Don Williams – America’s Favorite Baseball Player
Contents
Don Williams – America’s Favorite Baseball Player
Early Life
Don Williams was born on April 29, 1923, in San Francisco, California. He was the youngest of three children. His father, John Williams, was a doctor, and his mother, Elizabeth Williams, was a homemaker. Don’s older brother, John, was a successful banker, and his sister, Mary, was a housewife.
Born in San Francisco
Don Williams was born on July 27, 1942, in San Francisco, California, to Herb and Betty Williams. The young Williams had a tough upbringing. His father was an abusive alcoholic who regularly beat his wife and children. His mother worked two jobs to support the family, which often left the children to fend for themselves. As a result, Williams spent a lot of time on the streets of San Francisco’s Mission District, getting into trouble with the law. In 1960, he was sentenced to two years in juvenile hall for robbery.
Grew up in Oakland
Don Williams was born in Oakland, California, on July 20, 1943. He grew up in the city’s Westlake district and attended McClymonds High School, where he played baseball, basketball, and football. After graduation, he enrolled at San Francisco State University. While Williams was attending college, he played semi-pro baseball for the Fresno Cardinals of the California League.
College Career
Don Williams was born in San Francisco, California on September 28, 1966. He was drafted out of high school by the Seattle Mariners in the 1984 MLB Draft. Williams played college baseball for the University of Miami from 1985-1987. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 1987 MLB Draft.
Played for UC Berkeley
In college, Williams played for UC Berkeley. He was a member of the varsity baseball team for two years and was selected as an All-American in his senior year. Williams also played football and basketball at Berkeley. After graduation, he was drafted by the Philadelphia Athletics in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft.
Professional Career
Don Williams was born on October 29, 1955, in Portland, Oregon. Williams was drafted by the Seattle Pilots in the 13th round of the 1973 MLB Draft. Williams made his Major League debut with the Pilots on June 15, 1974, and appeared in four games for the team before they became the Milwaukee Brewers.
Debut with the Oakland Athletics
Don Williams made his major league debut with the Oakland Athletics on September 16, 1963, coming into the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning. He made one putout in the game, which was a fly out by New York Yankees’ Héctor López. In 1964, Williams played 26 games for the Athletics, batting .222 with one home run and four runs batted in (RBIs). He also appeared in two games for the Indianapolis Indians, Oakland’s Triple-A affiliate.
Traded to the Baltimore Orioles
In November 1953, Williams was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for Curt Roberts and Russ Snyder. He spent the next few seasons with the Orioles, again playing in the outfield and at first base. He was traded back to the White Sox in 1957.
Retirement
Don Williams, America’s favorite baseball player, has announced his retirement from the game. Williams has been a professional baseball player for over 20 years, and has been a member of the Yankees, Red Sox, and Mets. He was an All-Star in 2001, and won the World Series with the Yankees in 2009.
Williams retires from baseball
Williams, whose retirement was announced yesterday, played his last game on September 28th. In his twenty-two seasons, he compiled a .344 batting average, hit 521 home runs, and had 1,839 RBIs. Williams was a three-time MVP and a seventeen-time All-Star. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 1971.
Legacy
It would be difficult to overestimate the impact that Don Williams had on the game of baseball. He was one of the most popular players of his generation and was beloved by fans across the country. Williams was a trailblazer in many ways, and his legacy as a player and a person will continue to inspire those who love the game of baseball.
Williams is inducted into the Hall of Fame
In July of 2014, Don Williams was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He is just the second African American player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, joining pitchers “Bullet” Joe Rogan.
Williams was born in Arkansas in 1939 and began playing baseball at an early age. He played in the Negro Leagues for a short time before being signed by the Chicago White Sox in 1959. He made his major league debut with the White Sox in 1961 and quickly became one of the most popular players in baseball.
Williams was an incredible hitter and was named the American League’s Most Valuable Player in 1967. He retired from baseball after the 1976 season with a batting average of .311 and 2,426 hits. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.