Joe Williams
| Birthdate | 4/6/1886 |
| Death Date | 3/12/1946 |
| Debut Year | |
| Year of Induction | 1999 |
| Teams | Negro Leagues |
| Position | Pitcher |
Joe Williams debuted in the Negro Leagues in 1905 and won 115 games in his first 5 seasons. He was never allowed to play in the big leagues.
Leave a commentIn the collection:
Negro Leaguer Joe Williams was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1999; his autograph is not in the collection
Negro Leaguer Joe Williams was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1999; his autograph is not in the collection
One of the greatest pitchers regardless of league, Joe Williams was voted the greatest Negro League pitcher. Williams debuted in 1905 and pitched until age 46.
On August 7, 1930, at age 44, he struck out 27 Kansas City Monarchs in a 1-0, 12-inning victory. KC pitcher Chet Brewer fanned 19 himself.
That same year, he beat a youthful Negro league star who was just bursting onto the scene, Satchel Paige. the score of that game was also by 1-0 in their only meeting against one another.
Williams was known for his fastball and pinpoint control. The 6’3″ 190 pound right hander was one of the Negro Leagues biggest drawing cards in his day.
He fared well not only against competition in his own league but also against National and American Leaguers. During his career he defeated Hall of Fame pitchers Walter Johnson, Pete Alexander, Chief Bender, Waite Hoyt, and Rube Marquard.
Joe Williams was inducted into Cooperstown in 1999.
His Hall of Fame plaque reads, “A star pitcher in the early of the Negro Leagues, the lanky right-hander with the smooth, overhand delivery was destined for greatness with his pinpoint control, effective change of pace pitch and fastball that traveled with exceptional velocity. Playing for several teams, the New York Lincoln Giants (1911-23) and the Homestead Grays (1925-32) were the primary beneficiary of his accomplishments. The easy-going Texan routinely hit double digits in strikeouts in a game and on August 7, 1930, he struck out 27 Monarchs in a 12-inning contest. Voted the top pitcher in Negro Leagues history in a 1952 poll conducted by the Pittsburgh Courier.”
