Williams' most productive major league season came in 1952, when he posted career-highs in home runs (13), runs (70), RBI (48) and extra-base hits (42), with a .254 batting average in 138 games. In 1953, he hit a career-best .297, which him earned a selection to the NL All-Star squad. In the 1953 Midsummer Classic, played July 14 at Crosley Field, Cincinnati, Williams took over from Red Schoendienst as the National League's second sacker in the seventh inning with the Nationals leading 2–0. He draw a base on balls off Mike Garcia in his only plate appearance and played errorless ball in the field as the Senior Circuit won, 5–1.[1] Then, in 1954, Williams played in a career-high 142 games, starting all but one of them as the Giants' second baseman. His batting average fell to .222, but the Giants captured the National League pennant. In the 1954 World Series that followed, Williams started all four games of the Fall Classic. He went hitless in 11 at bats with a run batted in and handled 20 chances with one error, as the Giants swept away the Cleveland Indians to become world champions.
However, 1954 was his last full season as a player. On April 23, 1955, Williams severely injured his back in an on-field collision with Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers — the result of a brushback battle between the two bitter rivals. The Giants' pitcher, Sal "The Barber" Maglie, was notorious for knocking batters down at the plate. Maglie had angered the Dodgers by throwing several pitches high and inside on Brooklyn hitters, including a pitch that sailed behind Robinson's head. In the fourth inning, Robinson dropped down a bunt, intending to retaliate for the knockdown pitch by crashing into Maglie as he fielded the ball. But Maglie did not come off the pitching mound and Robinson instead collided with Williams, who was covering first base.[2] Robinson later said that his intended target on the play had been Maglie. Williams was able to finish the game and appear in 82 games for the 1955 Giants. But he reinjured his back in midseason and persistent back pain forced his retirement as a player at the age of 27. Teammate Alvin Dark recalled that Williams was never the same after the collision.[3]
In a six-season career, Williams was a .252 hitter (450-for-1,785) with 32 home runs and 163 RBI in 517 games, including 235 runs, 163 RBI, 61 doubles, 10 triples and six stolen bases. A good contact, free swinger hitter, he collected 164 walks and 144 strikeouts in 1,993 plate appearances. At second base, he recorded a .978 fielding percentage (52 errors in 2,323 chances).
Coach and manageredit
Immediately following his playing career, Williams coached for the Giants in 1956 and 1957, their final two seasons in New York before their move to San Francisco. He briefly managed the Dallas Rangers of the Double-ATexas League in 1958 before leaving baseball.
Personal lifeedit
Following the Giants' trade of Eddie Stanky, Williams became roommates with Alvin Dark. Dark remembered that Williams used to go out drinking after games and not return to hotels until late. However, in 1953, Williams checked himself into the Mayo Clinic. He called Dark and said that he was giving up drinking because it was complicating a nerve problem he had been diagnosed with.[4]
Dark, Alvin; Underwood, John (1980). When in Doubt, Fire the Manager: My Life and Times in Baseball. New York: E. P. Dutton. ISBN0-525-23264-8.
