William Byrd (July 15, 1907 – January 4, 1991) was an American professional baseball player in the Negro leagues.

[1] Byrd started his major career in 1933 with the Columbus Blue Birds in the Negro National League.

He moved to the Cleveland Red Sox the following year and struggled with a 2–8 record to once again lead the league in losses.

The Giants were tasked against the Grays for the league pennant with the chance to go to the 1948 Negro World Series.

He pitched 14.1 innings and allowed four runs (three earned) in two appearances with one start, and he threw a complete game while going 1–0, although the Giants lost the Series.

[5] Byrd finished in the top three in the leaderboards for most wins on seven occasions, which is tied for seventh best all-time in major league history.

[6][7] At age 45, Byrd received votes listing him on the 1952 Pittsburgh Courier player-voted poll of the Negro leagues' best players ever.

[8] After he retired, he dabbled in semi-pro ball while working at the General Electric Company in Philadelphia for twenty years.