Walt Williams (baseball)
Walt Williams | |
---|---|
Outfielder | |
Born: Brownwood, Texas, U.S. | December 19, 1943|
Died: January 23, 2016 Abilene, Texas, U.S. | (aged 72)|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
Professional debut | |
MLB: April 21, 1964, for the Houston Colt .45's | |
NPB: April 3, 1976, for the Nippon-Ham Fighters | |
Last appearance | |
MLB: September 22, 1975, for the New York Yankees | |
NPB: September 25, 1977, for the Nippon-Ham Fighters | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .270 |
Home runs | 33 |
Runs batted in | 173 |
Teams | |
|
Walter Allen Williams (December 19, 1943 – January 23, 2016) was an American
Early life
Born in Brownwood, Texas, Williams was nicknamed No-Neck due to his relatively short stature (5 feet 6 inches) combined with a muscular, compact torso and a short neck.[3] His odd physical appearance was the result of a typhus injection he received as a baby.[4] After Williams' hometown was hit by a flood, the government gave typhus injections to prevent the spread of the disease.[4] Williams was so muscular even as a baby that medical personnel were unable to reach a vein, except in the back of his neck.[4] He developed a crick in his neck, which then stiffened and shrank.[4] Williams was sent in adolescence to live with an aunt in San Francisco, where he graduated from Galileo High School having played football, basketball and baseball for the school teams.[1]
Baseball career
Williams was signed by the Houston Colt .45's as an amateur free agent in 1963.[2] After spending one season in the minor leagues, he made his major league debut at the age of 20 with the Colt .45's on April 21, 1964.[5] Williams played in only 10 games with the Colt .45's, when he was selected off waivers on May 26, 1964 by the St. Louis Cardinals.[6]
Williams was sent back to the minor leagues to play for the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the Northern League, where he posted a .318 batting average in 88 games.[5] He progressed to the Tulsa Oilers in 1965 where, he scored 106 runs and hit .330 to win the Texas League batting championship.[5][7] In 1966, Williams repeated his performance with a batting average of .330 and scored 107 runs.[5] On December 14, 1966, he was traded by the St. Louis Cardinals with Don Dennis to the Chicago White Sox for Lee White and Johnny Romano.[6]
Williams returned to the major leagues in 1967 during an era dominated by pitching.
In
After the 1969 season, he became embroiled in a contract dispute with White Sox
During his off-season, Williams volunteered his time to talk to children who were first time drug offenders as part of the
He became a
On March 19, 1974, Williams was traded to the New York Yankees as part of a three-team trade.[20] He continued his role as a utility player and designated hitter with the Yankees but, only produced a .113 batting average in 43 games.[2] He recovered in 1975 with a .281 batting average in 82 games, helping the Yankees take first place in the American League East Division in late June before the team faded to third place at the end of the year.[2][21]
After being released by the Yankees on January 27, 1976, Williams played in
Career statistics
In a 10-year major league career, Williams played in 842
Minor league managing career
After retiring as a player, Williams worked as the Sports Director of the Brownwood Community Center in his hometown.[22] He then served as the White Sox first base coach during the 1988 season.[22] In 1992, Williams became the manager of the Gastonia Rangers in the South Atlantic League.[23] In 1993 and 1994 he managed the Charleston RiverDogs.[23] His managing record over three seasons was 187 wins and 228 losses.[23] Williams also managed the Altoona Rail Kings of the Heartland League in 1997, winning 36 games and losing 36.[24]
Personal life
Williams' nephew, Derwin Williams, played in the National Football League. Williams' great-grand nephew, Mason Williams, plays in MLB.[25] Williams died after a heart attack on January 23, 2016, in Abilene, Texas.[1][26]
References
- ^ a b c Weber, Bruce (January 28, 2016). "Walt Williams New York Times obituary". The New York Times. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Walt Williams". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
- ^ "Walt Williams Keeps His Head But, Doesn't Stick Out Neck". Sarasota Journal. NEA. June 21, 1967. p. 16. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g "No-Neck Williams". The Victoria Advocate. June 27, 1970. p. 1. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Walt Williams minor league statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Walt Williams Trades and Transactions". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ "1965 Texas League Batting Leaders". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ "1967 American League Batting Leaders". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ "1967 Chicago White Sox Schedule". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ a b c Simmons, Herbert (December 1968). "The 25 Greatest Plays of the 1967 Season". Baseball Digest. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ a b "Flashing Back With Walt Williams". whitesoxinteractive.com. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ "1968 American League Batting Leaders". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ a b "1969 American League Batting Leaders". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ "Improvement Not Easy For Chisox". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. March 8, 1972. p. 10. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ "1972 American League Standings". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
- ^ "No-Neck Williams No Dope To Kids". The Sarasota Herald-Tribune. February 27, 1972. p. 17. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ "Player's Son Dies at Age 2". The Milwaukee Journal. January 19, 1973. p. 15. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ "Stan's balloon was pierced by Williams". Edmonton Journal. Associated Press. August 22, 1973. p. 77. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ "August 21, 1973 White Sox-Indians box score". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
- ^ "Yankees Obtain Walt Williams". The Morning Record. Associated Press. March 20, 1974. p. 11. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ "Walt Williams' Heroics Lifts Yankees Into First". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Associated Press. June 29, 1975. p. 1. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ a b "White Sox name coaches". The Telegraph-Herald. December 18, 1987. p. 2. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Walt Williams minor league managing record". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ "Heart attack fells 'No neck' Williams". altoonamirror.com. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
- New York Daily News. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
- ^ "Walter A. 'Walt' Williams – Obituaries – Brownwood Bulletin". Brownwoodtx.com. January 23, 2016. Archived from the original on February 2, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Walt Williams interview at WhiteSoxInteractive.com