Bill Slayback
Encyclopedia
William Grover Slayback is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball
. After playing for California State University, Northridge
, the 6'4" Slayback was drafted by the Detroit Tigers
in the seventh round of the 1968 amateur draft. Slayback made his major league debut with the Tigers on June 26, 1972 against the New York Yankees. After holding the Yankees hitless through his first seven innings, the no-hitter was broken up in the eighth inning. He pitched 8-1/3 innings, allowed four hits, struck out five, and gave up two earned runs. Slayback had another impressive start for the Tigers on July 20, 1972, as he struck out 13 batters and allowed five hits while beating the Texas Rangers, 5-1. Slayback started 13 games for the 1972 Tigers, compiling a record of 5-6 with a 3.20 ERA. Slayback pitched only two innings in 1973, and his career ended in 1974 as he went 1-3 with a 4.77 ERA in 16 games (only four as a starter).
In 1973, Slayback recorded a 45-rpm record written by Ernie Harwell
called "Move Over Babe (Here Comes Henry)." The record captured Hank Aaron's journey in overtaking Babe Ruth
for the all-time home run record. http://books.google.com/books?id=oJR_6f_G3eEC&pg=PA13&lpg=PA13&dq=bill+slayback&source=web&ots=tzhfd1Ymnt&sig=KoMXiRvSWsq6wFJnXm6LbOCXB_A http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Bill_Slayback_1948 The lyrics to the song included these lines:
"Move over, Babe. Here comes Henry and he's swinging mean. Move over, Babe. Hank's hit another; he'll break that 714."
Released in the United States and Japan, the song got airplay on radio and the NBC Game of the Week. http://books.google.com/books?id=1yilQ-DqZi0C&pg=PA116&lpg=PA116&dq=%22move+over+babe%22+slayback&source=web&ots=XAGrw46iYB&sig=7QIQvLMQxe3sAAw9vRA7ZH6xN-k The song is included on Rhino Records' CD "Baseball's Greatest Hits
." One biographer of Aaron had this to say about Slayback: "Slayback who provided the music, was something of a Renaissance man. He sang, played numerous instruments, painted, sketched, and made furniture." Tom Stanton
, Hank Aaron and the Home Run that Changed America (Harper Collins 2005), p. 116. http://books.google.com/books?id=1yilQ-DqZi0C&pg=PA116&lpg=PA116&dq=%22move+over+babe%22+slayback&source=web&ots=XAGrw46iYB&sig=7QIQvLMQxe3sAAw9vRA7ZH6xN-k
In 2006, Slayback issued a new CD titled "Lady Dancing on Fire." Tigers manager Jim Leyland
gave it a positive review: "I have something that I want the Tigers to play at Comerica Park
, 'Lady Dancing on Fire' by Billy Slayback. It's outstanding; it has all the stuff; it's tremendous. He did all the music, all the instruments, he played them all." http://mlb.mlb.com/content/printer_friendly/det/y2006/m04/d26/c1419447.jsp
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. After playing for California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge is a public university in Northridge, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California, United States....
, the 6'4" Slayback was drafted by the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in the seventh round of the 1968 amateur draft. Slayback made his major league debut with the Tigers on June 26, 1972 against the New York Yankees. After holding the Yankees hitless through his first seven innings, the no-hitter was broken up in the eighth inning. He pitched 8-1/3 innings, allowed four hits, struck out five, and gave up two earned runs. Slayback had another impressive start for the Tigers on July 20, 1972, as he struck out 13 batters and allowed five hits while beating the Texas Rangers, 5-1. Slayback started 13 games for the 1972 Tigers, compiling a record of 5-6 with a 3.20 ERA. Slayback pitched only two innings in 1973, and his career ended in 1974 as he went 1-3 with a 4.77 ERA in 16 games (only four as a starter).
In 1973, Slayback recorded a 45-rpm record written by Ernie Harwell
Ernie Harwell
William Earnest "Ernie" Harwell was an American sportscaster, known for his long career calling play-by-play of Major League Baseball games. For 55 years, 42 of them with the Detroit Tigers, Harwell called the action on radio and/or television...
called "Move Over Babe (Here Comes Henry)." The record captured Hank Aaron's journey in overtaking Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
for the all-time home run record. http://books.google.com/books?id=oJR_6f_G3eEC&pg=PA13&lpg=PA13&dq=bill+slayback&source=web&ots=tzhfd1Ymnt&sig=KoMXiRvSWsq6wFJnXm6LbOCXB_A http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Bill_Slayback_1948 The lyrics to the song included these lines:
"Move over, Babe. Here comes Henry and he's swinging mean. Move over, Babe. Hank's hit another; he'll break that 714."
Released in the United States and Japan, the song got airplay on radio and the NBC Game of the Week. http://books.google.com/books?id=1yilQ-DqZi0C&pg=PA116&lpg=PA116&dq=%22move+over+babe%22+slayback&source=web&ots=XAGrw46iYB&sig=7QIQvLMQxe3sAAw9vRA7ZH6xN-k The song is included on Rhino Records' CD "Baseball's Greatest Hits
Baseball's Greatest Hits
Baseball's Greatest Hits is the name of two different CD collections of songs and other recordings connected with baseball, released in the early 1990s....
." One biographer of Aaron had this to say about Slayback: "Slayback who provided the music, was something of a Renaissance man. He sang, played numerous instruments, painted, sketched, and made furniture." Tom Stanton
Tom Stanton
Tom Stanton is the author of several nonfiction baseball books, including two memoirs. In 1983, Stanton, a journalist, co-founded The Voice Newspapers in suburban Detroit and served as editor for sixteen years before embarking on a literary career in 1999...
, Hank Aaron and the Home Run that Changed America (Harper Collins 2005), p. 116. http://books.google.com/books?id=1yilQ-DqZi0C&pg=PA116&lpg=PA116&dq=%22move+over+babe%22+slayback&source=web&ots=XAGrw46iYB&sig=7QIQvLMQxe3sAAw9vRA7ZH6xN-k
In 2006, Slayback issued a new CD titled "Lady Dancing on Fire." Tigers manager Jim Leyland
Jim Leyland
James Richard "Jim" Leyland is a Major League Baseball manager, currently with the Detroit Tigers.He led the Florida Marlins to a World Series championship in 1997, and previously won three straight division titles with the Pittsburgh Pirates...
gave it a positive review: "I have something that I want the Tigers to play at Comerica Park
Comerica Park
Comerica Park is an open-air ballpark located in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It serves as the home of the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball's American League, replacing historic Tiger Stadium in 2000....
, 'Lady Dancing on Fire' by Billy Slayback. It's outstanding; it has all the stuff; it's tremendous. He did all the music, all the instruments, he played them all." http://mlb.mlb.com/content/printer_friendly/det/y2006/m04/d26/c1419447.jsp