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.
In the collection is Williams’ first Topps cards which he has signed boldly over his uniform. Williams would hit 20 or more homers in each of his first 13 full seasons and in 14 years overall.
When his career concluded in 1976 at the end of a 18-year big league career, Williams had amassed 426 homers and 1,474 runs batted in to go with his .290 career average.
Billy Williams remained close to the Chicago Cubs franchise after retirement
Billy Williams remained close to the Chicago Cubs franchise after retirement
As a member of the Cubs traveling party, Billy Williams was highly visible at the close of the 1990s. 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. 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.
Billy Williams 1970. What a year! Looks like triple crown numbers. He must have been close.