A standout at Arizona State, Bannister was named College Player of the Year by The Sporting News in 1976 and was the nation 's first draft pick that June. He reached the Astros in 1977, but was ill and had blister problems in 1978 and was traded to the Mariners for Craig Reynolds. With his 90-mph fastball, sharp slider, and excellent curveball, Bannister notched many strikeouts but few wins. He fanned an AL-high 209 batters in 1982, but averaged just 10 wins a season in Seattle.
Playing out his option, Bannister signed with the White Sox for 1983. After losing nine of his first 12 decisions, he became the catalyst for Chicago's '83 pennant drive, going 13-1 (2.23) after the All-Star break. But lacking the killer instinct and rarely willing to pitch inside, he was frequently victimized by the longball, and was perceived as not living up to his potential. After he boosted his value by going 16-11 in 1987, the White Sox traded him to the Royals for four young players, including pitching prospects Melido Perez and John Davis.
Bannister won 12 games in 31 starts for the Royals in 1988, but that year would be his last a full-time starter. A shoulder injury cut short his season in 1989, and after surfacing briefly in the Japanese League in 1990, Bannister spent his last two years working out of the bullpen for California and Texas. (RL/AGL)
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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»June 8, 1976: The Houston Astros, picking first in the baseball draft, select Arizona State P Floyd Bannister, TSN's College Player of the Year. Bannister is one of 12 eventual major leaguers from the ASU team, which finished 3rd in the College World Series. The Tigers take P Pat Underwood with the 2nd pick. OF Rickey Henderson lasts until the 4th round.
»August 3, 1979:
At Seattle, the Mariners edge the A's, 1–0 behind Floyd Bannister. During the game a foul ball hits a speaker and is caught by the A's pitcher for an out. On sept three another richochet off a speaker will be caught by the M's 1B. In tomorrow's 5–3 loss to the A's, Rupert Jones hits a foul that sticks in speaker above the 1B dugout.
»December 13, 1982: Free-agent P Floyd Bannister, who led the AL with 209 strikeouts at Seattle last season, signs a 5-year contract with the White Sox for a reported $4.5 million. As compensation, the M's will pick minor leaguer Danny Tartabull from the player pool on January 20.
»February 7, 1983: As compensation for the loss of free-agent pitcher Floyd Bannister to the White Sox, the Mariners select 20-year-old minor league infielder Danny Tartabull from the Reds organization. Tartabull hit .227 for Waterbury (Eastern League) last season.
»October 4, 1986:
At the Metrodome, the Twins Greg Gagne lines a 2nd inning inside-the-park homer off Chicago's Floyd Bannister. In his next at bat, there are two runners on when he repeats, again off Bannister, to tie the American League record. Gagne almost sets a 20th-century record with a third IPHR, but settles for a triple.
»September 13, 1987: Chicago's Floyd Bannister faces the minimum 27 batters in a 2–0 one-hitter against Seattle, striking out 10 while walking none. Hard-luck loser Mark Langston pitches a 2-hitter for the Mariners.
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