Bill Slayback facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bill Slayback |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
| Pitcher | |||
| Born: February 21, 1948 Hollywood, California, US |
|||
| Died: March 25, 2015 (aged 67) Los Angeles, California, US |
|||
|
|||
| debut | |||
| June 26, 1972, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 2, 1974, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 6–9 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.84 | ||
| Innings pitched | 1381⁄3 | ||
| Teams | |||
|
|||
William Grover Slayback (born February 21, 1948 – died March 25, 2015) was an American baseball pitcher. He played for the Detroit Tigers in Major League Baseball (MLB). Bill, as he was known, played in 42 games, starting 17 of them.
Contents
Bill Slayback's Baseball Career
Bill Slayback was a tall pitcher, standing 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 180 pounds. He played baseball at California State University, Northridge. The Detroit Tigers chose him in the 7th round of the 1968 Major League Baseball Draft.
Making His MLB Debut
Bill made his first Major League Baseball appearance on June 26, 1972. He pitched for the Tigers against the New York Yankees. In this game, he almost achieved a "no-hitter." This means he kept the other team from getting any hits for most of the game.
He held the Yankees without a hit for seven innings. Then, in the eighth inning, a player named Johnny Callison hit a single. This broke up Bill's chance for a no-hitter. Still, Bill pitched very well. He threw for 8 and a third innings, gave up only 4 hits, and struck out 5 batters.
Impressive Games in 1972
Bill had other great games during the 1972 season. On July 20, he struck out 13 batters. He allowed only 5 hits and helped the Tigers beat the Texas Rangers 5–1.
Just four days before that, on July 16, he pitched a "complete game shutout." This means he pitched the entire 9 innings and didn't let the Kansas City Royals score any runs. The Tigers won that game 2–0.
For the 1972 season, Bill started 13 games. He finished with a record of 5 wins and 6 losses. His earned run average (ERA) was 3.20, which was very good.
End of His Baseball Journey
After his strong 1972 season, Bill pitched only two innings in 1973. His baseball career ended in 1974. That year, he had 1 win and 3 losses in 16 games. Only four of those games were starts. Bill officially retired from baseball in 1976. His final career record was 6 wins and 9 losses, with a 3.84 ERA.
Bill Slayback's Music Career
Bill Slayback was not just a baseball player; he was also a talented musician.
The Hank Aaron Song
In 1973, Bill recorded a song called "Move Over Babe (Here Comes Henry)." He wrote this song with Ernie Harwell, who was a famous Detroit Tigers broadcaster. The song was about Hank Aaron and his journey to break Babe Ruth's record for the most home runs in baseball history.
The song's lyrics included lines like: "Move over, Babe. Here comes Henry and he's swinging mean. Move over, Babe. Hank's hit another; he'll break that 714."
This song was released in the United States and Japan. It was played on the radio and even on the NBC Game of the Week TV show. The song is also part of a CD called "Baseball's Greatest Hits."
A Talented Artist
One writer, Tom Stanton, described Bill Slayback as a "Renaissance man." This means Bill had many different talents. He could sing, play many musical instruments, paint, sketch, and even make furniture!
Later Music Work
In 2006, Bill Slayback released a new CD called "Lady Dancing on Fire." The manager of the Tigers at the time, Jim Leyland, really liked it. He said, "It's outstanding; it has all the stuff; it's tremendous. He did all the music, all the instruments, he played them all."
Personal Life
Bill Slayback passed away on March 25, 2015, at the age of 67.
See also
- 1972 Detroit Tigers season
