(Story & Photo by Marco Stoovelaar)
IN MEMORIAM
...Bill Campbell...
(1948 - 2023) |
 Former relief-great Bill Campbell passed away; Was teammate of Bert Blyleven, Win Remmerswaal
Nederlands
 PALATINE, Illinois (USA) -
Bill Campbell, who was one of the best relievers and closers in the seventies, passed away on Friday, January 6, at age 74.
It was reported that the former pitcher battled cancer and passed away in a hospice in Palatine, Illinois, which is a suburb of Chicago.
Campbell played in 15 Major League-seasons (1973-1987) for seven clubs.
In his career, Campbell has been a teammate of two Dutch players.
While playing for Minnesota Twins, he was a teammate of Dutch-born pitcher Bert Blyleven, who will be the Pitching Coach of the Netherlands Team again during the upcoming World Baseball Classic in March.
And when he played for Boston Red Sox, one of his teammates was Dutch-born and raised pitcher Win Remmerswaal, who passed away last year.
William Richard (Bill) Campbell was born on August 9, 1948 in Highland Park, Michigan, but he raised in California, where he also went to school.
After he was signed by Minnesota Twins in September 1970, Campbell initially was a starting pitcher in the Minor Leagues.
He started his professional career in 1971, playing in the Single-A team of the organization.
Pitching in nine games (eight starts), he was 5-3 with an 1.14 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 63 innings.
In the following season (1972), Campbell played in Double-A and was 13-10 in 29 games (all starts) with a 2.42 ERA and 204 strikeouts.
In 1973, Campbell began the season in Triple-A and again was a starting pitcher.
He started 18 games and was 10-5 with 110 strikeouts.
During the 1973 season, Campbell was recalled to the Major League-team.
On July 14, the righthander made his debut, pitching in relief for Minnesota in its former home Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington against Cleveland Indians.
With Cleveland leading 3-0, Campbell was inserted in the top of the ninth inning, taking over from starter Jim Kaat.
With one out, Campbell gave up a single to Charlie Spikes, but then struckout next batters Chris Chambliss and Rusty Torres.
This not only was his Major League-debut, it also was the beginning of his career as a reliever and mostly as a closer.
Later in the 1973 season, Campbell pitched in 27 more games.
Overall, he pitched in twenty games as closer.
He also was the starting pitcher for Minnesota twice.
Campbell made his first start on August 10 in an away-game against Milwaukee Brewers.
He then threw the first 3 2/3 inning and was the losing pitcher in a 5-1 loss.
As closer, he earned his first win five days later in a home-game against Detroit Tigers.
Campbell then threw the final three innings in relief of a 9-7 win.
Minnesota led 7-5 when Campbell entered the game with a runner on first base in the top of the seventh.
That runner scored and Detroit came alongside in the eighth.
But in the bottom of the eighth, Minnesota re-took the lead, thanks to a 2-run homerun by Larry Hisle.
With that Campbell became the pitcher-of-record and then retired the side in the ninth.
The final out was a grounder from Detroit-legend and future Hall of Famer Al Kaline.
On August 27, Campbell earned his first Major League-save when he pitched the final 2/3 inning in a 5-3 win in an away-game against Detroit Tigers.
Three days later, Campbell was credited with his second save when he secured a lead as closer for Bert Blyleven, who was born in Zeist (Netherlands), but moved to the USA at age two.
In an away-game against Texas Rangers, Blyleven was the starter for Minnesota.
With the score tied at 1-1 after nine innings, a scoreless tenth inning followed.
Minnesota then rallied for four runs in the top of the eleventh.
With Minnesota now leading 5-1, Blyleven returned to the mound in the bottom of the eleventh, but he then gave up a double to Jim Fregosi and a single to Larry Biittner.
With runners at the corners, Campbell took over in what now had become a save-situation.
Campbell was greeted with a runscoring single by Vic Harris, but then was supported with a double play and a grounder ended the game.
