Jimmy Williams (second baseman)
Encyclopedia
James Thomas Williams was a second baseman
in Major League Baseball
from 1899 to 1909. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates
, Baltimore Orioles
, New York Highlanders
, and St. Louis Browns
. The power-hitting Williams set several records during his rookie season and led a major league in triples
three times. He stood at 5' 9" and weighed 175 lbs.
. He first played semi-pro baseball in 1892 and started his professional baseball career in 1896. In 1897, he established himself as a premiere power hitter, slugging 31 home run
s for the Western Association
's St. Joseph Saints
. He hit more homers than any two other players in the league combined, and he also paced the circuit in slugging percentage and total bases. In 1898, Williams' power dropped off when he moved up to the class A Western League. However, he did raise his batting average
to .343 (third in the league) and still led the WL in slugging percentage at .494.
Williams was then purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was the team's starting third baseman
in 1899 and made an immediate impact. In May and June of that year, he ran off a 26-game hitting streak
. He continued to rip extra-base hits throughout the entire season and eventually ranked sixth in the National League in doubles
(28), first in triples (27), and third in home runs (9). In August and September, Williams had another long hitting streak, this time reaching 27 games before being stopped. The streak set an MLB rookie record that was not broken until 1987; it is still a Pittsburgh Pirates team record. The 27 triples are also an MLB rookie record. Williams ended the season with a .354 batting average.
In 1900, Williams slumped badly, and his statistics all declined from the previous season. He hit just .264, while his slugging percentage fell by .141 points. After the season, Williams jumped to the new American League
with the Baltimore Orioles. He converted to second base and would remain at that position for the rest of his career. In 1901, Williams returned to his rookie form at the plate, batting .317 with a league-leading 21 triples. His production was similar the following year, as well, and he led his league in triples for the third time.
In 1903, the Baltimore franchise was transferred to New York. Williams played decently in the new city, but his hitting never approached his Pittsburgh and Baltimore levels again. After five years with the Highlanders, he was traded to the St. Louis Browns, where he finished out his major league career. He hit just .195 in 1909 and played his final MLB game on October 3.
Williams played for the American Association
's Minneapolis Millers
from 1910 to 1915. No longer facing major league quality pitching, he batted over .310 in both 1910 and 1911 and was one of the league's best sluggers. He helped the Millers win four AA pennants during his time there before retiring after the 1915 season, by which time he was 38 years old.
After his baseball career ended, Williams held various jobs, including one as an area scout and coach for the Cincinnati Reds
. He was married to Nannie May Smith in 1900, and the marriage lasted until her death in 1949. They had two sons.
Jimmy Williams died in 1965 in St. Petersburg, Florida
.
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
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...
from 1899 to 1909. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, Baltimore Orioles
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, New York Highlanders
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, and St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. The power-hitting Williams set several records during his rookie season and led a major league in triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
three times. He stood at 5' 9" and weighed 175 lbs.
Career
Williams was born in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. He first played semi-pro baseball in 1892 and started his professional baseball career in 1896. In 1897, he established himself as a premiere power hitter, slugging 31 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s for the Western Association
Western Association
The Western Association was the name of five different leagues in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries.The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887...
's St. Joseph Saints
St. Joseph Saints
The Saint Joseph Saints were a Western Association and Western League baseball team based in St. Joseph, Missouri, USA. They were affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1930, the Chicago Cubs in 1940 and the New York Yankees in 1954.They won three straight league championships, from 1933 to...
. He hit more homers than any two other players in the league combined, and he also paced the circuit in slugging percentage and total bases. In 1898, Williams' power dropped off when he moved up to the class A Western League. However, he did raise his batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
to .343 (third in the league) and still led the WL in slugging percentage at .494.
Williams was then purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was the team's starting third baseman
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...
in 1899 and made an immediate impact. In May and June of that year, he ran off a 26-game hitting streak
Hitting streak
In baseball, a hitting streak refers to the number of consecutive official games in which a player gets at least one base hit.According to the Official Baseball Rules, such a streak is ended when a player has at least 1 plate appearance and no hits...
. He continued to rip extra-base hits throughout the entire season and eventually ranked sixth in the National League in doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(28), first in triples (27), and third in home runs (9). In August and September, Williams had another long hitting streak, this time reaching 27 games before being stopped. The streak set an MLB rookie record that was not broken until 1987; it is still a Pittsburgh Pirates team record. The 27 triples are also an MLB rookie record. Williams ended the season with a .354 batting average.
In 1900, Williams slumped badly, and his statistics all declined from the previous season. He hit just .264, while his slugging percentage fell by .141 points. After the season, Williams jumped to the new American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
with the Baltimore Orioles. He converted to second base and would remain at that position for the rest of his career. In 1901, Williams returned to his rookie form at the plate, batting .317 with a league-leading 21 triples. His production was similar the following year, as well, and he led his league in triples for the third time.
In 1903, the Baltimore franchise was transferred to New York. Williams played decently in the new city, but his hitting never approached his Pittsburgh and Baltimore levels again. After five years with the Highlanders, he was traded to the St. Louis Browns, where he finished out his major league career. He hit just .195 in 1909 and played his final MLB game on October 3.
Williams played for the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
's Minneapolis Millers
Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
from 1910 to 1915. No longer facing major league quality pitching, he batted over .310 in both 1910 and 1911 and was one of the league's best sluggers. He helped the Millers win four AA pennants during his time there before retiring after the 1915 season, by which time he was 38 years old.
After his baseball career ended, Williams held various jobs, including one as an area scout and coach for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. He was married to Nannie May Smith in 1900, and the marriage lasted until her death in 1949. They had two sons.
Jimmy Williams died in 1965 in St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples
- List of Major League Baseball triples champions