1976 Topps #619 - Bill Butler

• Bill Butler played in seven seasons in the majors from 1969-1977. Butler was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 1965. Bill pitched in the Detroit organization from 1965-1968 and then was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the expansion draft.
• Butler appeared in 34 games (29 starts) for the Royals in 1969 and was 9-10 with a 3.90 ERA. Bill was up and down between AAA and the Royals in 1970 and in 1971. Butler went 4-12 with a 3.77 ERA in 25 starts for the Royals in 1970 and was 1-2 with a 3.45 ERA in 14 games (6 starts) in 1971.
• Bill started the 1972 season with AAA Omaha. On July 11 Butler was sold to the Cleveland Indians. Bill was in the minors for a while and then came up to the Indians at the end of the 1972 season. Butler pitched in six games (two starts) and had a 1.54 ERA for the Indians in 1972.
• Butler was in the minors in 1973 and after the season was traded to the Minnesota Twins. Butler started the 1974 season in AAA but came up to Minnesota after going 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA in four starts. Bill had a 4-6 record with a 4.10 ERA in 26 games (12 starts) for the Twins in 1974.
• Butler stayed in the majors for the entire 1975 season and was 5-4 with a 5.95 ERA in 23 games (8 starts).
• Bill was in AAA for the entire 1976 season and for the beginning of the 1977 season. Butler came up to the Twins in mid-June and stayed for about a month. Bill was 0-1 with a 6.86 ERA in six games (four starts) during his stint with the Twins. Butler was involved in a controversy in 1976 while playing for the Tacoma Twins. The Hawaii Islanders stadium had a ban against metal cleats. Butler ignored the ban and warmed up with the cleats on. Stadium officials turned off the lights and the game was forfeited to Tacoma since the home team was responsible for field conditions. The PCL president upheld the forfeit but Minor League head Bobby Bragan ordered the game to be replayed.
• After the 1977 season Butler was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Rex Hudson. The Dodgers tried to make Bill a reliever. Bill had a 7.14 ERA in 47 games for AAA Albuquerque in 1978 and retired after the season.

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