Cy Williams entered Notre Dame, having only played in a handful of baseball games.  He left them as an accomplished player whom the Chicago Cubs signed after he finished school. 

Williams joined the Cubs right away (1912), and a few years later, he was a regular in the Outfield.  Williams won the Home Run Title in 1916 (12), but he was a defensive liability and was viewed as expendable.  He was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1918, and it turned out to be a lopsided transaction in the Phillies' favor.  

The Baker Bowl, where the Phillies played, fit the strength of Williams, and as the ball started flying out of the park in the 1920s, he was one of those who perfected the art of the long ball.  Williams led the NL in Home Runs in 1920 (15), 1923 (41), and 1927 (30), and he was also the leader in Slugging in 1926 (.568).  Williams would also have six .300 seasons for Philadelphia. 

At the time of his retirement in 1930, Williams was the all-time Home Run leader in the National League (251).  

As a Chicago Cub, Cy Williams had already shown power during the deadball era by winning the Home Run title in 1916 with 12 taters.  He had hit 13 the season before.  The Cubs would trade Williams to the Phillies for Dode Paskert who at age 36 would go into steep decline.  The 30-year-old Williams would however begin to find his groove.