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Floyd Bannister

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Floyd Bannister
Bannister in 1981
Pitcher
Born: (1955-06-10) June 10, 1955 (age 69)
Pierre, South Dakota, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
Professional debut
MLB: April 19, 1977, for the Houston Astros
NPB: April 8, 1990, for the Yakult Swallows
Last appearance
NPB: June 14, 1990, for the Yakult Swallows
MLB: August 10, 1992, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record134–143
Earned run average4.06
Strikeouts1,723
NPB statistics
Win–loss record3–2
Earned run average4.04
Strikeouts31
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's Baseball
Representing  United States
Baseball World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1974 St. Petersburg Team

Floyd Franklin Bannister (born June 10, 1955)[1] is an American former professional baseball left-handed pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros (1977–1978), Seattle Mariners (1979–1982), Chicago White Sox (1983–1987), Kansas City Royals (1988–1989), California Angels (1991), and Texas Rangers (1992). Bannister also played for the Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), in 1990. Bannister was the first overall pick in the 1976 MLB draft.

History

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In 1973, as a high school senior, Bannister led his Kennedy High School team to a state championship, pitching 15 wins and 0 losses with a season ERA of 0.00.[2] His performance led to him being selected in the third round (71st overall) of the 1973 Major League Baseball draft by the Oakland Athletics, but he did not sign.[3]

Bannister went on to attend Arizona State University, where he was named college player of the year by The Sporting News as a junior. He was selected by the Houston Astros as the first overall pick of the 1976 Major League Baseball draft, and signed with team, earning a $100,000 bonus.[4]

After pitching just seven games in the minors in 1976, Bannister opened the 1977 season with the Astros. He appeared in 24 games (23 starts), going 8–9 with a 4.04 earned run average (ERA).[1] He spent one more season with the Astros before being traded to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for shortstop Craig Reynolds on December 8, 1978.[5] He spent four years in Seattle, with his last year there being perhaps his best. Bannister finished the season 12–13 with a 3.43 ERA in 35 starts, and was selected to the All-Star Game for the first and only time in his career. He also led the American League with 209 strikeouts, a career best.[1] In 1983 and 1985, he led the American League in strikeouts per nine innings with averages of 8.0 and 8.5, respectively.[1]

On December 13, 1982, Bannister signed a five-year contract with the Chicago White Sox as a free agent.[6] During his time in Chicago, he was a solid starting pitcher, averaging 13 wins each year. In his first season with the White Sox, Bannister went 16–10 with a career-low 3.35 ERA in 34 starts, helping the team earn a playoff spot.[1] He also tossed a career-high 11 complete games in 1987, his last season with the White Sox.[1]

On December 10, 1987, Bannister and infielder Dave Cochrane were traded to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for pitchers John Davis, Mélido Pérez, Chuck Mount and Greg Hibbard.[7] Bannister had another solid season in 1988, going 12–13 with a 4.33 ERA in 31 starts.[1] However, in June 1989, he suffered an injury which knocked him out for the rest of the year. Finding no takers on the free agent market, Bannister went to Japan in 1990, playing for the Yakult Swallows. In nine starts for the Swallows, he went 3–2 with a 4.04 ERA.[8]

On December 13, 1990, Bannister signed a minor league contract with the California Angels,[9] where he was converted into a reliever. He recorded a 3.96 ERA in 16 relief appearances with the Angels before being released on August 29.[1] After one last season with the Texas Rangers in 1992, Bannister was released in August, ending his professional career.[1]

Armed with a strong fastball, an excellent slider, and above average curveball, Bannister recorded an average of 6.49 strikeouts per nine innings in his career, but was also shuffled between six different teams in his 15-year career. He gave up more than 30 home runs in four different seasons and was followed by criticism for a reluctance to move hitters off the plate by pitching inside.[citation needed]

In a 15-year major league career, Bannister compiled a 134–143 record, with a 4.06 ERA in 431 games (363 starts). He had 62 complete games in his career, along with 16 shutouts. He amassed 1,723 strikeouts over his career, averaging 147 a year.[1]

His son, Brian Bannister, pitched for five seasons for the New York Mets and the Kansas City Royals. Floyd ("Flo B") now manages Brian's professional photography studio in Phoenix.[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Floyd Bannister Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  2. ^ Ringer, Sandy (May 29, 2003). "Seasons in the sun: Prep athletes who have left indelible marks". The Seattle Times.
  3. ^ "3rd Round of the 1973 MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  4. ^ "1st Round of the 1976 MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  5. ^ Chass, Murray (December 9, 1978). "Carew Rejects Offer; Twins Get Koosman". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  6. ^ "WHITE SOX GET BANNISTER". The New York Times. Associated Press. December 14, 1982. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  7. ^ "Royals Get Bannister". The New York Times. December 11, 1987. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  8. ^ "Floyd Bannister Minor & Japanese Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  9. ^ "BANNISTER SIGNS WITH ANGELS". Deseret News. December 13, 1990. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  10. ^ Lindbergh, Ben; Sawchik, Travis (June 7, 2019). "How MLB Washout Brian Bannister Became the Red Sox' Pitching Guru". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  • Floyd Bannister - Baseballbiography.com
  • "...Floyd Bannister Named To National College Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2008" link
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Preceded by Opening Day starting pitcher
for the Seattle Mariners
1982 		Succeeded by
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