Willie Fraser was a professional baseball player who played as a pitcher in the Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. He was born on February 24, 1964, in Wilmington, California, and attended California State University, Fresno, where he played college baseball.
Fraser was drafted by the California Angels in the 22nd round of the 1985 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut on September 2, 1986, against the Seattle Mariners. In his rookie season, he appeared in 11 games, starting in 4 of them, and had a record of 1-2 with an ERA of 4.50.
In 1987, Fraser played in 31 games, starting in 10 of them, and had a record of 5-4 with an ERA of 4.15. He also recorded his first career save that season. In 1988, he played in 47 games, starting in 10 of them, and had a record of 7-5 with an ERA of 3.97.
Fraser's best season came in 1989 when he played in 56 games, starting in 10 of them, and had a record of 9-3 with an ERA of 2.80. He also recorded 3 saves that season. He was a key member of the Angels' bullpen that year, helping them win the American League West division title.
Fraser played for the Angels until 1992 when he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. He played for the Phillies for two seasons, appearing in 57 games and recording a record of 3-5 with an ERA of 4.47. In 1994, he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals but did not play due to the MLB strike that year.
Fraser returned to the MLB in 1995, signing with the Milwaukee Brewers. He played in 22 games that season, starting in 3 of them, and had a record of 1-2 with an ERA of 5.40. He retired from professional baseball after the 1995 season.
Overall, Fraser played in 214 games in his MLB career, starting in 37 of them, and had a record of 26-19 with an ERA of 4.03. He recorded 6 saves and struck out 238 batters in 427 innings pitched.
After retiring from baseball, Fraser worked as a pitching coach for several minor league teams, including the Cedar Rapids Kernels, the Burlington Bees, and the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. He also worked as a scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In conclusion, Willie Fraser was a successful MLB pitcher who played for several teams during his career. He was a key member of the Angels' bullpen in 1989 and helped them win the American League West division title. After retiring from baseball, he worked as a pitching coach and scout for several minor league teams.
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