Billy Williams (baseball)
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| Billy Williams | ||
|---|---|---|
| Outfielder | ||
| Born: June 15 1938 | Batted: Left | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | ||
| August 6, 1959 for the Chicago Cubs | ||
| Final game | ||
| October 2, 1976 for the Oakland Athletics | ||
| Career statistics | ||
| AVG | .290 | |
| HR | 426 | |
| Hits | 2711 | |
| Teams | ||
| Career highlights and awards | ||
| ||
| Member of the National | ||
| Image:Empty Star.svg Baseball Hall of Fame Image:Empty Star.svg | ||
| Elected | 1987 | |
| Vote | 85.71% | |
Billy Leo Williams (born June 15, 1938) is an American former outfielder in professional baseball. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. A highly competitive player on talented Chicago Cubs teams that never reached the post-season, he finally realized his dream of playing in the post-season late in his career with the Oakland Athletics. Like his teammates Ernie Banks, Ferguson Jenkins, and Ron Santo, he never played in a World Series.
Williams was born in Whistler, Alabama. He started his career in 1959, joining a team that would feature stars like Ernie Banks, Ferguson Jenkins, and Ron Santo by the early 1960s. Williams was selected as the Rookie of the Year in 1961. Set a National League record for consecutive games played with 1,117 between 1962-1971 (eclipsed by Steve Garvey 1975-1983 with 1,207). Cleo James replaced him in the lineup at the end of his streak. Had 13 straight seasons of 20 or more home runs and 84 or more RBIs, 1961 to 1973.
Williams enjoyed his finest season in 1972 at age 34, when he paced the league in batting average with a .333 mark, also posting a .606 slugging percentage while collecting 37 home runs and 122 runs batted in. He finished behind Johnny Bench in the MVP selection. 1972 was his last great season in the league. After the 1974 season, he was traded to the American League's Oakland Athletics for second baseman Manny Trillo and two pitchers. Williams helped lead Oakland to the 1975 American League West championship as a designated hitter, hitting 23 homers with 81 RBI. He retired a year later.
After accumulating a lifetime .290 BA with 426 homers and 1475 RBI, Billy Williams was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987, and on 13 August of that same year had his number 26 retired at Wrigley Field. Following his departure from the Cubs, the number had been reassigned to other players from time to time, most notably Larry Biittner, although Williams reclaimed it during several intervals of coaching with the Cubs after his playing days had ended.
In 1999, he was named as a finalist to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.
[edit] Stats
- Height: 6'- 1"
- Weight: 175 lb
- Bats: Left
- Throws: Right
- Uniform number: 26
- MLB:
- Batting average: .290
- Hits: 2,711
- RBIs: 1,475
- Home runs: 426
- Doubles: 434
- Played 1,117 consecutive games (1962-1971)
- League Leader:
- 1972-Batting average (.333)
- 1972-Slugging average (.606)
- 1970-Runs (137)
- 1970-Hits (205)
- 3-time leader - total bases:
- 1968: 321
- 1970: 373
- 1972: 348
- 3-time leader in top-10 votes for league MVP:
- 1968-8th
- 1970-2nd
- 1972-2nd
- 5-time leader - games played (1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970)
[edit] See also
- List of Major League Baseball Home Run Records
- Top 500 home run hitters of all time
- List of major league players with 2,000 hits
- List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI
- List of Major League Baseball batting champions
- List of Major League Baseball runs scored champions
- MLB consecutive games played streaks
- Major League Baseball hitters with three home runs in one game
[edit] External links
- "Its all about R-e-s-p-e-c-t for 'Sweet Swingin' Billy Williams
- Baseball Hall of Fame
- The Williams-Santo Cubs 1961-1965 @ The Hardball Times
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
- Billy's page @ Baseball Library.com
- Billy's Baseball Almanac page
| Preceded by Frank Howard | National League Rookie of the Year 1961 | Succeeded by Ken Hubbs |
| Preceded by Willie Mays | Major League Player of the Month May 1964 | Succeeded by Jim Bunning |
| Preceded by César Cedeño | Major League Player of the Month July 1972 | Succeeded by Ken Henderson |
| Preceded by Joe Torre | National League Batting Champion 1972 | Succeeded by Pete Rose |
Categories: Baseball Rookies of the Year | Baseball Hall of Fame | Major league left fielders | Chicago Cubs players | Oakland Athletics players | National League All-Stars | Major league players from Alabama | American baseball players | Baseball players who have hit for the cycle | People from Chicago | 1938 births | Living people | National League batting champions | People from Mobile, Alabama | African American sportspeople | African American baseball players