In his first big league-season, Campbell struckout 42 batters in 51 2/3 inning and was 3-3 with a 3.14 ERA, while earning seven saves.
In 1974, his second season, Campbell, who was nicknamed 'Soup', was inserted in 63 games as reliever, 55 of them as closer.
He was 8-7 with a 2.62 ERA and 19 saves, striking out 89 batters.
In the following season (1975), Campbell pitched in 47 games, this time including seven starts, but also 28 as closer.
In two of his starts, Campbell threw a complete game.
On June 21, he went the distance in an 8-3 win against Chicago White Sox.
And on July 4, Campbell threw a complete game 8-0 shutout against Texas Rangers.
This would be the last season in which Campbell would start a game.
In what was one of his best seasons, Campbell was the leading reliever in the Major League in 1976.
The righthander led the American League with 78 games and led the entire Major League by pitching in 68 games as closer.
Besides earning 20 saves, Campbell also was the winning pitcher in 17 games.
With that, he tied the Major League-record for most wins as reliever in a single season, which was set in 1974 by John Hiller.
Campbell was 17-5 with a 3.01 ERA and struckout 115 batters.
After the 1976 season, Campbell was the first winner of the American League Rolaids Relief Man Award.
Through 2012, this award was handed out annually to the top relief pitcher in both the American and National League.
When Bill Campbell became a Free Agent after the 1976 season, he was signed within a week by Boston Red Sox in November of that year.
In early June of the 1976 season, Minnesota had traded Bert Blyleven to Texas Rangers, together with Danny Thompson, for four players.
Amongst Campbell's teammates in all of his four seasons with Minnesota were Steve Braun, Steve Brye, Rod Carew, Larry Hisle, Tony Oliva, Jerry Terrell, Danny Thompson and fellow-pitchers Vic Albury, Bert Blyleven, Joe Decker and Dave Goltz.
Other teammates included Glenn Borgmann, Lyman Bostock, Mike Cubbage, Bobby Darwin, Dan Ford, Jim Holt, Harmon Killebrew, Craig Kusick, Joe Lis, George Mitterwald, Bob Randall, Phil Roof, Roy Smalley, Eric Soderholm, Danny Walton, Butch Wynegar and pitchers Tom Burgmeier, Ray Corbin, Bill Hands, Jim Kaat, Steve Luebber and Bill Singer.
Of these players, Carew (1991), Oliva (2022), Blyleven (2011), Killebrew (1984) and Kaat (2022) were all elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
After having signed with Boston Red Sox in November 1976, Bill Campbell played in five seasons for the team through 1981.
In his first season with Boston (1977), Campbell again was the prime closer and he also played in his lone All-Star Game.
He was inserted in 69 games, including a league-leading 60 as closer.
Campbell also led the American League with 31 saves.
He was 13-9 with a 2.96 ERA and struckout 114 batters in 140 innings.
For the second time in a row, Campbell won the Relief Man Award in the American League.
After the 1977 season, Campbell experienced some problems with his arm and was bothered with some injuries.
Although he still was inserted as closer, Campbell didn't made as many appearances as he had done in previous seasons.
In 1978, Campbell pitched in only 29 games, twenty of them as closer, and was 7-5 with only four saves.
The following season (1979), he made 41 pitching-appearances, including 23 as closer.
Campbell was 3-4 with nine saves.
...In 1976, Bill Campbell and Rawly Eastwick were...
...the first winners of the Relief Man Award...
...1976 baseball-card... |
In early August 1979, Campbell was joined in the Boston-bullpen by Win Remmerswaal, who was recalled to the Major League-team and became the first Dutch-born and raised player to reach the Major League.
Remmerswaal made his debut on August 3.
Two days later, Remmerswaal and Campbell both pitched in the same game.
In an away-game at Milwaukee Brewers, Dick Drago was the starter for Boston.
With Boston leading 8-0, Remmerswaal took over from Drago in the bottom of the fourth inning.
He retired the side, but then gave up three hits and two runs in the fifth inning after Boston had added three more runs itself.
In the sixth, Boston scored twice, then Remmerswaal gave up another run in the bottom of the sixth.
In the seventh inning, Remmerswaal was replaced by Tom Burgmeier, who also had been Campbell's teammate at Minnesota.
Burgmeier had joined Boston as a Free Agent in February 1978.
After Burgmeier had thrown two innings and with Boston now leading 19-4, Campbell pitched the ninth inning and gave up an unearned run.
Boston won 19-5 and Remmerswaal was credited with his first Major League-win.
Campbell and Remmerswaal again pitched in the same game on August 8 in an 8-2 loss at home against Cleveland Indians.
Starter (and losing pitcher) Steve Renko was relieved in the fourth inning by Remmerswaal, who then pitched 1 1/3 inning.
With runners on first and third base and one out in the sixth inning, Campbell took over from Remmerswaal.
He threw 3 2/3 inning, walked three batters and gave up four hits and two runs.
On September 3, Remmerswaal and Campbell pitched in the same game for the third (and last) time in a 10-6 loss at New York Yankees.
Dennis Eckersley started for Boston, then Joel Finch and Tom Burgmeier followed.
With two outs and a runner on third base in the bottom of the eighth, Remmerswaal took over from Finch.
But he gave up an RBI-triple to Willie Randolph, then a runscoring single to Juan Beniquez.
Thereafter, Remmerswaal was replaced by Campbell, who got an inning-ending grounder from Reggie Jackson.
Still bothered by arm-problems, Campbell also played in far less games in the 1980 and 1981 seasons.
In 1980, Campbell pitched in 23 games, while Tom Burgmeier and Bob Stanley were the prime closers.
He was not credited with a save, but he was the winning pitcher in four games.
In the 1980 season, Campbell again was a teammate of Remmerswaal, who this time was added to the team in June.
During the season, Campbell and Remmerswaal pitched in the same game five times.
In the 1981 season, the righthander pitched in 30 games, including 23 as closer and was 1-1 with seven saves.
After the 1981 season, Campbell was a Free Agent.
This time, he signed a new contract with Chicago Cubs in December 1981.
...Famous coach Don Zimmer was...
...Campbell's Manager in four...
...seasons with Boston Red Sox...
...On the photo, Zimmer is the...
...Bench Coach of Colorado...
...Rockies in 1993...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
In four of his five seasons with Boston, the team was led by wellknown Manager Don Zimmer.
Ralph Houk was the Manager in his fifth season.
In all his five seasons, Dwight Evans, Jim Rice, Carl Yastrzemski and pitcher Bob Stanley were teammates.
In four of his seasons, amongst his teammates were Rick Burleson, Carlton Fisk, Butch Hobson, Fred Lynn, Jerry Remy and pitchers Tom Burgmeier, Dennis Eckersley and Mike Torrez.
Amongst his other teammates were Gary Allenson, Jack Brohamer, Bernie Carbo, Denny Doyle, Frank Duffy, Jim Dwyer, Rich Gedman, Glenn Hoffman, Carney Lansford, Tony Perez, Joe Rudi, George Scott, Dave Stapleton, Bob Watson and pitchers Reggie Cleveland, Dick Drago, Joel Finch, Bruce Hurst, Ferguson Jenkins, Bill Lee, Chuck Rainey, Win Remmerswaal, Steve Renko, Frank Tanana, Luis Tiant and John Tudor.
Of this group, Rice (2009), Yastrzemski (1989), Fisk (2000), Eckersley (2004) and Jenkins (1991) were all elected into the Hall of Fame.
In 1982 and 1983, Bill Campbell played for Chicago Cubs and returned to his former role of being a prime reliever and closer.
Although he didn't dominated as he had done in 1974-1977, Campbell pitched in 60 or more games in both seasons.
In 1982, Campbell was inserted in 62 games, including 39 as closer, sharing that role with Willie Hernández (30 games finished) and Lee Smith (38).
