL East Division Champions
1989
94
68
.580
--
.288
4.51
AL East Division Champions
1990
88
74
.543
3
.283
4.13
1991
79
83
.488
15
.274
4.71
AL Cy Young Winner: John Fulgham
1992
64
98
.395
27
.268
5.49
AL Rookie Of The Year: Deion Sanders
1993
39
123
.241
58
.244
6.85
1994
65
97
.401
40
.273
5.55
1995
77
85
.475
13
.281
4.83
1996
70
92
.432
25
.268
5.47
1997
74
88
.457
15
.278
4.88
1998
93
69
.574
--
.303
5.01
AL East Division Champions
1999
109
53
.673
--
.327
5.02
AL East Division Champions, AL Babe Ruth Winner: Dan Wilson, AL Rookie Of The Year: Derek Jeter
2000
95
67
.586
--
.310
5.00
AL East Division Champions, American League Champions
2001
104
58
.642
--
.294
4.77
AL East Division Champions
2002
103
59
.636
--
.308
4.85
AL East Division Champions
2003
99
63
.611
--
.296
4.81
AL East Division Champions
2004
81
81
.500
2
.264
4.31
2005
62
100
.383
35
.254
5.55
2006
65
97
.401
29
.273
5.50
2007
100
62
.617
--
.278
4.11
AL East Division Champions
2008
92
70
.568
12
.266
4.43

 

Some comments from Bill's CDL friends

"I've known Bill for a long time and I won't claim to be his best friend or anything, we've had a lot of conversations, good ones, and I will truly miss him."

- Chris Hansen (AKA Bigphesta)


"As a fellow CDL owner I had the pleasure of interacting with Bill during several seasons. He will be missed. Hope that wherever you are, it's just the way you wanted it to be."

- Manuel Martinez (AKA Manolo1963)


"I just wanted to offer my condolences as well. Since resigning as commish of the CDL Bill has been one of those special people I have missed immensely. Year in and year out in the CDL, his Red Sox were always in the playoffs and Bill would faithfully be in the live chat to root them on. I always enjoyed chatting with him and secretly I wanted him to win a coveted CDL banner. Whenever he was close, something flukish would take it away from him. Even so, he always had a great attitude and was so supportive of the league, even in the tough times. Thank you Bill for all the wonderful memories and God bless you and your family. You will certainly be missed"

- Matt Skutley


"Bill was a big OOTP fan, a great OOTP online league owner, a great OOTP player, and a great guy. His many online friends in so many OOTP leagues will miss him dearly."

- Paul Groening (AKA Killebrew)


"I was in two leagues with Bill. I respected his attitude and ability. Never had a disagreement with him at all. I just got this link forwarded to me from a fellow owner. This is shocking news when you lose someone that was in a league with you for a long time. It was my privilege to know Bill for the short time that I did."

- John LeBlanc (AKA Ragin Cajun)


"Bill was a great GM and a great person. No AIM conversation with him ever left a sour taste in my mouth. I'm sure I speak for the rest of the CDL when I say he will be sorely missed."

- Brian Wohldmann (AKA MTXperience)


"Bill was one of the first owners I talked to when I started participating in OOTP leagues. I appreciated his candid insight and we had some really good conversations through the years. For the longest time, you could set a clock to his being online at certain times."

- Robert Mayers (AKA VegasRobb)


"RIP brother. We'll miss you."

- Mark Cooley (AKA Cooleyvol)


"For someone that seems to have suffered through a terrible disease to be so dedicated and never complain that to me is more impressive than any sim league title. "

- T.J. Kmetz (AKA Burghman24)


"Including this league i am in two other leagues Bill was in and never knew he was sick. To go through what he did and never complain says a lot. "

- Roy Paeth (AKA cubbyroy69)


"I've been saddened by this all day. It's hard to explain to those who 'know' me in 'real life' how someone who I've really never met before could have such an effect on my emotions when something like this happens. Looking over some things about Bill, I can't verify this in every league, but it seems like he was the best owner never to win the series. He was in the NAHHBL from the start, making the series one time in 24 seasons. Seems he had the same 'bad' luck in the CooperstownDiamondLegends (CDL) as I think he was the owner when I joined and went to the series three times in 30+ seasons, with no titles. It never swayed him though. Every season he was back with the expectation that this was 'finally the year'. It brings a tear to my knowing he'll never get that title."

