Travers was a solid starter for the Brewers before they had achieved respectability,
and gradually improved along with the team. The 6'4" 187-lb starter was selected
for the All-Star Game in 1976 (he did not play), finishing the year at 15-16 with
a 2.81 ERA, despite being set back by Legionnaire's disease (a dangerous form of
the flu) in mid-season. He had a 1.91 ERA at the All-Star break, but went 5-10 in
the second half. Travers dropped to 4-12 in 1977 and missed five weeks with a sore
arm. He went 14-8 in 1979 as Milwaukee contended and followed with a 12-6 year. After
signing with the Angels as a free agent for 1981, he lost his effectiveness.
(SFS)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»June 30, 1975:
The Brewers whip the Yanks, 5–4, by scoring two runs in the bottom of the 9th. Bobby Darwin's 8th homer of the year is the big blow. Bill Travers (4-0) takes the win. Milwaukee, winners of 15 out of their last 21, is in 3rd place in the East.
»July 8, 1975: The Royals jump on Milwaukee starter Bill Travers for five runs in a third of an inning and flatten the Brewers, 9–1. The Brewers lone run is George Scott's 16th homer of the year. Mike Hegan pinch hits for Hank Aaron, the 6th time in his career that's occurred. All the pinch hitters have been lefties.
»August 14, 1977:
After taking the opener, 12–5, the Indians light up Milwaukee's Bill Travers for 18 hits and 14 runs to win, 14–5. It will be 21 years before another pitcher—Mike Oquist on August 3, 1998 versus the Yankees—allows 14 runs.
»August 3, 1998:
Leading off for the Yankees, Chuck Knoblauch lines a hit off Mike Oquist's ribs, and the Yankees continue to connect off the Oakland pitcher for 15 more hits, including four homers, in five innings. New York wins, 14–1, scoring all 14 earned runs off Oquist, the most runs allowed since Bill Travers in August 1977. Orlando Hernandez picks up the win.
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