Ed Willett
Encyclopedia
Robert Edgar Willett was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
. He played with the Detroit Tigers
of the American League
(1906
- 1913
) and the St. Louis Terriers
of the Federal League
(1914
- 1915
). He was born in Norfolk, Virginia
, USA and threw right-handed.
He began his playing career in the Western Association
, pitching one season with the Wichita Jobbers in 1905. He joined the Detroit Tigers
in 1906. In his first two seasons in Detroit, Willett had a record of 1-8 in 9 starts. However, Willett won at least 13 games in each of the next 6 seasons (1908–1913).
His best season was 1909 when he had a record of 21-10, ranking 3rd in the American League in wins and 5th in winning percentage (.677). He had an earned run average of 2.34 for the season and was among the 1909 American League leaders in games (41), innings (292-2/3), games started (34), complete games (25), bases on balls and hits allowed (88 and 239), as well as wild pitches (10) and hit batsmen (14).
In two games of the 1909 World Series
against the Pittsburgh Pirates
, Willett pitched 7 and 2/3 innings, allowing no runs and three hits.
On January 20, 1914, Willett jumped from the American League to the Federal League where he finished his career with the St. Louis Terriers
. In two seasons with the last-place Terriers, Willett had a record of 6-19.
Throughout his career, Willett had a propensity to hit batters with his pitches. He led the AL in hit batsmen in 1912 with 17 and was among the league leaders seven straight years from 1908-1914. His career total of 106 hit batsmen ranks 50th in the all time Major League Baseball record book.
Willett was an excellent fielding pitcher, consistently achieving a range factor
in excess of the league average. Over his career, he had a range factor
of 2.89—71 points higher than the league average of 2.09 for pitchers. In 1910, Willett had 113 assists in 224 innings pitched, meaning that he had an assist every other inning. His range factor of 3.38 in 1912 was a remarkable 143 points higher than the league average of 1.95—meaning Willett got to nearly twice as many batted balls as the typical pitcher of his era.
Willett was also a good hitter for a pitcher, batting .268 with a .333 on base percentage and a .427 slugging percentage in 1911. In 1913, he raised his batting average to .283.
In 274 career games, Willett had a 102-99 won-loss record with 142 complete game
s, an earned run average of 3.08, 600 strikeouts, and 695 assists in 1,773 innings pitched.
Willett died in 1934 in Wellington, Kansas
at age 50.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
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...
. He played with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
(1906
1906 in baseball
-Champions:*World Series: Chicago White Sox over Chicago Cubs Inter-league playoff: Chicago declined challenge by New York Giants.-Statistical leaders:-American League final standings:-National League final standings:-Events:...
- 1913
1913 in baseball
-Champions:*World Series: Philadelphia Athletics over New York Giants -Awards and honors:*Chalmers Award** Walter Johnson, Washington Senators, P** Jake Daubert, Brooklyn Dodgers, 1B-MLB statistical leaders:1MLB Triple Crown Winner for Pitching...
) and the St. Louis Terriers
St. Louis Terriers
The St. Louis Terriers were a baseball club that played in the short-lived Federal League in and . They played their home games at Handlan's Park. The St. Louis Chapter of SABR placed a marker at the site of Handland's Park, now on the campus of St. Louis University, on October 17, 2007. The team...
of the Federal League
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
(1914
1914 in baseball
-Champions:*World Series: Boston Braves over Philadelphia Athletics -Awards and honors:*Chalmers Award** Eddie Collins, Philadelphia Athletics, 2B** Johnny Evers, Boston Braves, 2B-MLB statistical leaders:-American League final standings:...
- 1915
1915 in baseball
-Champions:*World Series: Boston Red Sox over Philadelphia Phillies Inter-league playoff: Boston declined challenge by Chicago Inter-league playoff: Philadelphia declined challenge by Chicago -Statistical leaders:...
). He was born in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, USA and threw right-handed.
He began his playing career in the Western Association
Western Association
The Western Association was the name of five different leagues in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries.The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887...
, pitching one season with the Wichita Jobbers in 1905. He joined the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in 1906. In his first two seasons in Detroit, Willett had a record of 1-8 in 9 starts. However, Willett won at least 13 games in each of the next 6 seasons (1908–1913).
His best season was 1909 when he had a record of 21-10, ranking 3rd in the American League in wins and 5th in winning percentage (.677). He had an earned run average of 2.34 for the season and was among the 1909 American League leaders in games (41), innings (292-2/3), games started (34), complete games (25), bases on balls and hits allowed (88 and 239), as well as wild pitches (10) and hit batsmen (14).
1909 World Series
The 1909 World Series featured the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Detroit Tigers. The Pirates won the Series in seven games to capture their first championship of the modern Major League Baseball era and the second championship in the club's history....
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...
, Willett pitched 7 and 2/3 innings, allowing no runs and three hits.
On January 20, 1914, Willett jumped from the American League to the Federal League where he finished his career with the St. Louis Terriers
St. Louis Terriers
The St. Louis Terriers were a baseball club that played in the short-lived Federal League in and . They played their home games at Handlan's Park. The St. Louis Chapter of SABR placed a marker at the site of Handland's Park, now on the campus of St. Louis University, on October 17, 2007. The team...
. In two seasons with the last-place Terriers, Willett had a record of 6-19.
Throughout his career, Willett had a propensity to hit batters with his pitches. He led the AL in hit batsmen in 1912 with 17 and was among the league leaders seven straight years from 1908-1914. His career total of 106 hit batsmen ranks 50th in the all time Major League Baseball record book.
Willett was an excellent fielding pitcher, consistently achieving a range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
in excess of the league average. Over his career, he had a range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
of 2.89—71 points higher than the league average of 2.09 for pitchers. In 1910, Willett had 113 assists in 224 innings pitched, meaning that he had an assist every other inning. His range factor of 3.38 in 1912 was a remarkable 143 points higher than the league average of 1.95—meaning Willett got to nearly twice as many batted balls as the typical pitcher of his era.
Willett was also a good hitter for a pitcher, batting .268 with a .333 on base percentage and a .427 slugging percentage in 1911. In 1913, he raised his batting average to .283.
In 274 career games, Willett had a 102-99 won-loss record with 142 complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s, an earned run average of 3.08, 600 strikeouts, and 695 assists in 1,773 innings pitched.
Willett died in 1934 in Wellington, Kansas
Wellington, Kansas
Wellington is a city in and the county seat of Sumner County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,172.-19th century:...
at age 50.