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Billy Leo Williams
Chicago Cubs
Outfield
Born: June 15, 1938, Whistler, AL
Signed: Signed by the Chicago Cubs as an amateur free agent before 1956 season
Major League Teams: Chicago Cubs 1959-1974; Oakland Athletics 1975-1976
Hall of Fame Induction: 1987
Billy Williams was as automatic, consistent and reliable as any outfielder of his era. For 16 seasons with the Cubs, Williams batted third and played left field (except for a two-year detour to right field), appearing in at least 150 games or more in 12 straight seasons. He was called an Iron Man before Cal Ripken, Jr. came along, as he played in 1,117 consecutive games between 1963 and 1970. Williams was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1961, and in 1962 he went to the first of his six All-Star Games. He batted over .300 in five seasons, and collected at least 25 home runs in 10 seasons. He enjoyed a career year in 1970, batting .322 with 42 home runs and 129 RBIs, finishing second in the league's MVP voting behind Johnny Bench. Williams led the league that season in runs scored (137) and hits (205). He won the league's batting crown in 1972 with a .333 average, again finishing as the MVP runner-up behind Bench. Williams was dealt to the Athletics after the 1974 season for Manny Trillo, Darold Knowles (#577) and Bob Locker (#541). He spent the final two seasons of his career as the designated hitter for Oakland, finally reaching the postseason in 1975 with the club.
Williams retired with a .290 average, 2,711 hits, 426 home runs and 1,475 RBIs. He served as a long-time coach for the Cubs (1980-1982, 1986-1987, 1992-2001) with another brief tenure as a coach for the Athletics (1983-1985). He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987 and his #26 was retired by the Cubs that same year. In 1999, Williams was selected to the Cubs All-Century Team and a statute of the long-time outfielder was installed outside Wrigley Field in 2010.
Building the Set
July 28, 2021 from Johnson City, TN - Card #339
By late July, we were down to needing 18 more cards to complete our set's third series, including three big star cards - Pete Rose (#207), this Williams card and Willie Mays (#250). We had spent an enjoyable day on the beach in Ocean City, New Jersey, staying at the condo my in-laws rent once a summer during the last week of July. After a dinner of Mike's Seafood and ice cream from A La Mode, we settled in to watch that night's Phillies game, and as has been the case for a lot of games this season, it was not an enjoyable game. In fact, the Braves blew them out 15-3 and infielder Ronald Torreyes was called upon to finish out the game for the Phillies on the mound. The Phillies poor play gave me some extra time to browse eBay, searching specifically for some of the remaining cards needed for the third series. I won an auction for this Williams card (or maybe I hit Buy It Now?) from seller halftime43, located in Johnson City, Tennessee. I bid on a bunch (20 or so) of cards up for auction from Greg Morris Cards, winning only three of them, and I'll feature those three cards in my next three posts.
The Card / Cubs Team Set
This is Williams' second appearance in the set, as he appeared on the National League Home Run Leaders card (#4). I don't have much to say here, other than this is a fantastic looking baseball card. Williams' Rookie of the Year win is highlighted on the back. Williams, at card #40, is one of 72 players featured within the 1965 Topps Embossed insert set and one of four Cubs in the set. He's also in the harder to find 1965 Topps Transfers insert set.
1965 Season
The opening day center fielder for the Cubs, Williams would move around during the season to all three outfield spots as the Cubs struggled to find a set line-up. He started 106 games in right, 29 games in center and 29 games in left. Williams appeared in a league-leading 164 games, batting .315 with 203 hits, 34 home runs and 108 RBIs, winning the Cubs' triple crown.
Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card: 1961 Topps #141
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (16): 1961-1976
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2021 Topps Allen & Ginter #224
821 - Williams non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 9/20/21.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
National Baseball Hall of Fame
SABR
The Trading Card Database
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| July 28, 2021 - On the Ocean City beach |
July 28, 2021 from Johnson City, TN - Card #339
By late July, we were down to needing 18 more cards to complete our set's third series, including three big star cards - Pete Rose (#207), this Williams card and Willie Mays (#250). We had spent an enjoyable day on the beach in Ocean City, New Jersey, staying at the condo my in-laws rent once a summer during the last week of July. After a dinner of Mike's Seafood and ice cream from A La Mode, we settled in to watch that night's Phillies game, and as has been the case for a lot of games this season, it was not an enjoyable game. In fact, the Braves blew them out 15-3 and infielder Ronald Torreyes was called upon to finish out the game for the Phillies on the mound. The Phillies poor play gave me some extra time to browse eBay, searching specifically for some of the remaining cards needed for the third series. I won an auction for this Williams card (or maybe I hit Buy It Now?) from seller halftime43, located in Johnson City, Tennessee. I bid on a bunch (20 or so) of cards up for auction from Greg Morris Cards, winning only three of them, and I'll feature those three cards in my next three posts.
The Card / Cubs Team Set
This is Williams' second appearance in the set, as he appeared on the National League Home Run Leaders card (#4). I don't have much to say here, other than this is a fantastic looking baseball card. Williams' Rookie of the Year win is highlighted on the back. Williams, at card #40, is one of 72 players featured within the 1965 Topps Embossed insert set and one of four Cubs in the set. He's also in the harder to find 1965 Topps Transfers insert set.
1965 Season
The opening day center fielder for the Cubs, Williams would move around during the season to all three outfield spots as the Cubs struggled to find a set line-up. He started 106 games in right, 29 games in center and 29 games in left. Williams appeared in a league-leading 164 games, batting .315 with 203 hits, 34 home runs and 108 RBIs, winning the Cubs' triple crown.
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First Mainstream Card: 1961 Topps #141
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (16): 1961-1976
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2021 Topps Allen & Ginter #224
821 - Williams non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 9/20/21.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
National Baseball Hall of Fame
SABR
The Trading Card Database
Wikipedia
Previous Card: #219 Bob Meyer - Kansas City Athletics
Previous Card: #219 Bob Meyer - Kansas City Athletics
Next Card: #221 John Tsitouris - Cincinnati Reds
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