| Pop Williams | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1874-05-19)May 19, 1874 Bowdoinham, Maine | |
| Died: October 4, 1959(1959-10-04) (aged 85) Topsham, Maine | |
Batted: Right Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 14, 1898, for the Washington Senators | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 15, 1903, for the Boston Beaneaters | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 16–25 |
| Earned run average | 3.17 |
| Strikeouts | 132 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Walter Merrill "Pop" Williams (May 19, 1874 – August 4, 1959) was a professionalbaseballpitcher whose playing career spanned nine seasons, including three inMajor League Baseball. He was born inBowdoinham, Maine on May 19, 1874. Williams batted right-handed and threw left-handed. Over his major league career, Williams compiled awin–loss record of 16–25 with a 3.17earned run average (ERA), 41complete games, twoshutouts and 132strikeouts in 47 games, all starts. He was also thecoach of theBowdoin College baseball team during the spring of 1903. During his time in the majors and theminor leagues, Williams occasionally playedoutfield andfirst base. In the majors, Williams played for theWashington Senators (1898),Chicago Cubs (1902–1903),Philadelphia Phillies (1903) and theBoston Beaneaters (1903).
Williams attended Bowdoin College from 1893 to 1896.[1] His professional career began in 1895 with the Lewiston ball club in the Class-BNew England League. In 1896, Williams played for two teams; his previous club, Lewiston, and Fall River Indians. That season, Williams went a combined 14–16 with a 3.15earned run average (ERA), 28complete games, and 86strikeouts in 35 games, 30starts. Williams also four games in theoutfield and four games atfirst base that season. Hebatted a combined .312 with 29runs, 43hits, 10doubles, threetriples, onehome run, and eightstolen bases in 138at-bats.
Williams moved on to the Class-A Toronto Canucks of theEastern League in 1897. Although records were not kept in his first season there, in 1898 he went 16–14 with 26 complete games, and 70 strikeouts in 37 games, 34 starts. That season, Williams made his debut inMajor League Baseball. Playing for theWashington Senators, Williams went 0–2 with an 8.47 ERA in 2 games, both starts. His debut with the Senators made Williams the first person from Bowdoin College to play in the majors.[1] He returned to Toronto in 1899 and went 20–10 with 28 complete games, two shutouts and 54 strikeouts in 33 games, 30 starts. Williams was tied for third inwins that season in the Eastern League.[2] Williams played with the Toronto team until 1901. In 1901, he went 16–13 in 34 games.
Williams joined the major leagueChicago Orphans in 1902. He went 11–16 with a 2.49 ERA, 27 complete games, and 99 strikeouts. Williams was tied for eighth in theNational League in bothlosses andhome runs per nine innings that season.[3] Williams was re-signed by the Orphans, now renamed theChicago Cubs, for the 1903 season.[4] He did not join the Cubs inspring training that season as he was coaching theBowdoin College baseball team.[4] With the Cubs in 1903, Williams went 0–1 with a 5.40 ERA in one game, a start.
In April of the 1903 season, thePhiladelphia Phillies purchased Williams from the Cubs. His tenure with the Phillies proved short, however, as after two games with a 1–1 record and a 3.00 ERA, he was released. As afree agent, Williams signed with theBoston Beaneaters. In ten games, all starts, he went 4–5 with a 4.12 ERA, nine complete games and 20 strikeouts. On the season, Williams went 5–7 with a 3.99 ERA, 12 complete games and 30 strikeouts in 13 games, all starts, between Chicago, Philadelphia and Boston.
· Baseball Almanac