Bill Travers – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Bill Travers left professional baseball in 1983, closing out a ten-year career that had its share of both memorable highs and some pretty tough lows. This left-handed pitcher from Norwood, Massachusetts, spent most of his time with the Milwaukee Brewers, then wrapped things up with the California Angels.

Travers retired after the 1983 season with a career record of 65 wins and 71 losses. He racked up 488 strikeouts and finished with a 4.10 ERA in 205 games. His journey through Major League Baseball started with early promise, like that All-Star selection in 1976, but recurring arm injuries and surgeries kept slowing him down.

Bill Travers’ story gives us a look at how talent and determination can push a player past early challenges, even as injuries can completely change a career’s direction. From his high school days to his battles with elbow problems—problems that foreshadowed the now-famous Tommy John surgery—Travers’ path through pro baseball shows the opportunities and challenges that shaped the sport in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Retirement in 1983 and Final MLB Season

Bill Travers wrapped up his decade-long Major League Baseball career in 1983 with the California Angels. His final season closed the chapter that began with the Brewers back in 1974.

Circumstances Leading to Retirement

Travers started the 1983 season knowing it might be his last shot at the big leagues. The left-handed pitcher had struggled with consistency over the years, ending up with a lifetime record of 65 wins and 71 losses in 205 games.

By then, Travers was 30 and facing more competition from younger arms. The Angels brought him in for his experience, but his role wasn’t what it used to be in Milwaukee.

He made his final MLB appearance in July 1983. After that, Travers chose to leave the game instead of chasing roster spots or heading to the minors.

Performance and Statistics in 1983

The 1983 season was a tough one for Travers with the Angels. His stats showed the struggles that come with being an older pitcher in a league full of younger talent.

He saw limited action that year. The Angels mostly used him out of the bullpen, which was a change from his earlier days as a starter and reliever with Milwaukee.

His numbers in 1983 reflected the decline that often comes with a player’s final year. Travers just couldn’t recapture the effectiveness that kept him around for so long.

Impact on Former Teams

Travers spent most of his career with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he built a reputation as a dependable lefty. When he left Milwaukee, the team made room for younger pitchers to step up.

The Angels saw Travers as a short-term fix for their pitching staff in 1983. Once he retired, they had the chance to look at other pitching prospects.

Both the Brewers and Angels moved forward pretty smoothly after Travers’ retirement. His experience was valuable, but both teams managed to fill his spot with new talent.

Career Overview and Teams

Bill Travers pitched in the majors from 1974 to 1983, mostly with the Milwaukee Brewers, then finishing up with the California Angels. His ten-year MLB run included some standout performances and important contributions to both teams during a competitive era.

Early MLB Career

The Milwaukee Brewers drafted Bill Travers in 1970, launching his pro baseball journey. He spent four years working his way through the minors before debuting with the Brewers in 1974.

He showed promise right away. Travers moved up through the Brewers’ farm system, playing for teams like the Clinton Pilots, Danville Warriors, and San Antonio Brewers.

In the minors, Travers put together a 17-27 record with a 3.69 ERA over 71 games. That experience helped him get ready for the big leagues.

Time with the Milwaukee Brewers

Travers spent most of his MLB years with the Brewers from 1974 to 1981. During that time, he became a steady presence in their rotation.

One game that stands out happened on April 10, 1976, when he started against the Yankees at County Stadium. The Brewers jumped out to a 6-0 lead, but the Yankees came back to win 9-7.

Travers grew into a reliable starter for Milwaukee in the late ’70s and early ’80s. His left-handed pitching gave the Brewers some much-needed depth.

He stayed with the Brewers for eight seasons. That long stint let him get to know American League hitters and refine his pitching.

Stint with the California Angels

Travers finished his MLB career with the California Angels, playing his last season in 1983. The move to California was a big change after so many years in Milwaukee.

His 1983 season with the Angels marked the end of his time in pro baseball. Stats from that year show he kept contributing as a starter.

Playing in the AL West was a new experience after years in the AL East. Travers managed to adapt to his new surroundings.

Notable Career Highlights

Over his ten-year MLB career, Travers consistently delivered as a lefty pitcher. He played through a tough, competitive stretch of baseball in the late ’70s and early ’80s.

He faced some of the best hitters and teams of his era. Those matchups against the Yankees, for example, showed he could hang with the best.

Staying in the majors for nearly a decade takes skill and adaptability. Travers managed to stick around and contribute for a long time.

His career wrapped up after the 1983 season, ending a solid run that started in Milwaukee and finished in California.

Pitching Performance and Key Metrics

Bill Travers finished with a career record of 65 wins and 71 losses and a 4.10 ERA over nine seasons. His 488 strikeouts and steady performance made him a reliable option for both the Brewers and Angels.

Wins and Losses Record

Travers closed his career with a 65-71 record. He was dependable, though not a dominant pitcher. That win-loss record tells the story of someone who fought through tough seasons and kept his spot in the rotation.

