Denny Williams
Encyclopedia
Evon Daniel "Denny" Williams (December 13, 1896 – March 23, 1929) was a professional baseball
player whose career spanned eight seasons, three of which were spent in Major League Baseball
(MLB) with the Cincinnati Reds
(1921) and Boston Red Sox
(1924–25, 1928). Over his MLB career, Williams batted .259 with 46 runs scored, 85 hits
, four doubles
, three triples
, and 18 runs batted in (RBIs) in 120 games played. Williams spent the majority of his career in the minor leagues
with the Moose Jaw Robin Hoods (1920), Joplin Miners
(1921), Mobile Bears
(1922–24, 1926–27) and Baltimore Orioles
(1928). During spring training
in 1929, Williams was a member of the minor league Portland Beavers
when he was killed in an automobile accident. He stood at 5 in 8 in (172.72 cm) and weighed 150 pounds (68 kg). Williams batted left-handed, while throwing right.
. His father, Daniel Williams, who was from Ohio
, worked for the Glaser Glass Company in Portland. Denny Williams had six siblings: sisters Mary, Sarah and Catherine; and brothers John, William and Thomas. In October 1925, Denny Williams married Thelma Elizabeth Duff of Boston, Massachusetts.
Moose Jaw Robin Hoods of the Class-B Western Canada League
. On the season, he batted
.322 with 158 hits
in 117 games played
. He finished second in the league in hits behind Chicken Hawks
. At the end of the season, the Major League Baseball
(MLB) Cincinnati Reds
purchased Williams from the Moose Jaw club. On March 5, 1921, Williams reported to spring training
with the Reds. During spring training, he played right field for the first time in his career. Towards the end of spring training, the United Press International
speculated that Williams would the Reds' starting outfielder
going into the regular season. He made the Cincinnati club out of spring training. On April 15, Williams made his MLB debut as a pinch hitter
against the Pittsburgh Pirates
. Six of Williams' appearances with the Reds that season were as a pinch hitter and four of them were as a pinch runner
. Defensively, he played one game in left field. Williams' last MLB appearance of the season came on June 1, against the St. Louis Cardinals
. With the Red that year, he went hitless with two strikeout
s in seven games played.
In June 1921, Williams was farmed
out by the Cincinnati Reds to the minor league Joplin Miners
of the Class-A Western League
. With the Miners, he batted .320 with 65 hits, six doubles
, six triples
and one home run
in 56 games played. On July 29, Williams was released by the Joplin club. At the start of the 1922 season, Williams signed with the Mobile Bears
of the Class-A Southern Association
. On September 25, Williams hit a home run in the tenth inning
, which gave Mobile the win against Fort Worth Panthers the in the 1922 Dixie Series
. The Mobile club won the Dixie Series that season. Williams batted .298 with 187 hits with 25 doubles, seven triples and four home runs in 137 games played that season. He was tied for third with Snake Henry
in hits in the Southern Association. He returned to the Mobile Bears in 1923. On the season, he batted .328 with 212 hits, 33 doubles, four triples and one home runs in 160 games played. He led the Southern Association in hits.
to be used as a reserve outfielder. He made his season debut as a pinch runner on April 23, against the New York Yankees
. In that game, Williams scored a run. After three games in the majors that year, he was sent back down to the Mobile club. With the Bears that season, he batted .327 with 159 hits, 18 doubles, three triples, and three home runs in 120 games played. On August 27, Williams was recalled by the Red Sox. On September 8, in a game against the New York Yankees, Williams got his first MLB hit, a double, off of Bullet Joe Bush
. Williams got four hits in five at-bats in on September 9, against the New York Yankees. On the season with Boston that season, Williams batted .365 with 17 runs scored, 31 hits, three doubles, four runs batted in (RBIs), three stolen base
s, and 10 base on balls
in 25 games played. He returned to the Red Sox in 1925. With Boston, he batted .229 with 28 runs scored, 50 hits, one double, three triples, and 13 RBIs in 69 games played.
On January 21, 1926, Williams was sold to the minor league Mobile Bears. On the season, he batted .352 with 215 hits 32 doubles, five triples, and two home runs in 155 games played. Williams finished second in the league in hits. He returned to the Mobile club in 1927. With the Bears that season, he batted .350 with 223 hits, 24 doubles, eight triples and two home runs in 157 games played. He led the Southern Association in hits that season. Williams spent spring training in 1928 with the Boston Red Sox and was expected to be the starting outfielder. His last MLB appearance came as a pinch hitter on July 18, against the Cleveland Indians
. He had an appendix
operation which caused him to miss some playing time that season. With the Red Sox that season, he batted .222 with one run scored, four hits and one RBI in 16 games played. After playing with the Red Sox in 1928, Williams joined the minor league Baltimore Orioles
of the Double-A International League
. On the season, he batted .313 with 47 hits, six doubles, two triples and one home run in 39 games played. In December 1928, Williams was sold by the Boston Red Sox to the minor league Portland Beavers
of the Double-A Pacific Coast League
.