Campbell finished the season with a 3-6 record, eight saves and a 3.69 ERA.
At Chicago, Campbell was re-united with Ferguson Jenkins and Allen Ripley, who had been teammates with Boston in respectively 1977 and 1978-1979.
The next season (1983), Campbell led the entire Major League by throwing in 82 games.
In 46 of them, he was the closer for Chicago.
Lee Smith was Chicago's prime closer in those years.
He closed 56 of the 66 games he pitched in.
The third regular closer this season was Warren Brusstar, who closed 21 games.
In this season, Campbell was re-united in the bullpen with Chuck Rainey, another former teammate at Boston for three seasons (1979-1981).
Rainey was traded by Boston to Chicago in December 1982.
In 1983, Campbell was 6-8 with eight saves and a 4.49 ERA and struckout 97 batters in 122 1/3 inning.
He led the American League by issuing 18 intentional walks.
Amongst Campbell's teammates at Chicago were Larry Bowa, Bill Buckner, Ron Cey, Jody Davis, Mike Diaz, Leon Durham, Mel Hall, Jay Johnstone, Junior Kennedy, Bob Molinaro, Jerry Morales, Keith Moreland, Ryne Sandberg, Pat Tabler, Bump Wills, Gary Woods and pitchers Doug Bird, Warren Brusstar, Willie Hernández, Ferguson Jenkins, Dickie Noles, Chuck Rainey, Rick Reuschel, Allen Ripley, Lee Smith and Dick Tidrow.
As mentioned, Jenkins was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1991.
From this group, Sandberg (2005) and Smith (2019) also were inducted into the Hall of Fame.
In March 1984, a week before the start of the new season, Campbell (together with Mike Diaz) was traded by Chicago to Philadelphia Phillies in a 5-player deal.
In his lone season with Philadelphia, Campbell pitched in 57 games, 24 of them as closer.
Al Holland was the prime closer of the team, as he closed 61 of the 68 games he pitched in.
Another wellknown reliever/closer in the Philadelphia-team that season was Tug McGraw, who was playing in his 19th and final Major League-season.
Campbell was 6-5 with a 3.43 ERA and was credited with only one save.
...In 1977, Bill Campbell won his second Relief Award...
...Rollie Fingers was the winner in the National League...
...1977 baseball-card... |
Amongst his teammates at Philadelphia were Tim Corcoran, Iván De Jesús, Greg Gross, Von Hayes, Sixto Lezcano, Garry Maddox, Len Matuszek, Juan Samuel, Mike Schmidt, Ozzie Virgil, Glenn Wilson, John Wockenfuss and pitchers Larry Andersen, Steve Carlton, Al Holland, Jerry Koosman and Tug McGraw.
Carlton (1994) and Schmidt (1995) were future Hall of Famers.
The next change in Campbell's career came in April 1985.
Three days before the start of the new season, the pitcher and Iván De Jesús were traded by Philadelphia to St. Louis Cardinals.
Campbell also played in only one season for St. Louis, which was led by wellknown Manager Whitey Herzog.
He appeared in 50 games, 18 of them as closer, was 5-3 with a 3.50 ERA and earned four saves.
With St. Louis, Campbell played in his lone World Series.
In the National League Championship Series, the righthander pitched in three games, closing one of them.
In the World Series against Kansas City Royals, Campbell also took the mound in three games, throwing four innings and striking out five batters.
Kansas City won the Series, 4-3.
Amongst his teammates at St. Louis was Steve Braun with whom Campbell played for Minnesota Twins in four seasons (1973-1976).
Other teammates included César Cedeño, Jack Clark, Vince Coleman, Iván De Jesús, Tom Herr, Mike Jorgensen, Tito Landrum, Willie McGee, Tom Nieto, Terry Pendleton, Darrell Porter, Lonnie Smith, future Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith (2002), Andy Van Slyke and pitchers Joaquín Andújar, Danny Cox, Bob Forsch, Ricky Horton, Jeff Lahti, Todd Worrell and former Boston-teammate John Tudor.
