Bill Short's journey through Major League Baseball is a tale of perseverance and adaptability. Born on November 27, 1937, in Kingston, New York, Short's professional baseball career began when he signed with the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1955. A left-handed pitcher, he spent several years honing his skills in the minor leagues before making his MLB debut.

Short's first appearance in the major leagues came on June 10, 1960, with the Yankees. During his time with the team, he pitched in five games, starting three of them. Despite showing promise, his stint with the Yankees was brief, and he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in November 1960. The following season, Short found more opportunities to showcase his abilities on the mound. In 1961, he appeared in 19 games for the Orioles, starting 10 of them. He finished the season with a 3-5 record and a 4.50 ERA.

In 1962, Short was on the move again, this time to the Boston Red Sox. However, he did not play in the majors that year, spending the season in the minors. The next few years saw Short bouncing between teams and leagues. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1963, where he pitched in 14 games, primarily in relief. His time with the Pirates was short-lived, and he was traded to the New York Mets in 1964.

With the Mets, Short had limited opportunities, appearing in only three games during the 1964 season. He spent the majority of his time in the minors, where he continued to refine his pitching. In 1966, Short found a new home with the Cincinnati Reds. He pitched in 11 games for the Reds, starting five of them, and posted a 3.86 ERA.

Short's career took another turn in 1967 when he joined the Chicago White Sox. He pitched in 10 games for the team, starting four, and recorded a 4.79 ERA. His final season in the majors came in 1969 with the Montreal Expos, where he appeared in 11 games, all in relief. After the 1969 season, Short retired from professional baseball.

Throughout his career, Bill Short played for six different major league teams, often transitioning between starting and relief roles.