William (Billy) Koch (born December 14, 1974 in Rockville Centre, New York) is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He entered the majors with the Toronto Blue Jays and most recently pitched for the Florida Marlins in 2004. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A blonde haired, very skilled worker with a 70s look. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ... Major league affiliations American League (1977–present) East Division (1977–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 42 Name Toronto Blue Jays (1977–present) Other nicknames The Jays Ballpark Rogers Centre (1989–present) a. ... is the 238th day of the year (239th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Major league affiliations National League (1993–present) East Division (1993–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 5, 42 Name Florida Marlins (1993–present) Ballpark Dolphin Stadium (1993–present) a. ... In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. ... Trevor Hoffman, a closer for the San Diego Padres, is currently the leader on the all-time save list. ... Major league affiliations American League (1977–present) East Division (1977–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 42 Name Toronto Blue Jays (1977–present) Other nicknames The Jays Ballpark Rogers Centre (1989–present) a. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1999 throughout the world. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 2001 throughout the world. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) West Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 9, 27, 34, 42, 43, (As) Name Oakland Athletics (1968–present) Kansas City Athletics (1955-1967) Philadelphia Athletics (1901-1954) (Referred to as As) Other nicknames The As, The White Elephants, The... This year in baseball: 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 Events January-March January 8 - Ozzie Smith is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The following are the events of the year 2003 that happened world-wide throughout the sport of baseball. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 2004 throughout the world. ... Major league affiliations National League (1993–present) East Division (1993–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 5, 42 Name Florida Marlins (1993–present) Ballpark Dolphin Stadium (1993–present) a. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 2004 throughout the world. ... In Major League Baseball, the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award, first awarded in 1976, is a distinction given to the top relief pitcher in each league at the end of each season. ... Baseball on the professional, amateur, and youth levels is popular in North America, Central America, parts of South America, parts of the Caribbean, and East Asia. ... The United States Olympics in Atlanta baseball team won a bronze medal. ... is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A blonde haired, very skilled worker with a 70s look. ... Rockville Centre is a village located in New Yorks Nassau County in the United States. ... Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Major league affiliations American League (1977–present) East Division (1977–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 42 Name Toronto Blue Jays (1977–present) Other nicknames The Jays Ballpark Rogers Centre (1989–present) a. ... Major league affiliations National League (1993–present) East Division (1993–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 5, 42 Name Florida Marlins (1993–present) Ballpark Dolphin Stadium (1993–present) a. ...

Baseball career

Koch played college baseball for Clemson University from 1994 to 1996. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1st round (4th pick) of the 1996 amateur draft and made his debut in 1999. Koch made an instant impression by regularly hitting 100 MPH on the radar gun. The pitch speed, posted on the SkyDome jumbotron after every pitch, consistently drew "ahs" from the crowd. Clemson University is a public, coeducational, land-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States. ... Major league affiliations American League (1977–present) East Division (1977–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 42 Name Toronto Blue Jays (1977–present) Other nicknames The Jays Ballpark Rogers Centre (1989–present) a. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ... The Rogers Centre (until recently called SkyDome), which opened on June 1, 1989, is a huge ballpark in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated next to the CN Tower near the shores of Lake Ontario. ...

Koch was groomed for the role of closer and had mixed success at the role over the next three seasons. While he was regarded as one of the most dominating pitchers in the league when he was at his best, at times he battled with his control and composure on the mound. Nevertheless, he continued to post improving save numbers (31, 33 and then 36) from 1999 to 2001. Mariano Rivera is the closer for the New York Yankees. ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ...