External linksedit
Baseball Reference
Retrosheet
The Deadball Era
April 10, 2024
davey, williams, other, people, named, disambiguation, david, carlous, williams, november, 1927, august, 2009, american, professional, baseball, player, coach, during, major, league, baseball, career, spent, entirely, with, york, giants, national, league, seco. For other people named Davey Williams see Davey Williams disambiguation David Carlous Williams November 2 1927 August 17 2009 was an American professional baseball player and coach During his Major League Baseball career spent entirely with the New York Giants of the National League the second baseman appeared in 517 games over six seasons 1949 1951 1955 and was selected to the 1953 NL All Star team Williams was listed as 5 feet 10 inches 1 78 m tall and 165 pounds 75 kg and batted and threw right handed He was born in Dallas Texas where he graduated from Sunset High School in 1945 He is a Member of the Sunset High School Hall of Fame Davey WilliamsSecond basemanBorn 1927 11 02 November 2 1927Dallas Texas U S Died August 17 2009 2009 08 17 aged 81 Dallas Texas U S Batted RightThrew RightMLB debutSeptember 16 1949 for the New York GiantsLast MLB appearanceJuly 30 1955 for the New York GiantsMLB statisticsBatting average 252Home runs32Runs batted in163TeamsNew York Giants 1949 1951 1955 Career highlights and awardsAll Star 1953 World Series champion 1954 Williams in 1953Contents 1 Playing career 2 Coach and manager 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksPlaying career editWilliams most productive major league season came in 1952 when he posted career highs in home runs 13 runs 70 RBI 48 and extra base hits 42 with a 254 batting average in 138 games In 1953 he hit a career best 297 which him earned a selection to the NL All Star squad In the 1953 Midsummer Classic played July 14 at Crosley Field Cincinnati Williams took over from Red Schoendienst as the National League s second sacker in the seventh inning with the Nationals leading 2 0 He draw a base on balls off Mike Garcia in his only plate appearance and played errorless ball in the field as the Senior Circuit won 5 1 1 Then in 1954 Williams played in a career high 142 games starting all but one of them as the Giants second baseman His batting average fell to 222 but the Giants captured the National League pennant In the 1954 World Series that followed Williams started all four games of the Fall Classic He went hitless in 11 at bats with a run batted in and handled 20 chances with one error as the Giants swept away the Cleveland Indians to become world champions However 1954 was his last full season as a player On April 23 1955 Williams severely injured his back in an on field collision with Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers the result of a brushback battle between the two bitter rivals The Giants pitcher Sal The Barber Maglie was notorious for knocking batters down at the plate Maglie had angered the Dodgers by throwing several pitches high and inside on Brooklyn hitters including a pitch that sailed behind Robinson s head In the fourth inning Robinson dropped down a bunt intending to retaliate for the knockdown pitch by crashing into Maglie as he fielded the ball But Maglie did not come off the pitching mound and Robinson instead collided with Williams who was covering first base 2 Robinson later said that his intended target on the play had been Maglie Williams was able to finish the game and appear in 82 games for the 1955 Giants But he reinjured his back in midseason and persistent back pain forced his retirement as a player at the age of 27 Teammate Alvin Dark recalled that Williams was never the same after the collision 3 In a six season career Williams was a 252 hitter 450 for 1 785 with 32 home runs and 163 RBI in 517 games including 235 runs 163 RBI 61 doubles 10 triples and six stolen bases A good contact free swinger hitter he collected 164 walks and 144 strikeouts in 1 993 plate appearances At second base he recorded a 978 fielding percentage 52 errors in 2 323 chances Coach and manager editImmediately following his playing career Williams coached for the Giants in 1956 and 1957 their final two seasons in New York before their move to San Francisco He briefly managed the Dallas Rangers of the Double A Texas League in 1958 before leaving baseball Personal life editFollowing the Giants trade of Eddie Stanky Williams became roommates with Alvin Dark Dark remembered that Williams used to go out drinking after games and not return to hotels until late However in 1953 Williams checked himself into the Mayo Clinic He called Dark and said that he was giving up drinking because it was complicating a nerve problem he had been diagnosed with 4 Williams died in Dallas at the age of 81 References edit Retrosheet box score 1953 MLB All Star Game Sheehan Joseph M April 24 1955 Dodgers Defeat Giants 3 1 PDF The New York Times p 228 Retrieved October 23 2020 Dark and Underwood p 49 Dark and Underwood pp 68 69 Dark Alvin Underwood John 1980 When in Doubt Fire the Manager My Life and Times in Baseball New York E P Dutton ISBN 0 525 23264 8 External links editBaseball Reference Retrosheet The Deadball Era Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Davey Williams amp oldid 1153833627, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
