Billy Williams

Sweet-Swinging Billy Williams

Billy Leo Williams (born June 15, 1938) is an American former left fielder and coach in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played from 1959 to 1976, almost entirely for the Chicago Cubs. A six-time All-Star, Williams was named the 1961 National League (NL) Rookie of the Year after hitting 25 home runs with 86 runs batted in (RBI).

Quick Facts

Position: Left fielder
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Born: 15 June 1938
Birthplace: Whistler, Alabama, U.S.
Debut league: MLB
Debut date: August 6
Debut year: 1959

Lore & Background

Williams debuted with the Cubs on August 6, 1959, in a 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. He played 18 games for the Cubs in 1959, batting .152 (5-for-33). He returned to the Cubs in late September 1960, hitting his first home run on October 1. He was traded to the Oakland Athletics after the 1974 season.

Reader's Guide

Affiliation: Chicago Cubs (1959–1974). Williams played 1,117 consecutive games between September 1963 and September 1970, holding the NL record from 1969 to 1983. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987.

Did You Know?

Williams was the runner-up for the NL MVP in 1970 and 1972, losing both times to Johnny Bench.
He hit for the cycle on July 17, 1966, in the second game of a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals.
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.