Loss of a Legend

The Siena College athletic community has been saddened by the loss of Billy Harrell. Harrell died on Tuesday morning at the age of 86.

He was a 1952 Siena graduate, and among the most successful and decorated athletes in Saints history.

Harrell was the first Saint to have his number retired. His No. 10 was retired at the Times Union Center in 2006. Just this year, he was inducted into the MAAC Basketball Hall of Fame Honor Roll.

Harrell was an integral part of the Saints basketball program from 1949-1952. The program went 70-19 in his tenure. He also helped Siena win the National Catholic Invitational Tournament Title in 1949-50. He was the team’s leading scorer and rebounder that season.

His 12.1 boards a game that year rank second all-time in the Saints single-season records. He held the top spot for 60 years.

Billy Harrell was a member of the 1958 Cleveland Indians (Getty Images).

But he didn’t only excel on the court. He also thrived on the baseball field, where he played four seasons in the major leagues. He saw action with the Cleveland Indians (1955, 1957-58) and the Red Sox (1961).

He was inducted into the Saints Athletics Hall of Fame in 1966.

He was seen at the ARC in April during Siena’s CBI Championship run.

Read the full release from the Siena athletic department here.