Bill Campbell (baseball)

Bill Campbell
Pitcher
Born: August 9, 1948 (1948-08-09) (age 63)
Highland Park, Michigan
Batted: Right Threw: Right 
MLB debut
July 14, 1973 for the Minnesota Twins
Last MLB appearance
April 30, 1987 for the Montreal Expos
Career statistics
Win–Loss record     83–68
Earned run average     3.54
Strikeouts     864
Saves     126
Teams
Career highlights and awards

William Richard Campbell (born August 9, 1948 Highland Park, Michigan) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1973 to 1987. He played for the Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers all of the American League and the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals and the Montreal Expos all of the National League.

Nicknamed "Soup" because of his last name, Campbell was one of the top relief pitchers in all of baseball with the Minnesota Twins in 1976 and the Boston Red Sox in 1977. He signed with Boston after the 1976 season as one of the first high profile big money free agents in baseball. Campbell was elected to the American League All-Star team in 1977. Campbell was awarded both AL Fireman of the Year by The Sporting News and Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award (the first American League winner and first two-time winner of this award) following the 1976 and 1977 campaigns. Bill is tied for the American League record for wins by a reliever in a single season, as a result of his 17-5 performance in 1976.[1]

He began experiencing arm trouble in 1978, and never again regained his once dominant status in the game.

Contents

Later life

After retirement, he went into sports broadcasting and has been a long-time analyst for ESPN radio and television.

According to the back of his 1985 Topps baseball card, Campbell saw combat duty in Vietnam as a radio operator.

See also

References

External links

Preceded by
Sparky Lyle
American League Saves Champion
1977
Succeeded by
Rich Gossage