Bill Champion (baseball)
Buford Billy Champion (September 18, 1947 – January 7, 2017), was an American professional baseball right-handed pitcher, coach, and scout, who played in 202 games in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers, from 1969–1976.
Billy Champion | |||
---|---|---|---|
Champion in 1973 | |||
Pitcher | |||
Born: Shelby, North Carolina | September 18, 1947|||
Died: January 7, 2017 69) Shelby, North Carolina | (aged|||
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MLB debut | |||
June 4, 1969, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
Last MLB appearance | |||
June 5, 1976, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |||
MLB statistics | |||
Win–loss record | 34–50 | ||
Earned run average | 4.69 | ||
Strikeouts | 360 | ||
Teams | |||
Before his big league debut, in 1969, Champion was already a two-time Minor League Baseball (MiLB) earned run average (ERA) league leader: Huron Phillies, Northern League (1965); and Tidewater Tides, Carolina League (1968).[1] He was traded along with Don Money and John Vukovich by the Phillies to the Brewers for Jim Lonborg, Ken Brett, Ken Sanders and Earl Stephenson on October 31, 1972.[2]
Champion went on to become a scout for the Chicago Cubs and pitching coach for the Greenville Braves.[3]
Champion died on January 7, 2017, in Shelby, North Carolina, at the age of 69.[4]
References
- 1974 Bill Champion Topps baseball card (#391).
- "Phillies Obtain Jim Lonborg In 7‐Man Deal With Brewers," United Press International (UPI), Tuesday, October 31, 1972. Retrieved April 13, 2020
- Baseball-Reference.com. "Bill Champion". https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Bill_Champion Retrieved August 12, 2013.
- Billy Champion dies at age 69
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball-Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Bill Champion at Find a Grave