Bill Swift

For the pitcher who played from 1932 to 1943, see Bill Swift (1930s pitcher).

Bill Swift
Pitcher
Born: (1961-10-27) October 27, 1961 Portland, Maine
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 7, 1985, for the Seattle Mariners
Last MLB appearance
September 11, 1998, for the Seattle Mariners
MLB statistics
Win–Loss record	94–78
Earned run average	3.95
Strikeouts	767
Teams
Seattle Mariners (1985–1986, 1988–1991) San Francisco Giants (1992–1994) Colorado Rockies (1995–1997) Seattle Mariners (1998)
Career highlights and awards
NL ERA leader (1992)

Bill Swift

Medal record
Representing United States
Men's Baseball
Summer Olympics
	1984 Los Angeles	Team
Baseball World Cup
	1982 Seoul	Team
Intercontinental Cup
	1983 Brussels	Team

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

After graduating South Portland High School, Swift attended the University of Maine, where he played college baseball for the Maine Black Bears baseball team from 1981 to 1984, making four consecutive College World Series appearances. 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 a shoulder injury, back pains, and the psychological difficulties of 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. After the season, he retired from baseball.

On December 22, 1999, USA Today named Bill Swift as one of Maine's best athletes of the 20th century.[1]

Bill Swift now coaches High School Baseball for the school where his three daughters Aubrey, Mackenzie, and Brynlie attend Scottsdale Christian Academy in Phoenix, Arizona.

References

• Betit, Paul. "He´s got them all making their pitch". Portland Press Herald (maintoday.com). April 17, 2004.
• Gould, Lance. "Athletes of the Century". USA Today. December 22, 1999.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs