Billy Williams
| Birthdate | 6/15/1938 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1959 |
| Year of Induction | 1987 |
| Teams | Athletics, Cubs |
| Positions | First Base, Left Field |
The 1961 Rookie of the Year, Billy Williams was a six-time All Star for the Cubs. In 1999 he was selected to the team’s All-Century squad.
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In the collection:
Billy Williams 25 homers and 86 RBI in 1961 earned him the Rookie of the Year Award
Billy Williams 25 homers and 86 RBI in 1961 earned him the Rookie of the Year Award
Billy Williams burst onto the scene with the Cubs in 1961 hitting 25 homers with 86 runs batted in to win the Rookie of the Year Award.
He went on to slug 20 or more home runs for 13 straight seasons and 14 overall. The Cubs left fielder hit .300 or better in five campaigns and drove in 90 or more runs ten times.
A batting champion and five-time All Star, Williams finished his career with 2,711 hits, 426 homers, 1,475 RBI, and a .290 batting average.
In the collection is Williams’ first Topps cards which he signed boldly over his uniform.
Williams twice finished second to Reds catcher Johnny Bench for the National League MVP
Williams twice finished second to Reds catcher Johnny Bench for the National League MVP
Billy Williams received MVP votes in 8 of his 18 big league seasons. Twice he finished second for the honor, both times behind Cincinnati catcher Johnny Bench.
In 1970 Williams set career highs in hits (205), runs (137), homers (42), total bases (373) and RBI (129). Gold Glover Bench led NL position players with a good 7.7 WAR, 48 home runs and 148 RBI for the pennant-winning Reds.
Two years later Williams hit .333 to win the batting crown. He also topped the NL in slugging percentage (.606), OPS (1.005), and total bases (348). Bench’s MVP performance again pushed his club to the pennant. Earning the fifth of his ten consecutive Gold Gloves, Bench paced the NL in homers and runs batted in.
Shown here is a correspondence between quite possibly the greatest defenders at two positions, Bench, and Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson. The Human Vacuum Cleaner mailed current and former stars of the game requesting their consent to lend their name to the Babe Ruth Advisory Board. Johnny Bench agreed to this, writing, “Brooks, if you think it’s ok, it’s ok.”
At the bottom, Bench pens his signature and writes his Cincinnati address.
Billy Williams remained close to the Chicago Cubs franchise after his 1976 retirement
Billy Williams remained close to the Chicago Cubs franchise after his 1976 retirement
Billy Williams retired as a player in 1976 then remained close to the game. In ’78 the Cubs hired him as a minor league instructor. By 1980 Williams was promoted to the big league staff.
He stayed in a big league uniform for most of the next two decades. Williams spent 15 years with the Cubs, three with Oakland and one with Cleveland.
After leaving the field for good, Williams became a senior advisor for the Cubs. As a member of the Cubs traveling party, Billy Williams was highly visible. Shown here is a handwritten letter on Dodger letterhead.
Williams signed it on May 11, 1999 the same night the Cubs doubled up on the Dodgers 10-5. The win evened the Cubs record in the young season at 15-15.
Williams writes, “You’re a great fan of the game. Baseball could use more like you”, before signing and dating the letter at the bottom.
Billy Williams' induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame came on July 26, 1987
Billy Williams' induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame came on July 26, 1987
Cooperstown opened its doors to three baseball legends in the summer of ’87. The baseball writers chose five-time World Series champ Jim “Catfish” Hunter and Sweet Swinging Billy Williams of the Oakland A’s. Negro League great Ray Dandridge was the Veterans Committee’s lone selection.
Together the three men were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on July 26, 1987. Shown here is an invitation to the ceremony. Williams’ signature appears at the bottom.
Billy Williams was 14th on the all-time home run list when he retired
Billy Williams was 14th on the all-time home run list when he retired
Billy Williams enjoyed an 18-year big league career that put him in the Hall of Fame. By the time he retired in 1976, Williams’ 426 homers ranked 14th all time. The major leagues were more than a century old by the time Williams retired his sweet swing.
One of the players who has since passed Williams on the list is former MVP Andre Dawson. In the collection is Red Sox manager Butch Hobson’s lineup card from June 25, 1994. Hobson writes Dawson’s name in the cleanup spot as the Boston DH.
Dawson went 4-for-7 in the 12-inning affair slugging two home runs and a double. The second of the long balls was the 426th of Dawson’s career to tie him with Williams on the all-time list.
Dawson hit 12 more home runs to finish his career with 438.
Billy Williams' #26 is the second number retired by the Cubs
Billy Williams' #26 is the second number retired by the Cubs
Billy Williams is one of the greatest players in the history of the Cubs. A proud franchise, the Chicago NL club played their first game in 1876. Williams ranks second in team history in total bases, third in hits, and fourth in RBI.
His contributions led the team to retire his #26 in 1987. Williams followed Ernie Banks as the second Cubs player to have his number retired.
Their teammates Ron Santo and Fergie Jenkins also received the honor in the first decade of the 2000s. Ryne Sandberg and Greg Maddux each had their number retired as well.
Shown here is the original document that called up Ron Santo to the major leagues. For more on Santo, click here.
Billy Williams 1970. What a year! Looks like triple crown numbers. He must have been close.