Billy Williams

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

In 1970, Williams was the runner-up in voting for the NL Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) after leading the major leagues with 137 runs, 205 hits and 373 total bases, also hitting 42 home runs with 129 RBI, all career highs; excepting his run total, each remains the team record for left-handed hitters. In 1972, he was again the runner-up in MVP voting after winning the NL batting title with a .333 average, adding 37 home runs and 122 RBI while leading the major leagues in total bases and slugging percentage; in both years, he lost the award to Johnny Bench of the Cincinnati Reds. Williams played 1,117 consecutive games between September 1963 and September 1970, holding the NL record from 1969 to 1983. He was traded to the Oakland Athletics after the 1974 season, becoming a designated hitter in the American League (AL), and contributed 23 home runs and 81 RBI to finally reach the postseason as the team won their fifth consecutive division title.

In Their Own Story

On July 4, 1966, Williams broke Bill Nicholson's team record with his 206th home run by a left-handed hitter. Just weeks later, on September 10, he achieved the only three-home-run game of his career in an 8-1 win over the New York Mets, capping it off with a blast off Nolan Ryan. The previous day, he had four hits, including two homers, meaning he hit five home runs in consecutive games, tying a major league record. In 1968, he set a major league record by playing his 695th consecutive game in the outfield. By June 29, 1969, he broke Stan Musial's NL record for consecutive games with his 896th appearance, celebrating with four hits including a double and two triples. His nickname 'Sweet-Swinging Billy' reflected his smooth mechanics, while 'Iron Man' honored his streak of 1,117 consecutive games played between September 1963 and September 1970.

Reader's Guide

When he retired, Williams' 426 career home runs and 4,599 total bases each ranked eighth in major league history among left-handed hitters; his 302 home runs as a left fielder trailed only Ralph Kiner in NL history. His 392 home runs, 2,510 hits, 1,353 RBI and 4,262 total bases with the Cubs are all team records for left-handed hitters, as were his 402 doubles until Mark Grace passed him in 1999. He led NL left fielders in assists and double plays four times each, and in putouts and fielding percentage three times each; at the end of his career, he ranked fifth in NL history in games in left field (1,737), and fourth in fielding percentage (.974), sixth in putouts (2,811) and total chances (3,005), and ninth in assists (116) in the NL after 1900. He later became a coach with the Cubs for nearly two decades. Williams was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987, and was selected as a member of the Cubs All-Century Team in 1999.

Did You Know?

• In 1970, Williams batted .322 with 42 homers and 129 RBI and finished second in the MVP voting; despite batting .319 with 26 home runs and 80 RBI at the All-Star break, he was selected to the All-Star team that year.
• Williams set an NL record for consecutive games played with 1,117 from 1963 to 1970, a record later eclipsed by Steve Garvey.
• He was nicknamed 'Sweet-Swinging Billy Williams' and also 'Iron Man' during his consecutive games streak.