Pop Williams
Born: 5/19/1874 in Bowdoinham, ME, USA
Died: 8/4/1959 in Topsham, ME, USA
MLB Debut: 1898-09-14 | Final Game: 1903-09-15
Bats: R | Throws: L | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: Walter Merrill Williams
Biography
Pop Williams was a professional baseball pitcher who played from 1898 to 1909, making a notable impact during the early years of the 20th century. Born in 1874, Williams established himself as a reliable arm in a time when the game was transitioning toward a more modern style of play. Over the course of his career, he amassed a record of 16-25, showcasing his durability on the mound despite the challenges of the era.
With a career earned run average (ERA) of 3.17, Williams demonstrated an ability to keep opposing hitters at bay, striking out 132 batters throughout his tenure in the major leagues. Although he did not record any saves, his contributions were significant in a period when the role of pitchers was evolving, and teams began to rely more heavily on specialized relief pitchers in later years. Williams' career, spanning from the late 19th century into the early 1900s, positioned him as a key figure during an era marked by the emergence of new strategies and styles in baseball.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 25 | 47 | 47 | 41 | 2 | 0 | 386.3 | 426 | 136 | 4 | 113 | 132 | 3.17 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1898 | WAS | NL | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 17.0 | 32 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 8.47 | -19.9 |
| 1902 | CHC | NL | 11 | 16 | 32 | 32 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 263.3 | 267 | 73 | 63 | 99 | 2.49 | - |
| 1903 | BSN | NL | 4 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 83.0 | 97 | 38 | 37 | 20 | 4.12 | -2733.2 |
| 1903 | CHC | NL | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5.0 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5.40 | - |
| 1903 | PHI | NL | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 18.0 | 21 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 3.00 | 36.7 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59 | 179 | 21 | 40 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 11 | 14 | 0.223 | 0.287 | 0.263 | 0.550 | -306.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1898 | WAS | NL | 2 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.375 | 0.0 |
| 1902 | CHC | NL | 39 | 120 | 14 | 25 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 13 | 0.208 | -306.4 |
| 1903 | BSN | NL | 14 | 42 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.238 | 0.0 |
| 1903 | CHC | NL | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1903 | PHI | NL | 2 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.286 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 8 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| P | 47 | 0 | 21 | 108 | 8 | 3 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1898 | WAS | P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1902 | CHN | P | 32 | 0 | 14 | 78 | 4 | 1 |
| 1902 | CHN | OF | 6 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1903 | BSN | P | 10 | 0 | 4 | 19 | 2 | 2 |
| 1903 | BSN | OF | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1903 | CHN | P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1903 | PHI | P | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 47 |
| Left Field | 2 |
| Right Field | 6 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowdoin College | Brunswick | ME | 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896 |