Until today, I never gave a 2nd thought to Hepler. Sure, I had seen his short career listed on the back of this card, and I knew he didn't have a card after this one, but here's what I learned today: Bill was signed by the Washington Senators in 1965, and spent one season at class-A Geneva, NY where he compiled a 13-10 record in 28 starts.
Based on only one class-A season, two things happened:
1) The Mets selected him in the Rule 5 draft
2) Topps gave him a slot on a 1966 Mets Rookies card
Were the Mets (and Topps) so smart to give him such attention? If he was a phenom, why did the Senators leave him unprotected?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil41y11wsP9GSGQuUVt1G7E8IOqeLcQGjqPMa-SWmjg0nCPMuNAHmXZXdTLF6nDqaOTueoKwtX629oLXHwlYYHwmgH7LDsjncU3Ki4FggxWlGu5FS-FQrGQTp5jk5O1zsREHXZiP1f4yY/s320/1967+Bill+Hepler+(f).jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZH9BjCPElLNN9hXzn5QEm5tG98NQ24jGaUgsxty8KpQf-eTMTiunW18lZggGpJHQZA-TG4I5xF9Ek56gDDgvsYfSQJn2fbYhAXljLdp6H-Bcg5j9QAXj2nQ0ExHkYBZJQlKnB8qAWYcA/s320/1967+Bill+Hepler+(r).jpg)
Bill jumped all the way to the majors in 1966 (well he'd have to, being a Rule 5 draft pick), and appeared in 37 games (3 starts) for a total of 69 innings. He also walked twice as many batters as he struck out. This may well explain his one-year major-league career.
After 1966, he spent the next 3 years pitching for A and AA teams in the Mets' system, before wrapping up his career in 1970 with 5 games for the Senators' single-A team in the Carolina League.
Maybe a veteran Mets' fan can shed some light on the fast rise and faster fall of Bill Hepler's career.