Buck Pressly


William Lowry Pressly, nicknamed Buck, was a longtime baseball figure and recognized doctor.

Personal life

Pressly was born in Due West, South Carolina, United States and died there on September 27, 1954. His father was a professor of Greek and Latin at Erskine College. He attended Erskine College and Emory College. He is in the Erskine College Hall of Fame.

Baseball career

Playing career

Pressly played from 1908 to 1914, in 1916 and for one game in 1922. The first basemen spent most of his playing career with the Roanoke Tigers, though he also suited up for the Norfolk Tars and Greenville Spinners. In 1910, he fielded 1.000 for the Tigers and in his lone 1922 game, he collected one hit in one at-bat.

As coach, manager and executive

He initially managed the Tigers in 1912 and 1913 and then the Tars for a couple years, winning pennants in 1912 and 1914. Following 1914, he left baseball to become a doctor, but later returned to the sport.
He was the head coach of the Erskine College baseball. He assumed the role of Greenville Spinners manager in late 1921.
He later served as president of the Carolina League.

Post-playing career

Pressly later became a well-known family doctor. He was named the 1948 family doctor of the year by earning the General Practitioner Award from the American Medical Association. He also served as President of the South Carolina Medical Association.

Surname variations

His surname has also been spelled Pressley.