Earl Williams
Born: 7/14/1948 in Newark, NJ, USA
Died: 1/28/2013 in Somerset, NJ, USA
MLB Debut: 1970-09-13 | Final Game: 1977-09-25
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 215 lbs
Full name: Earl Craig Williams
Biography
Earl Williams was a professional baseball player born in 1948, who made a significant impact in Major League Baseball from 1970 to 1977. Primarily a position player, Williams played a total of 889 games during his career, where he demonstrated his power-hitting ability by recording 756 hits and 138 home runs. His offensive contributions also included 457 RBIs and a batting average of .247. While he was not known for his speed on the base paths, with only 2 stolen bases throughout his career, Williams' prowess at the plate earned him recognition as a formidable hitter during his tenure.
Williams burst onto the scene with notable accolades, including the prestigious Rookie of the Year and TSN Rookie Player of the Year awards, highlighting his immediate impact upon entering the league. He played during a dynamic era of baseball characterized by a transition towards more offensive strategies, and his ability to drive in runs made him a valuable asset to his teams. As a player who contributed to the game in the 1970s, Williams left a legacy that resonates with fans and historians alike, marking him as a noteworthy figure in the annals of baseball history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 889 | 3058 | 361 | 756 | 115 | 6 | 138 | 457 | 2 | 298 | 574 | 0.247 | 0.318 | 0.424 | 0.742 | 3872.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | ATL | NL | 10 | 19 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0.368 | 0.0 |
| 1971 | ATL | NL | 145 | 497 | 64 | 129 | 14 | 1 | 33 | 87 | 0 | 42 | 80 | 0.260 | 1724.6 |
| 1972 | ATL | NL | 151 | 565 | 72 | 146 | 24 | 2 | 28 | 87 | 0 | 62 | 118 | 0.258 | 2038.3 |
| 1973 | BAL | AL | 132 | 459 | 58 | 109 | 18 | 1 | 22 | 83 | 0 | 66 | 107 | 0.237 | 702.4 |
| 1974 | BAL | AL | 118 | 413 | 47 | 105 | 16 | 0 | 14 | 52 | 0 | 40 | 79 | 0.254 | 321.3 |
| 1975 | ATL | NL | 111 | 383 | 42 | 92 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 50 | 0 | 34 | 63 | 0.240 | -386.6 |
| 1976 | ATL | NL | 61 | 184 | 18 | 39 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 26 | 0 | 19 | 33 | 0.212 | -106.3 |
| 1976 | WSN | NL | 61 | 190 | 17 | 45 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 29 | 0 | 14 | 32 | 0.237 | -106.3 |
| 1977 | OAK | AL | 100 | 348 | 39 | 84 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 38 | 2 | 18 | 58 | 0.241 | -508.9 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 24 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0.208 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | ALCS | BAL | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 |
| 1973 | ALCS | BAL | 5 | 18 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0.278 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 327 | 277 | 2560 | 157 | 24 | 246 |
| 3B | 66 | 60 | 46 | 111 | 19 | 13 |
| C | 456 | 423 | 2109 | 192 | 38 | 30 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | ATL | 1B | 4 | 2 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1970 | ATL | 3B | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 3 |
| 1971 | ATL | C | 72 | 71 | 375 | 35 | 8 | 4 |
| 1971 | ATL | 1B | 31 | 19 | 194 | 8 | 1 | 25 |
| 1971 | ATL | 3B | 42 | 37 | 27 | 74 | 9 | 9 |
| 1972 | ATL | C | 116 | 113 | 584 | 49 | 13 | 7 |
| 1972 | ATL | 1B | 20 | 15 | 140 | 8 | 0 | 10 |
| 1972 | ATL | 3B | 21 | 21 | 16 | 30 | 10 | 1 |
| 1973 | BAL | C | 95 | 86 | 407 | 33 | 6 | 5 |
| 1973 | BAL | 1B | 42 | 39 | 326 | 19 | 2 | 36 |
| 1974 | BAL | C | 75 | 70 | 308 | 33 | 6 | 5 |
| 1974 | BAL | 1B | 47 | 43 | 399 | 17 | 2 | 39 |
| 1975 | ATL | C | 11 | 10 | 52 | 6 | 2 | 3 |
| 1975 | ATL | 1B | 90 | 89 | 844 | 50 | 10 | 77 |
| 1976 | ATL | C | 38 | 34 | 178 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 | ATL | 1B | 17 | 14 | 120 | 8 | 0 | 9 |
| 1976 | MON | C | 13 | 6 | 40 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| 1976 | MON | 1B | 47 | 44 | 377 | 41 | 8 | 37 |
| 1977 | OAK | C | 36 | 33 | 165 | 21 | 2 | 2 |
| 1977 | OAK | 1B | 29 | 12 | 140 | 5 | 1 | 12 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 455 |
| First Base | 330 |
| Third Base | 66 |
| Designated Hitter | 48 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Rookie of the Year | |
| 1971 | TSN Rookie Player of the Year |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Rookie of the Year | NL | 1st | 18.0 | 24 | 18 |