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Bill Risley

b. 1967

American baseball player

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About Bill Risley

Born 1967. Bill Risley is an American baseball player.

William Charles Risley (born May 29, 1967), is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from to with the Montreal Expos, Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays.

Career Risley graduated from Marist High School in Chicago and attended Truman College before being drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 1987. He was traded to Montreal in 1991.

He would be a relief pitcher throughout his MLB career. Yet in the second game of a doubleheader at Dodger Stadium on July 8, 1992, Risley's big-league debut turned out to also be his only time as a starter.

Pressed into duty by manager Felipe Alou when the Expos needed to play two doubleheaders against the Los Angeles Dodgers in three days, Risley was the winning pitcher, going five innings and allowing the Dodgers just four hits, with relievers Bill Sampen and Mel Rojas closing out a 4-1 victory.

That game turned out to be Risley's only appearance with Montreal during the 1992 season, and he was used just twice out of the bullpen in 1993, pitching in 41 games in the minors, before Montreal placed him on waivers. Risley was claimed by Seattle, where he became a reliable middle reliever on the Mariners' staff.

A career highlight came in 1995, when Risley pitched in the first four games of the American League division playoffs against the New York Yankees, earning a save in Game 4. Ace starter Randy Johnson's three innings of relief in an 11-inning victory in Game 5 sent Seattle on to the 1995 American League Championship Series, where Risley saw action again against the Cleveland Indians.

Risley was traded that December to the Toronto Blue Jays, where he spent the last three seasons of his career.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
Marist High School
Also known as
William Charles Risley

People in Bill Risley's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Bill Risley's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Bill Risley?

American baseball player

When was Bill Risley born?

Bill Risley was born on 29 May 1967 in Chicago.

What is Bill Risley's occupation?

Bill Risley is a baseball player.

What nationality is Bill Risley?

Bill Risley is American.

Sources & further reading

Β· Wikipedia: Bill Risley

Β· Wikidata: Q16197200

Β· DBpedia: Bill Risley

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Bill Risley. https://biography.guide/bill-risley/

MLA: "Bill Risley." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/bill-risley/.

Chicago: "Bill Risley." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/bill-risley/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 Β· Spot an error? Report a correction.

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