Frank Williams (baseball)

Frank Lee Williams (February 13, 1958 – January 9, 2009), born in Seattle, Washington, was a major league baseball player from 1984 through 1989.

For other people with the same name, see Frank Williams (disambiguation).
Frank Williams
Pitcher
Born: (1958-02-13)February 13, 1958
Seattle, Washington
Died: January 9, 2009(2009-01-09) (aged 50)
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 5, 1984, for the San Francisco Giants
Last MLB appearance
September 27, 1989, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record24–14
Earned run average3.00
Strikeouts314
Teams

Williams and his twin brother, of Tseshaht First Nation heritage, were given up for adoption at birth, and after some years in foster homes were raised in suburban Kirkland, Washington by Boeing engineer Dick McCullough. Williams attended Shoreline Community College in Seattle, then Lewis-Clark State College in Idaho, where he attracted the attention of scouts (and engaged in amateur tough man boxing in the offseason).[1][2]

Williams was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 11th round of the 1979 amateur draft, and, after pitching for Great Falls, Fresno, Shreveport, and Phoenix, made his major league debut in 1984. A middle reliever, he pitched a shutout in his rookie season but started no other games and was credited with only eight saves over his six-season, 333-game career.[1][3]

His best season was 1986, when he had a 1.20 earned run average, and, with 34 singles and one double given up in 52.1 innings, a defensive isolated power percentage (slugging percentage allowed minus batting average allowed, a measure of extra bases allowed on hits) of .006 – as of 2014, the lowest such percentage of anyone pitching 50 or more innings in records going back to 1957. He was traded in the offseason to the Cincinnati Reds and finished with the Detroit Tigers in 1989. Created the “slurve”, slow side arm curve ball. Frank was known for his side arm and fast pitch.[2][3]

After baseball, Williams suffered various misfortunes including a serious car accident, the breakup of his marriage, and the death of his twin brother, experienced alcoholism, and eventually ended up being homeless. He died in Victoria, British Columbia in January 2009 after suffering a heart attack and complications from pneumonia. He is remembered by a son, Tyler Lee Williams, and a daughter, Lyndsay Kae Williams, both of Kendrick, Idaho.[1][2]

References
  1. Hawthorn, Tom (2009-01-26). "Frank Williams, baseball pitcher (1958–2009)". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
  2. David Schoenfield (August 28, 2014). "A Quick Note About the Awesome Wade Davis". ESPN. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  3. "Frank Williams". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
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