Bill Schroeder (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Bill Schroeder is a former Major League Baseball
player and a current television sports broadcaster. He currently provides color commentary
for the Milwaukee Brewers
, for whom he played six of his eight Major League seasons.
. He is a graduate of West Windsor-Plainsboro High School
(now WW-PHS South). While playing high school baseball, he earned All-State honors in his junior and senior years. He attended Clemson University
, and assisted the Clemson Tigers
in capturing the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships
in 1978 and 1979.
in the eighth round of the 1979 amateur draft. Throughout his career, he was typically used as a platoon or bench player, a common subject of jokes by Schroeder and others.
Until the 2007 season
, Schroeder was the fastest Brewers rookie to reach 15 home runs, achieving the milestone in only 71 games. In 2007, the record was bested by Ryan Braun
, who hit 15 home runs in his first 50 games.
The 1987 season
was Schroeder's best. He batted .332, and was a key member of "Team Streak", the Brewers team that won its first 13 games, tying an MLB record. On April 15, 1987, Schroeder caught the only no-hitter
in Brewers' history, pitched by Juan Nieves
. On May 16th, 1987, with the Brewers playing the Kansas City Royals
, Schroeder broke up a no-hitter by Royals pitcher Charlie Leibrandt
with a bunt single. That would prove to be the only hit of the game.
In 1988, he was traded to the California Angels
, where he played less and was less productive than in Milwaukee. In 1990, he was released by the Angels, retiring shortly thereafter.
In addition to his television duties, Schroeder appeared on WTMJ Radio's
Talking Brewers from 1998 to 2000.
Schroeder also manages the Brewers Fantasy Camp in Maryvale, Phoenix, Arizona, and will often discuss it during broadcasts.
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...
player and a current television sports broadcaster. He currently provides color commentary
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, for whom he played six of his eight Major League seasons.
Early life
Schroeder was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and raised in Trenton, New JerseyTrenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
. He is a graduate of West Windsor-Plainsboro High School
West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South
West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Princeton Junction in Mercer County, New Jersey, serving students in Grades 9 through 12...
(now WW-PHS South). While playing high school baseball, he earned All-State honors in his junior and senior years. He attended Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
, and assisted the Clemson Tigers
Clemson Tigers baseball
The Clemson baseball team represents Clemson University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team participates in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tigers are currently coached by head coach Jack Leggett and play their home games in Doug Kingsmore Stadium...
in capturing the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships
ACC Baseball Tournament
The ACC Baseball Tournament is the conference championship tournament in baseball for the Atlantic Coast Conference . It is a two-group round-robin tournament with the winners of each group facing each other in a one-game match for the championship...
in 1978 and 1979.
Playing career
He was selected by the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in the eighth round of the 1979 amateur draft. Throughout his career, he was typically used as a platoon or bench player, a common subject of jokes by Schroeder and others.
Until the 2007 season
2007 Milwaukee Brewers season
The 2007 Milwaukee Brewers season marked the 25th anniversary of the Milwaukee Brewers winning the American League Championship and the 50th anniversary of the Milwaukee Braves winning the World Series. During the offseason, the Brewers re-signed free agents Bill Hall and Chris Capuano...
, Schroeder was the fastest Brewers rookie to reach 15 home runs, achieving the milestone in only 71 games. In 2007, the record was bested by Ryan Braun
Ryan Braun
Ryan Joseph Braun is an American right-handed Major League Baseball left fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers. A perennial standout, he was ranked No...
, who hit 15 home runs in his first 50 games.
The 1987 season
1987 Milwaukee Brewers season
The 1987 Milwaukee Brewers season featured the team finish in third place in the American League East, with a record of 91 wins and 71 losses. The team began the season at a red-hot pace, winning their first 13 games under first-year manager Tom Trebelhorn...
was Schroeder's best. He batted .332, and was a key member of "Team Streak", the Brewers team that won its first 13 games, tying an MLB record. On April 15, 1987, Schroeder caught the only no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
in Brewers' history, pitched by Juan Nieves
Juan Nieves
Juan Manuel Nieves Cruz is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who, on April 15, 1987 against the Baltimore Orioles, became the second-youngest player in major league history to throw a no-hitter, and so far the only Milwaukee Brewer to do so.He was signed by the Brewers after graduating...
. On May 16th, 1987, with the Brewers playing the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, Schroeder broke up a no-hitter by Royals pitcher Charlie Leibrandt
Charlie Leibrandt
Charles Louis "Charlie" Leibrandt, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1979 to 1993 for the Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers. Leibrandt was a productive pitcher throughout his 14 year career, and a member of the 1985 World Series...
with a bunt single. That would prove to be the only hit of the game.
In 1988, he was traded to the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, where he played less and was less productive than in Milwaukee. In 1990, he was released by the Angels, retiring shortly thereafter.
Announcing career
Schroeder began his post-playing career by appearing as an analyst for a Milwaukee-area baseball television show, Baseball Sunday, in 1994. For the following season, he was asked to be the color commentator for the Milwaukee Brewers' television broadcasts, a position he has held ever since. This duration is a rarity as broadcasters for small-market baseball teams generally change teams often.In addition to his television duties, Schroeder appeared on WTMJ Radio's
WTMJ (AM)
WTMJ is a radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin broadcasting at 620 AM. It is a 50,000-watt station airing a format of news, talk and sports. WTMJ is owned by Journal Broadcast Group, which also owns the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and sister station WLWK-FM....
Talking Brewers from 1998 to 2000.
Schroeder also manages the Brewers Fantasy Camp in Maryvale, Phoenix, Arizona, and will often discuss it during broadcasts.