Bill Stafford
Encyclopedia
William Charles Stafford (August 13, 1939 — September 19, 2001) was a former professional baseball
player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1960-1967. Stafford was a successful pitcher for the New York Yankees
from 1961–1962, winning a combined 28 games in two seasons. He appeared in the World Series
3 times for the Yankees from 1960–1962, and was the winning pitcher in Game 3 of the 1962 World Series
versus the San Francisco Giants
. In September 2001, Stafford died in his home at the age of 62 of a heart attack.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1960-1967. Stafford was a successful pitcher for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
from 1961–1962, winning a combined 28 games in two seasons. He appeared in the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
3 times for the Yankees from 1960–1962, and was the winning pitcher in Game 3 of the 1962 World Series
1962 World Series
The 1962 World Series matched the defending American League and World Series champions New York Yankees against the National League champion San Francisco Giants, who had won their first NL pennant since 1954 and first since moving from New York in 1958, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in a...
versus the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. In September 2001, Stafford died in his home at the age of 62 of a heart attack.
Pitching stats
- 186 Games
- 43 Wins
- 40 Wins
- 9 Saves
- 449 Strikeouts
- 3.52 ERA
- In 1961, Stafford had the second best ERAEarned run averageIn baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in the American LeagueAmerican LeagueThe American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
with 2.68. On October 1 of that season, he was the winning pitcher when Roger MarisRoger MarisRoger Eugene Maris was an American Major League Baseball right fielder. During the 1961 season, he hit a record 61 home runs for the New York Yankees, breaking Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs...
hit his 61st home run of the season, breaking Babe RuthBabe RuthGeorge Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
's single-season record of 60 in 1927. - As a kid in New York Stafford played at Athens Little League in Athens, New York