Books and articles about Earl Williams

Williams was an All-Star catcher who didn't want to catch. His 1971 season won him the NL Rookie of the Year award; he reached career highs with a .260 batting average, 33 HR, and 87 RBI while catching and playing first base and third base. He was nearly as good in 1972 (28 HR, 87 RBI, .258), but his constant complaining about playing behind the plate led Atlanta to trade him to Baltimore for 1973 with a throw-in in return for Davey Johnson, Pat Dobson, Johnny Oates, and Roric Harrison. He continued to hit for power, but his average declined and his complaining continued.

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Williams is the only Brave besides Hank Aaron to hit a ball into the upper deck at Atlanta - Fulton County Stadium. (AB)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » June 20, 1971: Four grand slams are hit in the ML, by the Braves Earl Williams, the Phillies Deron Johnson, the White Sox Rick Reichardt, and the Pirates Willie Stargell. Williams' slam comes in a 5–4 loss, and the Braves drop a 2nd game, 2–0 to the Reds. The Pirates whip Montreal, 7–1, and the Sox pummel the Twins, 18–8. Johnson's slam, in the 11th, gives the Phils a split with the Mets. » November 24, 1971: C-IF Earl Williams, who belted 33 home runs and knocked in 87 runs for the Braves, wins the NL Rookie of the Year honors. Williams gets 18 of 24 votes, with the others going to Phillie Willie Montanez. » April 17, 1973: Earl Williams hits his first AL homer, a three-run shot off Sparky Lyle, to lead the Orioles to a 4–3 win over the Yankees. » April 17, 1975: The Orioles ship slugger Earl Williams to the Braves for pitcher Jimmy Freeman and $75,000.