He faced plenty of adversity. Travers never managed to put up a big positive win-loss number, but he brought value beyond just the stats.

In 1983, his final season, Travers saw limited action with the Angels. He pitched in only 10 games, a sign that his time in the majors was winding down.

Earned Run Average (ERA)

Travers kept a 4.10 ERA across his career, which counted as solid for his era. That ERA put him about in the middle among major league pitchers back then.

In 1983, his numbers were mixed. At home, he posted a 4.40 ERA over 14.1 innings. On the road, things got rough, and his ERA jumped to 6.73 over 28.1 innings.

He struggled on the road in his last season. Travers allowed 44 hits and 21 earned runs away from home, which played a role in his decision to retire.

Strikeouts and Pitching Style

Travers picked up 488 strikeouts in nine years, averaging about 54 per season. He pitched to contact more than he chased strikeouts.

His style leaned on location and mixing speeds, not overpowering hitters. Travers worked through lineups by getting ground balls and weak contact, which kept him in the rotation even without huge strikeout totals.

His strikeout stats show consistency, not dominance. He didn’t have many big strikeout games, but he got outs however he could to help his team.

Analysis Using Advanced Metrics

Modern analytics give us more ways to look at Travers’ performance than just the old-school stats. Sports Info Solutions and similar groups now track pitch types, velocity, and batted ball data that weren’t around when Travers played.

Those advanced stats would probably show Travers as someone who made the most of his ability. With a 4.10 ERA, he held his own in a tough offensive era. Today’s metrics help put his contributions in perspective.

Contemporary analysis tools measure defense and positioning, too. These systems translate things like fielding into real impact. Looking at Travers through that lens would give a fuller picture of his value to his teams.

Personal Life and Early Years

Bill Travers was born on October 27, 1952, in Norwood, Massachusetts. He honed his baseball skills at the local high school. The Milwaukee Brewers picked him in the sixth round of the 1970 draft when he was just 17.

Background and Hometown

Travers grew up in Norwood in a family that loved baseball. His dad played semi-pro ball as a catcher and later worked as a police officer in Norwood for nearly four decades.

He went to Norwood High School and made a name for himself as a standout pitcher. Travers threw three no-hitters in high school and, as a senior, posted a 13-0 record with a save.

He also played for the Norwood Post 70 American Legion team. That experience helped him get ready for pro ball.

Later, Travers married his high school sweetheart, Linda, and they had a daughter named Tiffany.

Draft and Amateur Career

The Milwaukee Brewers selected Travers in the sixth round of the 1970 MLB draft. He was just a few months shy of turning 18.

His high school stats grabbed the attention of pro scouts. Those no-hitters and his perfect senior year made him a top prospect.

Travers jumped right into pro ball after getting drafted. He started out with the Clinton Pilots in the Midwest League in 1970.

His first season was rough—he went 1-6 with a 5.62 ERA. Arm troubles started in 1972, leading to surgeries that would impact his whole career.

Legacy and Influence

Bill Travers made a lasting impact on the Milwaukee Brewers, even though injuries held him back. His 15 wins in 1976 helped lay the foundation for the franchise’s early success.

The Brewers honored him by

Career After Baseball

After his playing days ended, Travers moved into coaching.

He took on the role of pitching coach at Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts in 1990. That job let him share what he’d learned with younger players.

In 1989, Travers actually made a brief return to competitive baseball. He played for the St. Lucie Legends in the Senior Professional Baseball Association.

During that comeback, he went 4-6 with the team. The Senior Professional Baseball Association was pretty short-lived, meant for former major leaguers over 35.

A lot of retired players joined up just for a chance to get back on the field. Travers was one of the ex-MLB pitchers who gave it a shot.

His coaching gig at Dean College followed a more familiar route for retired players. Plenty of former big leaguers head into coaching at colleges or in pro organizations.

That kind of work keeps them close to the game and offers a steady job, honestly not a bad way to stay connected.

Estimated Net Worth

Bill Travers hasn’t shared specific details about his net worth. Most players from his era earned salaries that seem modest compared to what today’s athletes make.

He made the most money during the mid-1970s, especially when he played regularly for Milwaukee. Those years probably marked his financial peak in baseball.

MLB pension benefits probably make up a chunk of his retirement income. Players who spent enough time in the majors get monthly pension payments, but the amount really depends on how long they played and when.

Travers also coached at Dean College, which brought in some extra income. College coaching salaries can be all over the place, but for former players, it’s usually a steady gig.

When he briefly played with the St. Lucie Legends, he seemed to do it more for the competition than for money. The Senior Professional Baseball Association didn’t pay much, honestly.

Most guys joined that league because they loved the game, not because they expected big paychecks. The league only lasted two seasons before it folded from financial trouble.

Since we don’t have public financial records, it’s tough to pin down Travers’ exact net worth. Still, his MLB career and coaching work probably gave him a comfortable retirement.