Giles is the son of
Baseball Hall of Fame executive
Warren C. Giles, who was the general manager and president of the
Cincinnati Reds (1937–1951) before becoming president of the
National League (1951–1969). His mother Jane Mabel Skinner was the granddaughter of architect
Merton Yale Cady, and a member of the family of
John Deere, founder of
John Deere Co., and of
Linus Yale Sr. of the
Yale Lock Company. Bill Giles was born in
Rochester, New York, during his father's term as president of
Rochester Red Wings of the
International League. His baseball career began in the Cincinnati organization during the 1950s, and he was among a group of Reds' executives (including former Cincinnati
general manager Gabe Paul and MLB executive
Tal Smith) who helped to found the
Houston Astros when they debuted as the
Colt .45s in 1962.
Sporting News'
1962 Official Baseball Guide and Record Book, published in the Colt .45s' maiden season, lists Giles as the club's traveling secretary and publicity director. Subsequently, he became promotions director, and focused on that role after the renamed team moved into the
Astrodome in 1965. ==Philadelphia Phillies==