Bill Swift

Infobox MLB retired
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bgcolor2=#005c5c
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textcolor2=white


name=Bill Swift
position=Pitcher
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1961|10|27
city-state|Portland|Maine
debutdate=June 7
debutyear=1985
debutteam=Seattle Mariners
finaldate=September 11
finalyear=1998
finalteam=Seattle Mariners
stat1label=Record
stat1value=94-78
stat2label=ERA
stat2value=3.95
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=767
teams=
*Seattle Mariners (by|1985-by|1986, by|1988-by|1991, by|1998)
*San Francisco Giants (by|1992-by|1994)
*Colorado Rockies (by|1995-by|1997)
highlights=
* Led the N.L. in ERA with 2.08 in 1992
* 21 wins with the Giants in 1993

William Charles Swift (born October 27, 1961 in Portland, Maine) is a former Major League Baseball player.

After graduating South Portland High School, Swift attended the University of Maine. Swift pitched for the 1984 U.S. Olympic team and was a first-round draft pick (second selection) by the Seattle Mariners following his senior year at Maine. In 1991 he was traded to the San Francisco Giants along with pitchers Mike Jackson and Dave Burba for outfielder Kevin Mitchell and pitcher Mike Remlinger. The Giants immediately moved Swift from the bullpen to the starting rotation, where he emerged as one of the league's best pitchers, leading the league with a 2.08 ERA in 1992 and winning 21 games in 1993.

Between 1995 and 1997 he played for the Colorado Rockies. While the Rockies had high hopes for Swift, he struggled with back pains and the thin air of Colorado, and never again put up numbers comparable to his days with the Giants. He was eventually released by the Rockies due to shoulder trouble and triceps tightness.

In 1998, Swift returned to the Seattle Mariners. He struggled, posting an 11-9 record with a 5.85 ERA and 1.62 WHIP. Following the season, Swift retired from Major League Baseball.

On December 22, 1999, USA Today named Bill Swift as one of Maine's best athletes of the 20th century. [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/century1.htm]

Bill Swift now coaches High School Baseball for his daughter's school, Scottsdale Christian Academy in Phoenix, AZ.

ee also

* List of Major League Baseball ERA champions

References

* Betit, Paul. " [http://sports.mainetoday.com/highschool/stry.html?id=0404170091 He´s got them all making their pitch] ". Portland Press Herald (maintoday.com). April 17, 2004.
* Gould, Lance. " [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/century1.htm Athletes of the Century] ". USA Today. December 22, 1999.

External links

* [http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/bill_swift.shtml Bill Swift profile] provided by thebaseballcube.com