1978 Topps Baseball #39 - Floyd Bannister

• Floyd Bannister was originally drafted by the Oakland A's in 1973. Bannister had led his high school (Kennedy High School in Washington) to the state championship by going 15-0 with a 0.00 ERA. Floyd decided to attend Arizona State University instead (an interesting article about the 1976 Sun Devils is here) and eventually was the first player chosen in the 1976 draft. Bannister spent only one season (1976) in the minor leagues before making the Houston staff in 1977. 
• Bannister was 8-9 with a 4.04 ERA in 24 games (23 starts) in his rookie season. 
• Floyd had a tougher time of it in 1978. He was used as a fifth starter and a reliever for the first six weeks of the season. Bannister was in the starting rotation from mid-May until mid-July and then was a reliever for the rest of the year.
• After the 1978 season Bannister was traded to the Seattle Mariners for shortstop Craig Reynolds. Floyd spent four season with the Mariners. He was 10-15 with a 4.05 ERA in 30 starts for the Mariners in 1979.
• Bannister had a better year in 1980, although his W-L record didn't reflect it. Floyd was 9-13 with a 3.47 ERA in 32 starts.
• In 1981 Floyd had his first .500 or better season. Bannister was 9-9 with a 4.45 ERA in 21 games (20 starts)
• One of Floyd's best seasons was in 1982. Bannister made the AL All Star team (he pitched a scoreless 5th inning), led the league with 209 strikeouts, and went 12-13 with a 3.43 ERA in 35 starts. After the season Bannister became a free agent and signed with the Chicago White Sox.
• Bannister had a better year in 1983. He had a 16-10 record with a 3.35 ERA in 34 starts as the White Sox won the AL West. Floyd started game 2 of the AL Championship series and took the loss as Chicago was shut out 4-0.
• Floyd spent the next four seasons as a starting pitcher for the White Sox. He had records of:
• 14-11, 4.83 ERA in 1984
• 10-14, 4.87 ERA in 1985
• 10-14, 3.54 ERA in 1986
• 16-11, 3.58 ERA in 1987
• After the 1987 season Bannister was traded to the Kansas City Royals for Greg Hibbard, Melido Perez, John Davis, and a minor leaguer.
• In 1988 Floyd was 12-13 with a 4.33 ERA in 31 starts. 
• Bannister's 1989 season was cut short by a rotator cuff injury in June. Floyd had shoulder surgery in late June and missed the rest of the season. Bannister ended up with a 4-1 record and a 4.66 ERA in 14 starts. 
• Floyd was told after the season that the Royals would not pick up his option for 1990. Bannister ended up pitching for the Yakult Swallows in Japan in 1990.
• Bannister signed with the California Angels for the 1991 season. Floyd was used as a reliever and had a tough time (0-0, 3.96 ERA in 13 games). He was sent to Class A Palm Springs in early August and was 0-3 with one save and had a 6.59 ERA in 7 games. Bannister was released on August 29.
• Floyd was invited to spring training by the Texas Rangers in 1992. Bannister made the team and was mainly used as a left-handed specialist out of the bullpen. Floyd was 1-1 with a 6.32 ERA in 36 games. Bannister was released on August 13 and retired.
• Here is a "where are they now" article from 2006.
• Here is a video of Bannister talking about his time with the 1983 White Sox.
• 1978 Stats: 3-9, 4.81 ERA in 28 games (16 starts)
• 1978 Highlights:
• May 19 - Pitched a 7-hit shutout and got his first win of the year as the Astros beat the Atlanta Braves 6-0.
• June 29 - Allowed four hits and no runs in Houston's 5-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.