William Pleis III

William “Bill” Pleis III passed away on Friday, October 17, 2025, at the age of 88.

Bill was born on August 5, 1937, in St. Louis, Missouri. As a young man, he was gifted a baseball glove that
would later change his life. When Bill was a junior in high school, he decided to try out for the Kirkwood High
School baseball team. Unknowingly, receiving that baseball glove would catapult his path towards a career
in baseball. Bill began his professional baseball career in 1955 at age 18 and made his major league debut
with the Minnesota Twins in 1961. In the inaugural season of the Twins playing in Minnesota, Bill earned the
first ever recorded win in the state. As a left-handed reliever, he pitched six seasons in the big leagues,
including a key role on the Twins' 1965 American League championship team, appearing in 41 games as
well as in the World Series. Bill “Shorty” Pleis and the other ‘65 Twins stamped their place in Minnesota
history as the organization’s first team to appear in a World Series.

In 1967, the Twins reacquired Bill to allow him qualification for his pension. This gesture forged an
unforgettable positive view of baseball, encouraging Bill to maintain his connections with the game.
Following his retirement as a player in 1968, Bill began a successful scouting career that spanned nearly 40
years, beginning with the Houston Astros and retiring with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

While baseball was arguably a great part of Bill’s life, he would assure anyone that the best part was truly
his wife, Sue, the best person he knew. He married the love of his life, Susan Haddock, on October 16,
1959. They went on to have three children, and like their dad, the love of sport is deeply tethered in each of
them. Bill and Sue’s daughter, Stacey Moore (Edward), has owned and operated her successful business,
Stacey’s Gymnastics, for over 30 years in their home community of Wentzville, MO. Scott (Lisa), their older
son, was drafted in the 4th round by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1981, and continued a long career in baseball
as a professional scout working his way through higher ranks including a Director of Amateur Scouting
position with the Detroit Tigers. Their youngest son, Steve, has been an active professional golfer including
a recent notable appearance in the Senior US Open as well as time spent on the Nationwide and Canadian
Tours.

Bill and Sue were well known in the Lake St. Louis, MO community, where they raised their family. Bill, a
founding member of the Lake Forest Country Club, was known to be a scratch golfer. Legend has it that Bill
once shot even par right handed and followed up on a bet to prove a point the next day beating the same
guy, but this time left handed. For many years, Bill and Sue resided in Florida where they enjoyed the
sunshine, golf, and their friendships in their River Wilderness community. Their later years were spent back
home in Missouri, enjoying time with their family, witnessing the marriages of their oldest grandsons, and
seeing their five great grandchildren born. Bill and Sue were very proud of their built legacy in their family.

Bill is survived by his two sons, Scott (Lisa) Pleis and Steve Pleis; daughter, Stacey (Ed) Moore; four grandchildren, Casey (Christy) Moore, Ziggy (Liz) Moore, Austin Pleis, Brock Pleis; five great-grandchildren, Izzy, Avery, Cooper, Colton, Brooks; brother-in-law, Charlie Chase; five nieces and nephews, Sherrie (Bob) Holder, Steve (Jamie) Beile, Lisa (Mark) Kummer, Mike Beile, Debbie (Paul) Humphries; He is preceded in death by his father, William Pleis, II, mother, Celeste Pleis (née: Rekart), beloved wife, Susan Pleis (née; Haddock), and sister, Joan Chase. 

In remembering Bill, we can recall the baseball stories of the feisty pitcher, “Shorty” Pleis, the scouting
career that changed the lives of many baseball players, and appreciate the journey of a young man from St.
Louis who carved his way into the major league history books through his grit, humility, and a love of the
game. He played his part in enriching baseball, and left the game and its people a little better for his having
been in it. He will be greatly missed, favorably remembered, and live on through his legacy in the Pleis
family and baseball history.

May he rest in peace reunited with his love, Sue
 
Family is being served by Pitman Funeral home, Wentzville. 
 

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