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POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- William George Ostrom (Billy the Kid) died at his home, Thursday, Dec. 3. He was 95.
Ostrom was born March 7, 1920, to George and Cora (Silvernail) Ostrom, one of 10 children, and attended city schools.
He was a lifetime lover of baseball and the New York Yankees.
Ostrom left school at 16 when he was signed to play semipro ball with Corning of the Canadian/American league (later bought by the Boston Red Sox).
He also played in the Interstate League, New York-New Jersey Semipro League.
Locally, Ostrom played with the Twighlight League, Poughkeepsie Chiefs, Kingston Recreational, Colonial League, Amenia and American Legion.
In his years, he played against such pros as Satchel Page, Joe Dimaggio, Chuck Connor, Roy Campanella and Jackie Robinson, whom he called "a good kid," and a young Fidel Castro from the Cuban Stars.
While playing ball, he owned Billy's Cigar Store on Main Street.
Ostrom has been inducted into the Sports Museum of Duchess County and the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
After his official career, from 1936-69, Ostrom worked for the city of Poughkeepsie school district as head groundskeeper.
He is survived by four generations of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were Monday, Dec. 7.
Memorial donations can be made to the Sports Museum of Dutchess County and Hospice.
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