Billy Hitchcock was the shortstop for the Detroit Tigers in 1942. He was a lieutenant in the Army Reserves and got the call to report for active duty in early August. He served in the Army Air Force and advanced to the rank of major by the end of World War II, earning the Bronze Star for service in the Pacific and three battle stars.

When he returned to baseball in 1946, the Tigers sold him to Washington, who then sold him to the Browns who traded him to the Red Sox. He contributed a tidy .298 average, playing in 48 games during the Red Sox’ pennant drive.

Hitchcock proved to be an ideal replacement to let Bobby Doerr get some rest. When the Red Sox trampled the Detroit Tigers, 8 to 4 on August 31st he belted home three runs and scored the fourth, to help Mel Parnell win his fourth consecutive victory.

On August 12, 1949, the Red Sox won two games from the Senators, 15 to 7 and 13 to 11. The second game was a hectic win where Hitchcock stole home in the eighth inning to break in an 11 to 11 tie. In 1950, the Sox traded him to the Philadelphia A's where he became their regular second baseman.

Billy Hitchcock spent over forty years in professional baseball as a player, manager, scout, coach, and minor league executive.