/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/2093477/traversbill.0.jpg)
On this day in 1952 Bill Travers was born in Norwood, Massachusetts. The Brewers selected the left handed pitcher in the sixth round (127th overall) in the 1970 draft when he was just 17 years old, and he made his major league debut as a 21-year-old in 1974.
Travers made his first major league start in '74 and went on to make 157 as a Brewer over seven seasons in Milwaukee, posting a 4.10 ERA. 1976 was easily his best season: He pitched a career high 240 innings (his only season above 200), had a 2.81 ERA and was an American League All Star for the only time in his career.
Travers last pitched for the Brewers in 1980 but is still among the franchise leaders in all of the following stats:
Stat | # | Rank |
Hit batsmen | 42 | 3rd |
Walks | 392 | 5th |
Losses | 67 | 6th |
Complete games | 46 | 7th |
Wins | 65 | 9th |
Starts | 157 | 9th |
Innings pitched | 1068.1 | 10th |
Hits | 1067 | 10th |
Runs | 532 | 10th |
Travers turns 60 today. With help from the B-Ref Play Index, we'd also like to wish a happy birthday to:
- Eau Claire, Wisconsin native Brad Radke, who turns 40. Radke played 12 major league seasons with the Twins between 1995-2006.
- 1981-86 Brewer Pete Vuckovich, who turns 60. We covered his birthday in this space last year.
- 1975-76 Brewer Rick Austin, who turns 66.