gold star for USAHOF

5. Billy Williams

5. Billy Williams Test
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: June 15, 1938 in Whistler, AL USA
  • Weight: 175 lbs.
  • Height: 6'1"
  • Bats: L
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: August 06, 1959
  • Final Game: October 02, 1976
  • Rookie of the Year - 1961
  • TSN All-Star - 1964
  • TSN All-Star - 1968
  • TSN All-Star - 1970
  • TSN All-Star - 1972
  • TSN Major League Player of the Year - 1972
  • TSN Player of the Year - 1972
  • MVP - 1964
  • MVP - 1965
  • MVP - 1968
  • MVP - 1969
  • MVP - 1970
  • MVP - 1971
  • MVP - 1972
  • MVP - 1973
  • Rookie of the Year - 1961
 
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Billy Williams played the first 14 of his 16 seasons with the Chicago Cubs, where he quickly established himself as one of the best hitting Leftfielders in the game.  Williams would win the Rookie of the Year Award in 1961 with a 25 Home Run season.  Power would be a big part of his game, as he blasted 20 or more taters the next 12 seasons and a career-high of 42 in 1970.  That year, the six-time All-Star would lead the NL with 205 Hits, and 137 Runs Scored, and Willians would have a .322 Batting Average, and he was second in MVP voting.  Williams would again be the runner-up for the MVP when he won the Batting and Slugging Title and went deep 37 times.  

Before he was traded to the Oakland A's, Williams would have 2,510 Hits, 392 Home Runs, 1,353 RBIs with a lovely Slash Line of .296/.364/.503.

Williams would enter the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987 on his sixth ballot, and the Cubs retired his number 26 that year.  He was later part of the first Cubs Hall of Fame Class in 2021.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Outfield
  • Acquired: Signed as an Amateur Free Agent before the 1956 Season.
  • Departed: Traded to the Oakland Athletics for Darold Knowles, Bob Locker, and Manny Trillo 10/23/74.
  • Games Played: 2213
  • Notable Statistics: 1,306 Runs Scored
    2,510 Hits
    402 Doubles
    87 Triples
    392 Home Runs
    1,353 Runs Batted In
    86 Stolen Bases
    .296/.366/.503 Slash Line
    61.8 bWAR

    No Playoff Games
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    All-Star (1962, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1972 & 1973)
    Major League Player of the Year (1972)
    Rookie of the Year (1961)
    Highest Slugging Percentage (1972)
    Most Plate Appearances (1966)
    Most Runs Scored (1970)
    Most Hits (1970)
    Most Total Bases (1968, 1970 & 1972)
    Highest OPS+ (1972)
    Most Extra Base Hits (1965, 1968 & 1972)
    Highest Win Probability Added (1965 & 1972)
    Most Putouts by a Leftfielder (1962, 1963 & 1970)
    Most Assists by a Leftfielder (1962, 1963, 1964 & 1969)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a Leftfielder (1961, 1962, 1969 & 1973)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a Rightfielder (1965)
    Most Total Zone Runs by A Leftfielder (1963)
    Highest Range Factor per Game by a Leftfielder (1963)
    Highest Fielding Percentage by a Leftfielder (1963, 1967 & 1970)

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