MLB St. Louisian Bill Mueller

This edition of MLB St. Louisian has a West Cost vibe to it. The subject of this post is Bill Mueller. Bill was born in Maryland Heights, Missouri on 3/7/1971. He attended the all boy DeSmet Jesuit High School then the “notorious” party school Southwest Missouri State University and was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 15th round of the 1993 MLB Draft. Bill was a switch hitting right handed third baseman.

In 1993 Bill made his pro debut with the Giants’ low A team the Everett Giants. Eventually he would reach the big club and made his debut as a pinch hitter on April 18, 1996 against the Cubs. The following day he would have his first big league hit as pinch hitter. Bill would play as a regular with the Giants for the next five seasons. However, he was traded to the Cubs for pitcher Tim Worrell, Cardinals’ legend Todd’s younger brother, prior to the beginning of the 2001 season. However, the stop in Chi-town would be short as the following year he was traded back to the Giants for another pitcher.

WTF?

He signed with the Red Sox as a free agent in 2003 and it would be with his new team that he and the Red Sox would take on his childhood team in the 2004 World Series. The bummer for me is the Redbirds were very very good that year-and went 105 and 57 only to get swept by the Sox. Other than the 1985 Series this one is the most disappointing for me as a Cards’ fan. Bill had a remarkable first year with the Sox as he won the AL batting title with a .326 average and he also had 45 doubles and 19 home runs

In 2006 Bill would sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers but his knee was giving him trouble and he lasted just 32 games which would prove to be his last. Following his injury, he was named Special Assistant to the GM of the Dodgers-funny how many ex-players are named a Special Assistant to the GM? He later became interim hitting coach with the Dodgers in June 2007 after Eddie Murray was fired.  He would remain hitting coach for the year then would head back to the front office to be a Special Assistant to the GM again. He would eventually become hitting coach with the Cubs in 2013 but within a year he would resign.  On November 17, 2014 the Cardinals named Bill Assistant Hitting Coach.

For his career Bill had a .291 batting average, 85 home runs, and 494 RBIs.