Bill Swift was a right-handed pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for 13 seasons. He was born on October 27, 1961, in Portland, Maine, and attended the University of Maine, where he played college baseball.
Swift was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the second round of the 1984 MLB draft and made his debut in the majors in 1985. He spent his first four seasons with the Mariners, primarily as a relief pitcher. In 1988, he had his best season with the team, posting a 2.08 ERA in 60 appearances.
In 1989, Swift was traded to the San Francisco Giants, where he became a starting pitcher. He had a breakout season in 1992, going 21-8 with a 2.82 ERA and finishing second in the National League Cy Young Award voting. He was also named an All-Star for the first time in his career.
Swift continued to pitch well for the Giants over the next few seasons, but injuries began to take a toll on his performance. He was traded to the Colorado Rockies in 1995 and had a solid season for the expansion team, going 9-9 with a 3.82 ERA.
After one season with the Rockies, Swift signed with the Seattle Mariners as a free agent. He had a strong season in 1997, going 11-9 with a 4.34 ERA and helping the team reach the playoffs. However, he struggled in the postseason, giving up six runs in just two innings of work.
Swift retired after the 1998 season with a career record of 94-78 and a 3.95 ERA. He was known for his sinkerball, which induced many ground balls and double plays throughout his career.
After his playing career, Swift worked as a pitching coach for several minor league teams and also served as a color commentator for the Mariners' radio broadcasts. He was inducted into the University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.
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