A Royals expansion draft pick from the Tigers, Butler was a Topps All-Star Rookie
in 1969. Although his record was a modest 9-10, he struck out 156 in only 193 innings.
He tumbled to 4-12 the next year as a sore elbow cost him his fastball.
(MC)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»April 13, 1969:
The Royals split a pair with the Athletics, taking the opener, 4–1 as Mike Fiore hits the first homer in the Royals' history. Bill Butler wins over Blue Moon Odom. Jim Nash shuts out the Royals in the nitecap, 3–0, with Reggie Jackson and Dick Green supplying homers.
»April 7, 1976: At Aloha Stadium in Hawaii, a controversy arises about metal cleats prior to a PCL game with Tacoma. Despite the ban on the cleats in the stadium, Tacoma P Bill Butler insists on wearing them and stadium officials switch off the lights during warm-up. Thirty minutes to game, umpire Bill Lawton awards a forfeit to Tacoma since the home team is responsible for playing conditions. The PCL will uphold the forfeit, but minor league prexy bobby Bragan will overrule it (according to historian Rich Marazzi).
»May 7, 1976: At Honolulu's Aloha Stadium, in a PCL game between the Tacoma Twins and Hawaii, Twins P Bill Butler ignores the stadium ban against metal cleats and begins warming up. Stadium officials then turn the outfield lights off, and after 30 minutes of darkness, umpire Bill Lawson forfeits the game to Tacoma. PCL President Roy Jackson supports the umpire, but a few weeks later, Minor League head Bobby Bragan overrules Jackson and orders the game replayed.
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