| Bill Singer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1944-04-24)April 24, 1944 (age 80) Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 24, 1964, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 16, 1977, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 118–127 |
| Earned run average | 3.39 |
| Strikeouts | 1,515 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
William Robert Singer (born April 24, 1944) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher with a 14-year career from 1964 to 1977. He played primarily for theLos Angeles Dodgers (1964–72) and theCalifornia Angels (1973–75), spending his final two seasons with theTexas Rangers (1976),Minnesota Twins (1976), andToronto Blue Jays (1977). His nicknames included "Sing Sing," "Billy No-No" and "The Singer Throwing Machine."
Singer made his major league debut with theLos Angeles Dodgers on September 24, 1964, allowing one run in 6.1 innings in a start against theChicago Cubs, as he had a no-decision in a 4-3 loss atWrigley Field. Singer made one more start in 1964, allowing 4 runs in 7.2 innings in a 4-3 loss to the Cubs atDodger Stadium.
During the next two seasons, Singer saw very little action with the Dodgers, pitching five innings in five games, as he spent most of his time in the minor leagues.
He had his first full season in Los Angeles in 1967, as Singer had an impressive 12-8 record with a 2.64 ERA in 32 games, 29 of them starts. In 1968, Singer had a very solid ERA of 2.88, however, he had a losing record of 13-17.
During this period, the legendary Dodger announcer,Vin Scully, referred to Singer as "the Singer Throwing Machine."
Singer had a breakout season in 1969, tying withClaude Osteen with a club high 20 wins, as he had a 20-12 record with a club best 2.34 ERA. Singer played in the1969 Major League Baseball All-Star Game held atRFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., pitching two scoreless innings in the National League's 9-3 win. That year Singer also became the first pitcher to be officially credited with asave. The statistic was made official in 1969, and Singer recorded his on April 7, when he took over fromDon Drysdale and secured a 3-2 victory over theCincinnati Reds atCrosley Field.
He ran into injury problems in 1970, making only 16 starts, but had a record of 8-5 with a 3.13 ERA. After contracting hepatitis early in the season, he made a comeback, being named the NL Player of the Month for July as he had a 5-0 record with a 1.84 ERA. On the 20th of that month, heno-hit the Philadelphia Phillies 5-0 at Dodger Stadium. His season ended when he broke a finger.
Singer was the Dodgers opening day starter in 1971. However he struggled throughout the season, with a 10-17 record and a 4.16 ERA. He continued to struggle throughout the 1972 season, going only 6-16 with a 3.67 ERA.
On November 28, 1972, the Dodgers traded Singer,Billy Grabarkewitz,Frank Robinson,Mike Strahler, andBobby Valentine to theCalifornia Angels forKen McMullen andAndy Messersmith .
Singer had a very strong 1973 season with the Angels, tying a career high with 20 wins, as he was 20-14 with a 3.22 ERA in 40 starts. Singer played in the1973 Major League Baseball All-Star Game held atKauffman Stadium inKansas City, where he allowed three runs in two innings as the American League lost 7-1.
Singer's season was shortened by back problems in 1974. He made 14 starts, earning a 7-4 record with a 2.98 ERA. He struggled in the 1975 season, going 7-15 with a 4.98 ERA.
Singer was sent from the Angels to theTexas Rangers forJim Spencer and $100,000 on December 10, 1975.[1] He began the 1976 in Texas, and pitched well with them, going 4-1 with a 3.48 ERA in 10 starts. He was dealt along withRoy Smalley III,Mike Cubbage,Jim Gideon and $250,000 from theRangers to theMinnesota Twins forBert Blyleven andDanny Thompson on June 1.[2]
He finished the 1976 season with the Twins, making 26 starts, and finishing with a 9-9 record and a 3.77 ERA in Minnesota.
On November 5, 1976, theToronto Blue Jays drafted Singer in the1976 MLB Expansion Draft with the 28th overall selection. As a previous 20-game winner, Singer was one of the focal points of the Blue Jays initial marketing campaign. He was nearly traded forRon Guidry in a transaction approved by the Yankees but vetoed by Blue Jays presidentPeter Bavasi.[3]
Singer started the Blue Jays' first spring training game on March 11, 1977 atGrant Field in Dunedin, Florida. He surrendered a lead-off homerun to the Mets' Lee Mazzilli before the Blue Jays came back to win 3-1.[4]
Singer was also the opening day starter for the expansion Blue Jays in 1977. He gave up 11 hits and 3 walks in 4.1 innings, and garnered a no-decision in Toronto's 9-5 win over theChicago White Sox on a snowy afternoon atExhibition Stadium. Singer struggled with the Blue Jays, and spent six weeks on the disabled list in June and July 1977. Singer was ineffective in his return to the rotation on July 13, 1977 and was moved to the bullpen. On July 16, after a relief appearance, he was shut down for the rest of the season, and never again pitched in the major or minor leagues. He finished the 1977 season 2-8 with a 6.79 ERA.
Singer did not pitch during the 1978 season and was released from the Blue Jays on December 2, 1978. He then retired, finishing his career with a 118-127 record, a 3.39 ERA and 1,515 strikeouts.
After retirement he held various scouting and consulting positions withFlorida Marlins,Pittsburgh Pirates,Los Angeles Dodgers, and theNew York Mets.
In 2003, Singer was terminated from his position as special assistant to General ManagerJim Duquette of theNew York Mets after Singer disparaged the Los Angeles Dodgers' assistant general managerKim Ng during general manager meetings withnonsensical mock Chinese while asking about her background.[5] Ng was born in Indianapolis, Indiana to American-born parents of Chinese and Thai heritage. The incident was reported byESPN and theLos Angeles Times.[5] He later apologized, and blamed theAtkins diet and being drunk as the reasons for his remarks.[6]
He was later hired by theArizona Diamondbacks as a Major League scout in February 2005, with the Diamondbacks GMJoe Garagiola Jr stating, "We satisfied ourselves by talking to him, to other people about him and doing a thorough background check."[5] In 2006, the Washington Nationals hired Singer as a scout and promoted him to director of professional scouting in 2009.[7]
| Preceded by | No-hitter pitcher July 20, 1970 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Major League Player of the Month July, 1970 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Los Angeles DodgersOpening Day Starting pitcher 1971 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by None | Toronto Blue JaysOpening Day Starting pitcher 1977 | Succeeded by |