On December 7, 2001, the Blue Jays, now under new management, traded Koch to the Oakland Athletics for Eric Hinske and Justin Miller. Oakland proved to be a good fit. Billy saved 44 games in 2002 while posting a respectable 3.27 ERA and 93 strikeouts in only 93 2/3 innings. Koch however gave up a critical ninth-inning home run to Minnesota's A.J. Pierzynski in the deciding game of the A's first-round playoff series. That outing would turn out to be the turning point in Koch's career - later Koch was quoted as saying that he felt like 'shooting himself' after that loss. is the 341st day of the year (342nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) West Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 9, 27, 34, 42, 43, (As) Name Oakland Athletics (1968–present) Kansas City Athletics (1955-1967) Philadelphia Athletics (1901-1954) (Referred to as As) Other nicknames The As, The White Elephants, The... Eric Scott Hinske (born August 5, 1977 in Menasha, Wisconsin) is a Major League Baseball player with the Boston Red Sox. ... Justin Mark Miller (born August 27, 1977 in Torrance, California) is a right-handed pitcher in the Florida Marlins organization of Major League Baseball. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Anthony John A.J. Pierzynski [peer-ZIN-skee] (born December 30, 1976) is a Major League Baseball catcher who has played for the Chicago White Sox since 2005. ...

On December 3, 2002, Koch was once again traded, this time to the Chicago White Sox along with two minor leaguers for Keith Foulke, Mark Johnson, Joe Valentine and cash. Koch was not able to duplicate either his success with Toronto or Oakland, however. Due to wildly inconsistent play, Jerry Manuel removed Koch from the role of closer, relegating him to middle relief. Billy finished the season with just 11 saves, and a 5.77 ERA. is the 337th day of the year (338th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Keith Charles Foulke [FOLK] (born October 19, 1972 in Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota) is a retired Major League relief pitcher. ... Jerry Manuel (born December 23, 1953 in Hahira, Georgia) is a former manager in Major League Baseball, having led the Chicago White Sox from 1998 to 2003. ...

Koch's troubles continued in 2004. He once again was tried as the closer, but only saved 8 games in 24 games played, compiling an ERA of 5.40. He was traded to the Florida Marlins in June for Wilson Valdez, a minor-league second baseman who was assumed would replace Luis Castillo before Castillo signed a four-year contract to remain with Florida. Billy fared better in Florida than he did with Chicago, having a 1-2 record and a 3.51 ERA in 23 games while serving as a setup man for Armando Benitez. However, personal issues caused him to miss the last month of the regular season, and Florida released him at the end of the season. Major league affiliations National League (1993–present) East Division (1993–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 5, 42 Name Florida Marlins (1993–present) Ballpark Dolphin Stadium (1993–present) a. ... Wilson Valdez used to play for the Chicago White Sox in late 2004 before being traded to Florida. ... Luis Antonio Castillo (born September 12, 1975 in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Minnesota Twins. ... Armando German Benitez (born November 3, 1972) in Ramon Santana, D.R.), is a relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. ...

Following the 2004 season he was signed to a 1-year contract by his original team, the Toronto Blue Jays. He was released by the team during Spring Training, at which time an angry Koch announced that he would not attempt to sign with another team, so that the Blue Jays would be on the hook for 'every penny' of his $950,000 salary. As of 2007, he has not played baseball professionally since then.[1] Major league affiliations American League (1977–present) East Division (1977–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 42 Name Toronto Blue Jays (1977–present) Other nicknames The Jays Ballpark Rogers Centre (1989–present) a. ...

During Toronto's 2nd game of the season at Tampa Bay, Koch showed up at the game wearing a replica jersey of Aubrey Huff, a Devil Rays player. Koch joked with the Toronto Bullpen, heckling the Blue Jays and calling one of the pitchers a "bum". Koch commented that he planned to take 240 students from his children's Tampa area grade school to the game, and planned to have them hold up a sign saying 'Go Devil Rays'. [2] Aubrey Lewis Huff (born December 20, 1976 in Fort Worth, Texas) is a Major League Baseball player for the Houston Astros. ...

Currently lives in West Babylon, NY. West Babylon is a hamlet (and census-designated place) in Suffolk County, New York, United States. ...

See also

• List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders

All statistics are current as of July 7, 2007. ...

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference