Billy Williams (right fielder)
Encyclopedia
William Williams is a former professional baseball
player. He appeared in four games in Major League Baseball
for the Seattle Pilots
in 1969. He also had an extensive minor league baseball
career, spanning eighteen seasons from 1952-69.
. Williams signed with the Cleveland Indians
as an amateur free agent in 1954. Williams spent most of his eighteen seasons in the Indians' farm system in the outfield
, however, he also played some first
and third
as well. He pitched
in one game for the Hawaii Islanders
in 1968, striking out two and not giving up a hit in two innings of work.
During his brief major league career, Williams made twelve plate appearance
s, drawing a walk
, but not collecting a hit
in any of his official at bat
s. He was also hit by a pitch
once, and scored his only career run
on an ensuing Tommy Davis
single
. He was 36 years old when he made his major league debut.
.
Williams spent eleven seasons coaching in the Cleveland Indians organization. In 1990 and 1991, he served as a coach at the Major League level under John McNamara.
From 2000-2004, Williams coached hitting and third base, while also working with outfielders and base runners for the Sioux Falls Canaries
. He became hitting coach for the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball's Sioux City Explorers
in 2005, serving as interim manager for the last month of the season. His record was 44-52. In his final season with the Explorers, 2009, he served as bench coach.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. He appeared in four games in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
for the Seattle Pilots
Seattle Pilots
The Seattle Pilots were an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington for one season, . The Pilots played home games at Sick's Stadium and were a member of the West Division of Major League Baseball's American League...
in 1969. He also had an extensive minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
career, spanning eighteen seasons from 1952-69.
Playing career
After two seasons with the independent Norton Braves of the Mountain State LeagueMountain State League
The Mountain State League was a Class-D professional baseball league that existed from 1936 to 1941 and a Class-C league in 1942.-1937:The league began play in 1937 with six teams: the Beckley Bengals, based in Beckley, West Virginia; the Welch Miners, based in Welch, West Virginia; the Williamson...
. Williams signed with the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
as an amateur free agent in 1954. Williams spent most of his eighteen seasons in the Indians' farm system in the outfield
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
, however, he also played some first
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
and third
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
as well. He pitched
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in one game for the Hawaii Islanders
Hawaii Islanders
The Hawaii Islanders were a AAA minor league baseball team, based in Honolulu, Hawaii, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1961 through 1987. The Islanders were originally an affiliate of the Kansas City Athletics. They played their home games at Honolulu Stadium, Honolulu's Aloha Stadium...
in 1968, striking out two and not giving up a hit in two innings of work.
During his brief major league career, Williams made twelve plate appearance
Plate appearance
In baseball statistics, a player is credited with a plate appearance each time he completes a turn batting. A player completes a turn batting when: He strikes out or is declared out before reaching first base; or He reaches first base safely or is awarded first base ; or He hits a fair ball which...
s, drawing a walk
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
, but not collecting a hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in any of his official at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s. He was also hit by a pitch
Hit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
once, and scored his only career run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
on an ensuing Tommy Davis
Tommy Davis
Herman Thomas Davis, Jr. is an American former Major League Baseball left fielder and third baseman. He played from 1959-1976 for ten different teams, but he is best known for his years with the Los Angeles Dodgers. During an 18-year baseball career, Davis batted .294 with 153 home runs, 2,121...
single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
. He was 36 years old when he made his major league debut.
Coaching
After his playing days, he became owner of Billy Williams' Men's Boutique in Oakland, CaliforniaOakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
.
Williams spent eleven seasons coaching in the Cleveland Indians organization. In 1990 and 1991, he served as a coach at the Major League level under John McNamara.
From 2000-2004, Williams coached hitting and third base, while also working with outfielders and base runners for the Sioux Falls Canaries
Sioux Falls Canaries
The Sioux Falls Pheasants are a professional baseball team based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA. The Pheasants are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 1993 season, the...
. He became hitting coach for the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball's Sioux City Explorers
Sioux City Explorers
The Sioux City Explorers are a professional baseball team based in Sioux City, Iowa, in the United States. The Explorers are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball.They were originally to be...
in 2005, serving as interim manager for the last month of the season. His record was 44-52. In his final season with the Explorers, 2009, he served as bench coach.