with his Portland Beavers teammates when he was killed in an automobile accident. Two other players, Mack Hillis
and Yats Wuestling
, who were also in the vehicle were seriously injured. In total, six Beavers players were making the trip when their vehicle was hit by another causing them to veer off into an embankment
. Williams was buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery in his home-town of Portland.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player whose career spanned eight seasons, three of which were spent in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
(MLB) with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(1921) and Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1924–25, 1928). Over his MLB career, Williams batted .259 with 46 runs scored, 85 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, four doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, three triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, and 18 runs batted in (RBIs) in 120 games played. Williams spent the majority of his career in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
with the Moose Jaw Robin Hoods (1920), Joplin Miners
Joplin Miners
The Joplin Miners were a baseball team that lasted on and off from 1902 to 1953. They played in Joplin, Missouri. Initially, the team was known as the Colts before changing to Miners during the first season of play....
(1921), Mobile Bears
Mobile Bears
The Mobile Bears were an American minor league baseball team based in Mobile, Alabama. The franchise was a member of the old Southern Association, a high-level circuit that folded after the 1961 season. Mobile joined the SA in 1908 as the Sea Gulls, but changed its name to the Bears in 1918, and...
(1922–24, 1926–27) and Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles (minor league)
The city of Baltimore, Maryland has been home to two minor league baseball teams called the Baltimore Orioles.-Name history:"Orioles" is a traditional name for baseball clubs in Baltimore . It was used by major league teams from 1882 through 1899 in the American Association/National League and by...
(1928). During spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in 1929, Williams was a member of the minor league Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
when he was killed in an automobile accident. He stood at 5 in 8 in (172.72 cm) and weighed 150 pounds (68 kg). Williams batted left-handed, while throwing right.
Early and personal life
Evon Daniel "Denny" Williams was born on December 13, 1896 in Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. His father, Daniel Williams, who was from Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, worked for the Glaser Glass Company in Portland. Denny Williams had six siblings: sisters Mary, Sarah and Catherine; and brothers John, William and Thomas. In October 1925, Denny Williams married Thelma Elizabeth Duff of Boston, Massachusetts.
Early minor league career and Cincinnati Reds (1920–23)
Before the start of the 1920 season, Williams was signed by the minor leagueMinor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
Moose Jaw Robin Hoods of the Class-B Western Canada League
Western Canada League
The Western Canada League was the name of three different baseball circuits in Minor league baseball which operated between and .The first was a Class-D league that played only in 1907 with four teams sponsored by four cities. The second was also classified as D league and ran from 1909 through...
. On the season, he batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.322 with 158 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 117 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
. He finished second in the league in hits behind Chicken Hawks
Chicken Hawks
Nelson Louis "Chicken" Hawks is a former Major League Baseball player who played for the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies. In his career, he hit 7 home runs and drove in 60 RBI.-External links:* *...
. At the end of the season, the Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
(MLB) Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
purchased Williams from the Moose Jaw club. On March 5, 1921, Williams reported to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
with the Reds. During spring training, he played right field for the first time in his career. Towards the end of spring training, the United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
speculated that Williams would the Reds' starting outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
going into the regular season. He made the Cincinnati club out of spring training. On April 15, Williams made his MLB debut as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
against the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. Six of Williams' appearances with the Reds that season were as a pinch hitter and four of them were as a pinch runner
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
. Defensively, he played one game in left field. Williams' last MLB appearance of the season came on June 1, against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. With the Red that year, he went hitless with two strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in seven games played.
In June 1921, Williams was farmed
Farm team
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...
out by the Cincinnati Reds to the minor league Joplin Miners
Joplin Miners
The Joplin Miners were a baseball team that lasted on and off from 1902 to 1953. They played in Joplin, Missouri. Initially, the team was known as the Colts before changing to Miners during the first season of play....
of the Class-A Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
. With the Miners, he batted .320 with 65 hits, six doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, six triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and one home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
in 56 games played. On July 29, Williams was released by the Joplin club. At the start of the 1922 season, Williams signed with the Mobile Bears
Mobile Bears
The Mobile Bears were an American minor league baseball team based in Mobile, Alabama. The franchise was a member of the old Southern Association, a high-level circuit that folded after the 1961 season. Mobile joined the SA in 1908 as the Sea Gulls, but changed its name to the Bears in 1918, and...
of the Class-A Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
. On September 25, Williams hit a home run in the tenth inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
, which gave Mobile the win against Fort Worth Panthers the in the 1922 Dixie Series
Dixie Series
The Dixie Series was an Interleague Minor League Postseason Series pitting the playoff champions of the Southern Association and the Texas League in a best-of-seven matchup from 1920 to 1958. It was revived for one year in 1967, pitting the Southern League champ against the Texas League champ...
