Books and articles about Willie Davis

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Davis was named TSN Minor League Player of the Year in 1960, and was generally considered the fastest man in baseball. The Dodgers ' regular centerfielder for 13 years, Davis ranks high in virtually every all-time Dodger offensive category. His 31-game hitting streak in 1969 was the longest in 24 years, and he later had another streak of 25 games. A three-time Gold Glove winner, Davis also twice led the NL in errors. He committed a WS-record three errors, all in the fifth inning of Game Two in 1966. In 1965, he set a WS record with three stolen bases in a game, and in '62, he and Maury Wills set a new NL record for stolen bases by two teammates with 136 (Wills had 104, Davis 32). Traded four times between December 1973 and October 1975, Davis played in Japan before a brief final tour as an Angel. (TG)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 11, 1944: Hal Trosky, making a comeback with the White Sox after having retired for two years because of migraine headaches, steals home in the 16th to break a 2–2 tie in a 4–2 win over the A's. By inning, it is the latest steal of home, a feat Willie Davis will duplicate in 1964. » October 3, 1963: In game 2, Johnny Podres scatters seven hits, Tommy Davis ties a World Series record with two triples, Willie Davis drives in two runs, Moose Skowron homers, and Los Angeles beats Al Downing 4–1 to go two up. » September 19, 1964: The Dodger-Phils matchup in Los Angeles goes 15 innings, when with two outs in the bottom of the 16th, Willie Davis singles, steals 2nd, and takes 3rd on a wild pitch. With rookie reliever Morrie Steevens making his first ML appearance, Davis swipes home to give the Dodgers the 4–3 win. His steal of home is the latest in any game in the National League and ties Hal Trosky's 16th-inning swipe of home in a 1944 game. The Phils now lead by five 1/2. » October 6, 1966: Los Angeles OF Willie Davis commits three errors on two successive 5th-inning plays, as Baltimore scores three runs and wins 6–0. » March 30, 1967: The Dodgers Willie Davis suffers a broken bone in his ankle that will hamper his performance throughout the season. » September 1, 1969: Willie Davis, who cracks a single and double, ties the club record of hitting in 29 straight games. The mark was set by Zack Wheat in 1916, and Davis will double tomorrow to break it. Andy Kosco adds four straight hits as the Dodgers beat the visiting Mets, 10–6. Jerry Koosman is kayoed after a 1/3 of an inning and takes the loss against Jim Bunning. » September 4, 1969: After hitting in 31 straight games, the 3rd-best streak (since 1900) in National League history, the Dodgers Willie Davis is stopped in a 3–0 loss to San Diego. Al Ferrara drives in all three runs. » May 24, 1973: The Dodgers Willie Davis gets six hits, the Mets Rusty Staub 5, during a 19-inning game. The Mets win 7–3. The two teams combine to ground into nine double plays, a NL record. » June 19, 1973: The Reds Pete Rose (single versus the Giants) and the Dodgers Willie Davis (HR versus the Braves) each collect their 2,000th career hit. Pistol Pete's comes in a 4–0 win over the Giants, as Fred Norman pitches his 2nd shutout in a row for the Reds. » December 5, 1973: The Dodgers trade OF Willie Davis to the Expos for relief P Mike Marshall. Marshall will win the Cy Young Award for the Dodgers in 1974. » July 7, 1975: In an 8–6 loss to the Cardinals, Giants catcher Marc Hill -- as well as the Cards -- ties a mark last accomplished in 1905 when he tags out three Cards runners at home on throws from the outfield. The three Cards dealt out are: Ken Reitz, in the first inning. on a throw from LF Gary Thomasson. Reitz tries scoring from 2B on a Mike Tyson single; Ron Fairly in the 6th inning thrown out by RF Bobby Murcer on a Tyson fly ball; Bake McBride in the 7th thrown out by LF Chris Arnold when he tries to score on a Willie Davis fly.