 William Richard Campbell was born August 9, 1948 in Highland Park, Michigan. Nicknamed 'Soup', Campbell was signed as an amateur free agent in September of 1970 by the Minnesota Twins. Campbell pitched his way through the minor leagues from 1971-1973 before making his major league debut with the Twins in July of 1973. Bill Campbell appeared in 28 games for the Twins as a rookie in 1973 going 3-3 wit 7 saves and a 3.14 ERA. Campbell emerged as a legitimate superstar during the 1976 season when he posted a 17-5 record as a reliever with 20 saves and a 3.01 ERA. He won the 1976 American League Rolaids Relief award as the best reliever in the American League. At the end of the 1976 season, Campbell was granted free agency and he signed a big time free agent contract to play for the Boston Red Sox. Campbell remained as dominant in 1977 posting a 13-9 record, with 31 saves and a 2.96. He made the American League All Star team and won his second consecutive Rolaids Relief award. An arm injury in 1978 eroded his skills and he never regained his dominance but he still remained very effective at the major league level. Campbell pitched for the Red Sox until 1981. He signed as free agent contract with the Chicago Cubs in December of 1981. After 2 seasons in Chicago, Campbell was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. A year later, Campbell was on the move again, this time he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals and was apart of the National League Champion Club that would go on and loose the 1985 World Series to the Kansas City Royals. Campbell played with the Tigers in 1986 and the Expos in 1987. He retired after in the 1987 season. Bill Campbell played 15 seasons in the major leagues, winning 83 games, saving 126 and posting a 3.54 career ERA. |
