Bill Slayback, baseball player, 1972-1974

Bill Slayback

Born: 2/21/1948 in Hollywood, CA, USA

Died: 3/25/2015 in Los Angeles, CA, USA

MLB Debut: 1972-06-26 | Final Game: 1974-10-02

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'4" | Weight: 200 lbs

Full name: William Grover Slayback

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Biography

Bill Slayback, born in 1948, was a professional baseball pitcher whose career spanned from 1972 to 1974. Making his debut during a time when Major League Baseball was experiencing significant changes, including the rise of free agency and the evolution of player roles, Slayback contributed to the game primarily as a starting pitcher. Over the course of his career, he compiled a record of 6-9 with a respectable earned run average (ERA) of 3.84, showcasing his ability to keep runs to a minimum in an era marked by a transition towards more offensive play. Throughout his time in the majors, Slayback struck out 89 batters, demonstrating his strikeout capability despite not being known as a dominant ace. He played for the Detroit Tigers, where he made a notable impact in the early 1970s, a pivotal period in baseball history that laid the groundwork for modern pitching strategies. Although he did not achieve any saves during his career, his contributions on the mound were significant in his role as a reliable option for the Tigers during his tenure. Bill Slayback’s career, while brief, reflects the evolving landscape of baseball in the early 1970s.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
6 9 42 17 3 1 0 138.3 136 59 5 51 89 3.84 0

Career ERA 3.84 vs. league average 3.55 across their career seasons — 8.1% worse than league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year Team Lg W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER BB SO ERA Lg ERA Pitcher PIV
1972 DET AL 5 6 23 13 3 1 0 81.7 74 29 25 65 3.20 3.26 (+2%) 1795.7
1973 DET AL 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 2.0 5 1 0 1 4.50 — 0.0
1974 DET AL 1 3 16 4 0 0 0 54.7 57 29 26 23 4.77 3.63 (-32%) 84.7

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
42 23 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0.174 0.174 0.174 0.348 0.0

Career AVG .174 vs. league average .253 across their career seasons — 31.2% below league average.

Career OBP .174 vs. league average .320 across their career seasons — 45.7% below league average.

Career SLG .174 vs. league average .367 across their career seasons — 52.7% below league average.

Career OPS 0.348 vs. league average 0.688 across their career seasons — 49.4% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1972 DET AL 23 23 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0.174 — — — — 0.0
1973 DET AL 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 — — — — 0.0
1974 DET AL 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
P 42 17 6 23 3 0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1972 DET P 23 13 5 15 2 0
1973 DET P 3 0 0 0 0 0
1974 DET P 16 4 1 8 1 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 42

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
Glendale Community College Glendale CA 1968