Ken Williams
Born: 6/28/1890 in Grants Pass, OR, USA
Died: 1/22/1959 in Grants Pass, OR, USA
MLB Debut: 1915-07-14 | Final Game: 1929-08-10
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 170 lbs
Full name: Kenneth Roy Williams
Biography
Ken Williams was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball during the 1915 to 1929 seasons, leaving an indelible mark on the game with his exceptional hitting and overall offensive prowess. Born in 1890, Williams played in 1,397 games, amassing a noteworthy career batting average of .319. Over his career, he recorded 1,552 hits, including 196 home runs and 913 RBIs, showcasing his ability to drive in runs and power the offense. His speed on the basepaths was also evident, as he successfully stole 154 bases throughout his time in the league.
Williams played in an era characterized by the transition from the deadball era to the lively ball era, a time when offensive statistics began to rise dramatically. His impactful presence in the lineup helped shape the offensive strategies of his teams, contributing significantly to their successes. Known for his strong batting skills and steady performance, Williams remains a respected figure in baseball history, celebrated for his contributions to the sport during a transformative period.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1397 | 4862 | 860 | 1552 | 285 | 77 | 196 | 913 | 154 | 566 | 287 | 0.319 | 0.393 | 0.530 | 0.924 | 25887.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1915 | CIN | NL | 71 | 219 | 22 | 53 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 4 | 15 | 20 | 0.242 | -211.7 |
| 1916 | CIN | NL | 10 | 27 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0.111 | 0.0 |
| 1918 | SLA | AL | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1919 | SLA | AL | 65 | 227 | 32 | 68 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 35 | 7 | 26 | 25 | 0.300 | 1013.1 |
| 1920 | SLA | AL | 141 | 521 | 90 | 160 | 34 | 13 | 10 | 72 | 18 | 41 | 26 | 0.307 | 1837.1 |
| 1921 | SLA | AL | 146 | 547 | 115 | 190 | 31 | 7 | 24 | 117 | 20 | 74 | 42 | 0.347 | 3886.2 |
| 1922 | SLA | AL | 153 | 585 | 128 | 194 | 34 | 11 | 39 | 155 | 37 | 74 | 31 | 0.332 | 4832.7 |
| 1923 | SLA | AL | 147 | 555 | 106 | 198 | 37 | 12 | 29 | 91 | 18 | 79 | 32 | 0.357 | 5141.0 |
| 1924 | SLA | AL | 114 | 398 | 78 | 129 | 21 | 4 | 18 | 84 | 20 | 69 | 17 | 0.324 | 2515.4 |
| 1925 | SLA | AL | 102 | 411 | 83 | 136 | 31 | 5 | 25 | 105 | 10 | 37 | 14 | 0.331 | 2446.7 |
| 1926 | SLA | AL | 108 | 347 | 55 | 97 | 15 | 7 | 17 | 74 | 5 | 39 | 23 | 0.280 | 1131.5 |
| 1927 | SLA | AL | 131 | 423 | 70 | 136 | 23 | 6 | 17 | 74 | 9 | 57 | 30 | 0.322 | 2294.4 |
| 1928 | BOS | AL | 133 | 462 | 59 | 140 | 25 | 1 | 8 | 67 | 4 | 37 | 15 | 0.303 | 387.3 |
| 1929 | BOS | AL | 74 | 139 | 21 | 48 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 0.345 | 614.4 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| OF | 1298 | 0 | 2948 | 167 | 137 | 40 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1915 | CIN | OF | 62 | 0 | 117 | 11 | 7 | 4 |
| 1916 | CIN | OF | 10 | 0 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1919 | SLA | OF | 63 | 0 | 168 | 10 | 12 | 3 |
| 1920 | SLA | OF | 138 | 0 | 331 | 17 | 14 | 6 |
| 1921 | SLA | OF | 145 | 0 | 331 | 24 | 26 | 3 |
| 1922 | SLA | OF | 153 | 0 | 372 | 16 | 12 | 4 |
| 1923 | SLA | OF | 145 | 0 | 333 | 23 | 12 | 5 |
| 1924 | SLA | OF | 109 | 0 | 257 | 13 | 9 | 2 |
| 1925 | SLA | OF | 102 | 0 | 242 | 11 | 12 | 4 |
| 1926 | SLA | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1926 | SLA | OF | 92 | 0 | 189 | 12 | 11 | 2 |
| 1927 | SLA | OF | 113 | 0 | 260 | 15 | 10 | 4 |
| 1928 | BOS | OF | 127 | 0 | 254 | 10 | 8 | 0 |
| 1929 | BOS | 1B | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1929 | BOS | OF | 39 | 0 | 75 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 2 |
| Second Base | 1 |
| Left Field | 1133 |
| Center Field | 168 |
| Right Field | 1 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 22th | 1.0 | 64 | 0 |
| 1923 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 15th | 4.0 | 64 | 0 |