After the 1985 season, Campbell was released by St. Louis in November of that year.
He was then signed by Detroit Tigers in January 1986.
In his lone season with Detroit, Campbell pitched in 34 games, including 19 as closer.
He earned three saves and was 3-6 with a 3.88 ERA and 37 strikeouts.
Wellknown Sparky Anderson was the Manager of Detroit and amongst his teammates were Tom Brookens, Darnell Coles, Dave Collins, Darrell Evans, Kirk Gibson, Johnny Grubb, Larry Herndon, Chet Lemon, Lance Parrish, Pat Sheridan, Alan Trammell, Lou Whitaker and pitchers Willie Hernández, Jack Morris, Randy O'Neal, Dan Petry, Jim Slaton, Frank Tanana, Walt Terrell and Mark Thurmond.
Hernández also had been a teammate at Chicago (1982) and Tanana at Boston (1981).
Morris and Trammell were both inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.
In October 1986, Bill Campbell was released by Detroit.
This time, he had to wait longer to find a new club, but in March 1987, he was signed by Montreal Expos, his fifth new team in five years and sixth in seven seasons.
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...Bill Campbell was teammates of Dutch pitchers...
...Bert Blyleven (1973-1976) and Win Remmerswaal (1979-1980)...
...Baseball-cards 1974 (Blyleven) and 1981 (Remmerswaal)... |
His stay at Montreal ended on May 1, 1987 when he was released.
In his lone month with the Canadian club, Campbell pitched in seven games, one as closer.
He threw ten innings, struckout four batters and was 0-0 with an 8.10 ERA.
Amongst his teammates at Montreal were Hubie Brooks, Casey Candaele, Mike Fitzgerald, Tom Foley, Andres Galarraga, Wallace Johnson, Vance Law, Tim Raines (who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017), Tim Wallach, Mitch Webster, Herm Winningham and pitchers Tim Burke, Neal Heaton, Dennis Martínez, Bob McClure, Andy McGaffigan, Jeff Parrett, Lary Sorensen and Randy St. Claire.
After he was released by Montreal in May 1987, Campbell's Major League-career ended.
However, he continued his career in the shortlived Senior Professional Baseball Association (SPBA), which was originally a Florida-based winter league for players aged 35 and older.
There were many other wellknown former Major League-players who were active in this league, including future Hall of Famers Rollie Fingers, Ferguson Jenkins and Jim Rice.
Others included Joaquín Andújar, Vida Blue, 47-year old Bert Campaneris, Graig Nettles and Mickey Rivers.
Only two seasons were played in this new league.
In the 1989-1990 season, there were eight teams and Bill Campbell played for Winter Haven Super Sox, where his former Boston-teammate Bill Lee began as playing Manager, but he was replaced after only seven games.
Campbell pitched in 35 games, earned five saves, was 6-2 and led the league with a 2.12 ERA.
After the first season, four of the eight teams folded.
In the second season (1990-1991), there were six teams, four in Florida, one in Arizona and one in California.
But halfway, the season was halted when the SPBA folded in late December 1990.
In this second season, Campbell pitched in ten games for Arizona-based Sun City Rays.
In his 15-year Major League-career, Bill Campbell pitched in exactly 700 games, including 455 as closer.
He started nine games and completed two.
Campbell earned 126 saves, was 83-68 and closed with a 3.54 ERA.
In 1,229 1/3 inning, the righthander struckout 864 batters and walked 495.
Campbell was Minor League Pitching Coach in the Milwaukee Brewers-organization in 1992-1994 (Triple-A) and 1996 (Single-A).
He then returned to the Major League in 1999 when he was the Pitching Coach of Milwaukee Brewers.
In later years, he coached youth-teams in the Chicago-area, where he lived.
The webmaster of Grand Slam * Stats & News offers his condolences to the family and friends of Bill Campbell and wishes them a lot of strength with this big loss.
(January 17)
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