Bill Zepp

[William Malone]

William Clinton Zepp was born on July 22, 1946 in Detroit, Michigan.

The Minnesota Twins signed him as an undrafted free agent in 1968. He made his Major League debut for them on August 12, 1969. Zepp made four relief appearances for the Twins that year, allowing four runs in 5.1 innings.

He had a full time role in 1970, making 20 starts and 23 more relief appearances. Zepp was 9-4 with a 3.22 ERA, and pitched a complete game shutout against the Chicago White Sox on September 11th. Minnesota won the AL West in 1970, but they were swept by the Baltimore Orioles in the ALCS. Zepp made two relief appearances during that series, allowing a run in 1.1 innings of work.

Feeling homesick, Zepp told the Twins he intended to retire unless traded to his hometown Detroit Tigers. Minnesota obliged, acquiring pitching prospects Mike Adams and Arthur Clifford. This trade reunited him with Tigers manager Billy Martin, who had managed the Twins when he was first called up in 1969.

Zepp logged 31.1 innings for Detroit before tearing his UCL. This was three years before Tommy John famously underwent the first ever reconstruction surgery of the ligament, so the injury essentially ended Zepp's career.

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