. The Mobile club won the Dixie Series that season. Williams batted .298 with 187 hits with 25 doubles, seven triples and four home runs in 137 games played that season. He was tied for third with Snake Henry
Snake Henry
Frederick Marshall "Snake" Henry was a major league baseball first baseman and minor league manager....
in hits in the Southern Association. He returned to the Mobile Bears in 1923. On the season, he batted .328 with 212 hits, 33 doubles, four triples and one home runs in 160 games played. He led the Southern Association in hits.
Boston Red Sox and later career (1924–28)
At the start of the 1924 season, Williams re-signed with the minor league Mobile Bears of the Class-A Southern Association. However, early in the season he was purchased by the MLB Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
to be used as a reserve outfielder. He made his season debut as a pinch runner on April 23, against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. In that game, Williams scored a run. After three games in the majors that year, he was sent back down to the Mobile club. With the Bears that season, he batted .327 with 159 hits, 18 doubles, three triples, and three home runs in 120 games played. On August 27, Williams was recalled by the Red Sox. On September 8, in a game against the New York Yankees, Williams got his first MLB hit, a double, off of Bullet Joe Bush
Bullet Joe Bush
Leslie Ambrose "Bullet Joe" Bush born in Brainerd, Minnesota was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees , St. Louis Browns , Washington Senators , Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Giants...
. Williams got four hits in five at-bats in on September 9, against the New York Yankees. On the season with Boston that season, Williams batted .365 with 17 runs scored, 31 hits, three doubles, four runs batted in (RBIs), three stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s, and 10 base on balls
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
in 25 games played. He returned to the Red Sox in 1925. With Boston, he batted .229 with 28 runs scored, 50 hits, one double, three triples, and 13 RBIs in 69 games played.
On January 21, 1926, Williams was sold to the minor league Mobile Bears. On the season, he batted .352 with 215 hits 32 doubles, five triples, and two home runs in 155 games played. Williams finished second in the league in hits. He returned to the Mobile club in 1927. With the Bears that season, he batted .350 with 223 hits, 24 doubles, eight triples and two home runs in 157 games played. He led the Southern Association in hits that season. Williams spent spring training in 1928 with the Boston Red Sox and was expected to be the starting outfielder. His last MLB appearance came as a pinch hitter on July 18, against the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. He had an appendix
Vermiform appendix
The appendix is a blind-ended tube connected to the cecum , from which it develops embryologically. The cecum is a pouchlike structure of the colon...
operation which caused him to miss some playing time that season. With the Red Sox that season, he batted .222 with one run scored, four hits and one RBI in 16 games played. After playing with the Red Sox in 1928, Williams joined the minor league Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles (minor league)
The city of Baltimore, Maryland has been home to two minor league baseball teams called the Baltimore Orioles.-Name history:"Orioles" is a traditional name for baseball clubs in Baltimore . It was used by major league teams from 1882 through 1899 in the American Association/National League and by...
of the Double-A International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
. On the season, he batted .313 with 47 hits, six doubles, two triples and one home run in 39 games played. In December 1928, Williams was sold by the Boston Red Sox to the minor league Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
of the Double-A Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
.
Death
On March 24, 1929, Williams was returning to Portland, Oregon from spring training in San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
with his Portland Beavers teammates when he was killed in an automobile accident. Two other players, Mack Hillis
Mack Hillis
Malcolm David "Mack" Hillis was a Major League Baseball second baseman. Hillis played for the New York Yankees in and the Pittsburgh Pirates in . He had 9 career hits in 36 at bats in 12 games.-External links:*...
and Yats Wuestling
Yats Wuestling
George "Yats" Wuestling , was a Major League Baseball shortstop who played two seasons with the Detroit Tigers and one season with the New York Yankees . Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Yats played in 83 Major League games, 77 at shortstop. He was a career .189 hitter. He died in 1970 in St....
, who were also in the vehicle were seriously injured. In total, six Beavers players were making the trip when their vehicle was hit by another causing them to veer off into an embankment
Embankment (transportation)
To keep a road or railway line straight or flat, and where the comparative cost or practicality of alternate solutions is prohibitive, the land over which the road or rail line will travel is built up to form an embankment. An embankment is therefore in some sense the opposite of a cutting, and...
. Williams was buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery in his home-town of Portland.