Swift pitched on the 1984 U.S. Olympic team and was the second choice overall in that
year's free agent draft by the Seattle Mariners. He was rushed to the majors after just two months in the minors and was overmatched, suffering through a five-game losing streak en route to a 6-10 record with a 4.77 ERA. In 1986, shuttling between Calgary and Seattle, Swift had a 2-9 record with a 5.46 ERA.
Swift flashed moments of brilliance, including a 1-0 win over the Yankees and Tommy John in 1986, when he went 7 2/3 innings without allowing a base hit. But after missing the 1987 season with bone spurs in his elbow, he was unable to gain any consistency for the Mariners in '88, and was shuffled between the rotation and bullpen. Between 1990 and '91, he made 126 appearances, and all but three were in relief.
Sent to the Giants along with Mike Jackson and Dave Burba for Kevin Mitchell and Mike Remlinger in December 1991, Swift came into his own. Inserted into the Giants rotation, he led the National League with a 2.08 ERA in '92. He followed that up in 1993 by winning 21 games, teaming with John Burkett to become the only tandem in Giants history to win 20 games in the same season.
Hindered by arm problems, Swift started only 17 games for the Giants in 1994, but still posted a solid 3.38 ERA. He signed with the Colorado Rockies in December 1994, hoping to conquer Coors Field and give the Rockies a much-needed ace. A finesse pitcher who induced many groundouts, Swift's pitching style seemed ideal for the thin air of Colorado.
Swift went 9-3 in his first season as a Rockie, but it was accompanied by a 4.94 ERA. He barely pitched in '96 due to shoulder trouble and tricep tightness, and was completely ineffective in '97, posting a dreadful 6.34 ERA. The Rockies finally released Swift, realizing that he was never going to regain the form that made him an ace with the Giants.
(GL)
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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»June 6, 1983: The Twins select pitcher Tim Belcher with the first pick in the annual June free-agent draft, but Belcher will reject their $125,000 signing bonus offer and pitch for Team USA in the Pan American Games instead. He is the only first-rounder who doesn't sign. Belcher will be the first selected in the January 1984 draft. The Twins 2nd round pick, P Billy Swift, also doesn't sign. The Reds take Kurt Stillwell with the 2nd pick overall and Chris Sabo on round 2. Roger Clemens is taken with the 19th pick. The A's get Terry Steinbach, Brian Dorsett, and Greg Cadaret on the 9th, 10th and 11th rounds. The Phillies pick Ricky Jordan on the 1st round. The Reds pick up Stillwell in the 1st round, Sabo and Joe Oliver in the 2nd round, Lenny Harris (5th) and Jeff Montgomery (9th).
»June 17, 1993: Giants OF Darren Lewis sets a major league record by playing his 243rd consecutive errorless game. It is the most ever by an OF at the start of his career. The Giants defeat the Reds, 5-1, as Bill Swift and Kevin Rogers combine to 1-hit Cincinnati. Kevin Mitchell's infield single leading off the 8th inning is the Reds' only hit.
»September 20, 1995: Maybe it shoulda rained. The Padres play their 1,000th straight home game without a rainout, a streak going back to 1983, but the Rockies win, 102. Bill Swift (8-2) is the winner. Vinny Castilla hits his 32nd home run and Walt Weiss his 1st of the year.
»July 17, 1998:
The Mariners sink the Royals, 185, for their 5th straight win. Bill Swift gives up five runs in 5+ innings, but it is good enough to win. Dan Wilson is 3for4 and drives in six runs for the M's. Wilson, Alex Rodriguez, and Jay Buhner clout homers.
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