- Chris Hansen (AKA BigPhesta)


"This is just awful. Bill was a great guy whom I have enjoyed speaking with online for many years. He was obviously a great OOTP player, and a cornerstone owner in the CDL as well as several other established OOTP leagues. I'm very happy that Bill was able to get so much enjoyment out of the CDL, solo OOTP play, and his other online leagues, but he will be missed here tremendously."

- Paul Groening (AKA Killebrew)


"Bill would be tremendously missed, but his outlook on life and his level of commitment to this group that has helped develop many friendships (even if most, or all, of us have never met face to face) should always be remembered."

- Manuel Martinez (AKA Manolo1963)


"I heard the awful news from Drew that Bill passed away and wanted to weigh in. Bill was one of the best people I had ever come across in all my dealings with online baseball. Always a pleasure to talk to, he is one of the people I have missed most since my resignation. He was just overall a great guy and will be missed by many, many people. I'm just glad to have had an opportunity to know him even if it was only through the internet."

- Matt Skutley


 

Posted on the Sports Interactive web site front page by developer Marc Duffy:

"News reached us here today at SI Towers that Bill Heckel Jr. (aka billycola) passed away on Friday, January 20. Aged 32, he had Muscular Dystrophy and had been battling the illness in the past few weeks. To pass the time, he participated and ran OOTP leagues and make considerable friends in the community. A big OOTP fan, a great OOTP online league owner, a great OOTP player, and a great guy. His many online friends in so many OOTP leagues will miss him dearly. "

June 14, 2005 Interview: One On One With Red Sox Owner Bill Heckel Jr.

When one thinks of the CDL’s Boston Red Sox franchise, the first thing most of us CDL followers think of is Bill Heckel Jr.. One of the most active and popular of the leagues owners throughout it’s long history, Bill was kind enough to share some of his thoughts with me recently at Legends Restaurant and Sports Bar - “the only sports bar in southern California with an all high definition system” (I think “high definition” means really large TV sets but I’m not sure). Thankfully the Dodgers had an off night so we could speak without much distraction, although some of the large TV sets were showing a Padres game that caught our attention more than once.

 Red Ruffinsore: What in your opinion are the biggest strengths of your CDL club?
Bill Heckel, Jr.: Even tho i’m starting my rebuild, my current strengths are: The top of my rotation (Hampton, Valdes, Hanson), my hit machine Jeter, and the best 3, 4, 5 batters in CDL.
RR: What in your opinion are the biggest weaknesses of your CDL club?
Bill Heckel Jr.: Pitching depth, defense, my outfield.
RR: As far as your CDL team is concerned, are you playing to win now, or building for the future?
Bill Heckel Jr.: We’re building for the future.
RR: Who’s the most under rated player on your team?
Bill Heckel Jr.: Darin Erstad.
RR: What’s most important to you when filling your team roster: Pitching, hitting, or defense?
Bill Heckel Jr.: Pitching.
RR: If there was one current or historical baseball player you could have on your team, who would it be?
Bill Heckel Jr.: Babe Ruth.
RR: Where did you originally hear about the CDL?
Bill Heckel Jr.: I was researching leagues and luckily found it.
RR: What’s your favorite thing about the CDL?
Bill Heckel Jr.: The great core of owners.
RR: Can you think of any changes the CDL could make to improve your enjoyment of the league?
Bill Heckel Jr.: Let me finally win a CDL Title! (laughs)
RR: Are you planning to buy OOTP v6.5 and/or OOTP7 when they come out?
Bill Heckel Jr.: Yes.
RR: What’s the one most important thing you’d like to see in future versions of OOTP?
Bill Heckel Jr.: Ability to run multiple leagues that interact.
RR: What part of the country are you from?
Bill Heckel Jr.: Southern California, near L.A..
RR: Are you a big fan of Major League Baseball? If so, what is your favorite team (or teams)?
Bill Heckel Jr.: I’m a huge Dodgers fan.
RR: What kind of work do you do?
Bill Heckel Jr.: I’m unable to work.
RR: Besides online OOTP play, what do you like to do in your spare time?
Bill Heckel Jr.: Watch TV, i’m an American History buff, watch wrestling.
RR: What’s your greatest memory of past CDL seasons?
Bill Heckel Jr.: Winning my first pennant in ‘73 only to lose to Houston in the World Series.
RR: Thanks very much for your time Bill!

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