Lefty Willis
Born: 11/4/1905 in Leetown, WV, USA
Died: 5/10/1962 in Bethesda, MD, USA
MLB Debut: 1925-10-03 | Final Game: 1927-07-12
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 175 lbs
Full name: Charles William Willis
Biography
Lefty Willis, born in 1905, was a professional baseball pitcher whose career spanned from 1925 to 1927. Despite a relatively short time in Major League Baseball, he made an impact during the late 1920s, a period marked by the emergence of more dynamic offensive play against a backdrop of the deadball eraβs transition. Willis played a pivotal role on the mound, finishing his career with a record of 3-1 and an earned run average (ERA) of 3.92. His ability to strike out batters was evident, as he recorded 23 strikeouts along with a single save during his tenure.
Willis's playing style was characterized by a classic left-handed delivery, which often presented challenges for right-handed batters. Though he did not achieve extensive fame in the league, his contributions to the teams he played for showcased the depth of talent present in the era. Lefty Willis's career, though brief, remains a testament to the evolving nature of baseball during the 1920s, capturing a snapshot of a time when pitching strategies began adapting to the increasingly aggressive hitting that would define the game in subsequent decades.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | 29 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 64.3 | 72 | 28 | 4 | 25 | 23 | 3.92 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 | PHA | AL | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.0 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 10.80 | 0.0 |
| 1926 | PHA | AL | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 32.3 | 31 | 5 | 12 | 13 | 1.39 | 491.9 |
| 1927 | PHA | AL | 3 | 1 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 27.0 | 32 | 17 | 11 | 7 | 5.67 | -454.0 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.111 | 0.158 | 0.111 | 0.269 | 0.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 | PHA | AL | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1926 | PHA | AL | 13 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.222 | 0.0 |
| 1927 | PHA | AL | 15 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 29 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 1 | 1 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 | PHA | P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1926 | PHA | P | 13 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| 1927 | PHA | P | 15 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 29 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shepherd College | Shepherdstown | WV | 1922, 1923 |