Norwood Native Bill Travers Named to Milwaukee Brewers 40-Man Roster on 20th Birthday-October 28, 1972

Left-Handed Pitcher Joins Elite Group of Norwood Major Leaguers

Receiving an extra-special birthday gift upon the arrival of the mailman yesterday, Bill Travers celebrated his 20th birthday with the news that he had been promoted to the 40-man roster of the Milwaukee Brewers. As reported by Patriot Ledger sports correspondent George Bankert, the towering six-foot, seven-inch left-handed pitcher—and son of Norwood Police Sergeant William Travers Sr.—becomes the third resident of Norwood to secure a spot on a major league baseball roster.

For a municipality with a population of 30,815 recorded in the 1970 census, producing three major league players is an extraordinary local milestone. Travers joins fellow Norwood luminaries:

Third baseman Richie Hebner of the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pitcher Greg “Skip” Lockwood of the Milwaukee Brewers

While Hebner and Lockwood are already established major leaguers, baseball scouts and local observers believe it is only a matter of time before Travers makes his big league debut. Placement on the 40-man roster is a crucial first step for any professional prospect, protecting the young player from being selected by rival clubs in the annual Rule 5 draft during the upcoming winter meetings in Hawaii.

Impressive Minor League Statistics and Remarkable Control

Travers earned his promotion following a strong season with San Antonio of the Class AA Texas League. Although his win-loss record stood at 4-7, his underlying statistics caught the attention of the Brewers’ front office. Working 92 innings, the southpaw walked just 26 batters (averaging roughly two and a half walks per nine innings) while striking out 80 batters and posting a solid 2.93 ERA. Milwaukee officials also weighed his flawless 5-0 record in the Arizona Instructional League in the fall of 1971.

Travers’ professional journey began after he was drafted in the sixth round out of Norwood High School, where he finished a stellar three-year varsity career with a 26-3 record, including a flawless 13-0 mark during his senior year under the close observation of Brewers New England scout Bill Enos and assistant Ron Frongello.

After minor league assignments with Clinton and Danville, Travers demonstrated steady developmental progress. Reflecting on the promotion, Bill’s mother reported that the family was completely “flabbergasted”: “We didn’t expect him to get the chance so early.”

Successful Offseason Surgery and Athletic Background

Any concerns regarding an arm ailment in 1972 were put to rest. Travers suffered from a pinched nerve in his elbow in June, but successful surgery in Milwaukee last month—involving the relocation of the nerve—completely resolved the issue just before he fulfilled a two-week commitment with the Air Force Reserve. “He’s 100 per cent now,” his father noted.

With fellow Norwood products Hebner and Lockwood already starring in the majors—Hebner batting .300 with 19 home runs for the Pirates this season, and Lockwood pitching for the Brewers—family, friends, and local fans eagerly await the day Bill Travers completes his journey to the major leagues.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger

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