Earl Williams (1920s catcher)
Encyclopedia
Earl Baxter Williams was a professional baseball
player. He played three games in Major League Baseball
for the Boston Braves
in , two as a pinch hitter
and one as a catcher
.
Williams was a catcher at Maryville College
(-). He broke into organized baseball in 1924 with the Morristown Roosters of the Appalachian League
. After four seasons of independent league ball, he was drafted by the Boston Braves from the Asheville Tourists
of the South Atlantic League
in the rule 5 draft
.
He made his major league debut on May 27, 1928. He was hitless in two at bats with a strikeout in three games. He continued to play minor league ball through .
Williams was a World War II
veteran. He was a collector for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service
for twenty years. He died at age 55 at St. Mary's Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee
from an apparent heart attack on March 10, 1958, and is buried at Highland Memorial Cemetery in Knoxville.
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. He played three games 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...
for the Boston Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in , two 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...
and one as a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
.
Williams was a catcher at Maryville College
Maryville College
Maryville College is a private four-year liberal arts college in Maryville, Tennessee, near Knoxville. It was founded in 1819 by Presbyterian minister Isaac L. Anderson for the purpose of furthering education and enlightenment into the West. The College is one of the fifty oldest colleges in the...
(-). He broke into organized baseball in 1924 with the Morristown Roosters of the Appalachian League
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
. After four seasons of independent league ball, he was drafted by the Boston Braves from the Asheville Tourists
Asheville Tourists
The Asheville Tourists are a minor league baseball team based in Asheville, North Carolina, USA. They play in the Class A South Atlantic League and have been a farm team of the Colorado Rockies since 1994....
of the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
in the rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
.
He made his major league debut on May 27, 1928. He was hitless in two at bats with a strikeout in three games. He continued to play minor league ball through .
Williams was a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran. He was a collector for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
for twenty years. He died at age 55 at St. Mary's Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
from an apparent heart attack on March 10, 1958, and is buried at Highland Memorial Cemetery in Knoxville.