Bill Kazmierczak

William Kazmierczak

• Height 6' 3", Weight 190 lbs.
• Bats Both, Throws Right
• School Lewis University
• Born April 27, 1964

Biographical Information

In his last year of college, Bill Kazmierczak was chosen as an All-American by the ABCA|. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 1986 amateur draft by the Chicago Cubs and assigned to the Geneva Cubs, where he was 4-0 with a 2.12 ERA and 40 K in 34 IP. He moved up to the Peoria Chiefs and went 6-3, 4.75 in 11 starts there.

In '87, Bill went 9-5 with a 3.94 ERA for the Winston-Salem Spirits and had no decisions in a brief spell at Peoria. In 1988, he had his best year as a pro. He was 9-2 with a 1.34 ERA for Winston-Salem and became the first pitcher in Carolina League history to throw two no-hitters in a year (as of June 2008, he remains the only pitcher to have done so). It had been 15 years since any other pitcher in Organized Baseball had thrown two no-hitters in a season - Nolan Ryan had been the last. He made the CL All-Star team and led the league with three shutouts. His no-hitters came on April 13 against the Salem Pirates (8 innings) and on May 20 against the Virginia Generals. He split Pitcher of the Year honors with Kevin Bearse. Promoted to the Pittsfield Cubs, his line there read 5-3, 4.09.

Missing 1989, following shoulder surgery, Kazmierczak went 6-9 with a 4.37 ERA for the '90 Charlotte Knights and 3-4, 3.25 for Winston-Salem to complete his minor league career with a 42-26 record.

After his baseball career ended, Kazmierczak became a police officer.

Sources

• 1987-1991 Baseball Almanacs
• 1989 Baseball Guide
• MILB.com article on Kazmierczak's career