Willie Horton (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Willie Horton |
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Horton in his Detroit Tigers uniform in 2010
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| Left fielder / Designated hitter | |||
| Born: October 18, 1942 Arno, Virginia, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 10, 1963, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 5, 1980, for the Seattle Mariners | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .273 | ||
| Home runs | 325 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,163 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As coach
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Willie Horton (born William Wattison Horton; October 18, 1942), known as "Willie the Wonder", is a former American baseball player. He played as a left fielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1963 to 1980. He spent most of his career with the Detroit Tigers.
Over his eighteen years in baseball, Willie Horton played for six different teams in the American League. He was chosen for the All-Star team four times. He also helped the Detroit Tigers win the World Series in 1968. Horton hit 20 or more home runs in seven different seasons. When he retired, his 325 career home runs were among the most for right-handed hitters in the American League. His best season was in 1968, where he was second in the AL for home runs. Later in his career, he was twice named the best designated hitter in the American League.
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Early Life and Baseball Dreams
Willie Horton is the youngest of 14 children. He was born in a small town called Arno, Virginia. When he was 16, he hit a home run at Tiger Stadium during a high school game. This was a big moment for him! After winning a city championship with Detroit Northwestern High School in 1959, he signed with the Tigers in 1961. He started his professional baseball journey with their farm team, the Duluth Dukes.
Willie Horton's Baseball Career
Playing for the Detroit Tigers
Willie Horton hit many home runs during his time with the Detroit Tigers. From 1965 to 1976, he hit at least ten home runs every season. He even hit two home runs in a single game 30 times! In 1968, he had his best year, hitting 36 home runs. That year, the Tigers won the World Series. Horton's batting average was .285, which was one of the best in the league. He also finished fourth in the voting for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
In the 1968 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Horton batted very well, with a .304 average. To make the team's defense stronger while keeping Horton's powerful hitting, manager Mayo Smith made some changes. He moved Mickey Stanley from center field to shortstop. This allowed Al Kaline, a great defensive player, to stay in right field.
In Game 2 of the World Series, Horton hit a solo home run, helping the Tigers win 8–1. Even though he wasn't known for his defense, he made a very important play in Game 5. With the Cardinals ahead in the series, a player named Lou Brock hit a double. He tried to score on another hit, but Horton threw the ball to catcher Bill Freehan. Brock was out at home plate in a very close play because he didn't slide. Horton says this throw is the most memorable moment of his career. The Tigers won that game and then won Games 6 and 7 to become World Series champions!
Willie Horton was selected for the American League All-Star team four times (in 1965, 1968, 1970, and 1973). In 1969, he tied a record for the most putouts by a left fielder in a nine-inning game. He also hit three home runs in one game in 1970. In 1974, he hit a popup that accidentally struck and killed a pigeon at Fenway Park. In 1975, he was named the American League's Outstanding Designated Hitter.
In 1970, during a game, Horton saved his teammate Al Kaline's life. Kaline had collided with another player and couldn't breathe because his jaw was locked. Horton quickly helped him, clearing his airway.
Moving to Other Teams
After his time with the Tigers, Horton was traded to the Texas Rangers in 1977. He continued to hit well, even hitting three home runs in a game for the Rangers. In 1978, he played for the Cleveland Indians, Oakland Athletics, and Toronto Blue Jays. He then joined the Seattle Mariners from 1979 to 1980.
Playing in Venezuela
In 1978, Willie Horton also played in Venezuela for the team Navegantes del Magallanes. He was a designated hitter and also managed the team. He earned the nickname "El Brujo," which means "The Wizard," because he led the team from last place to winning the 1979 Caribbean Series championship!
Success with the Seattle Mariners
In 1979, while playing for the Mariners, Horton was again named the American League's Outstanding Designated Hitter. He hit 29 home runs and had a career-high 106 runs batted in (RBI). He also received an award for being the Comeback Player of the Year. On June 5, he hit what seemed to be his 300th career home run, but it hit a speaker in the stadium and bounced back for a single. He hit his actual 300th home run the very next day. Horton played his last major league game on October 5, 1980.
Career Highlights
Over his 18-season career, Willie Horton had a .273 batting average. He collected 1,993 hits, 284 doubles, 1,163 RBIs, and 873 runs. His 325 home runs placed him among the top right-handed hitters in the American League.
Willie Horton had a unique superstition: he used the same batting helmet throughout his entire career. He would simply repaint it whenever he changed teams!
Honors and Recognition
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| Willie Horton's number 23 was retired by the Detroit Tigers in 2000. |
On July 15, 2000, the Detroit Tigers gave Willie Horton a very special honor. A statue of him was placed at Comerica Park, and his jersey number 23 was retired. This means no other Tigers player will wear that number. He joined a small group of Tigers legends like Ty Cobb and Al Kaline who received this honor.
In 2004, the state of Michigan declared October 18 as "Willie Horton Day." This day is celebrated every year to honor Horton, who has been involved in many charities in Detroit since his playing days. The governor at the time, Jennifer Granholm, said that Horton is "a star on and off the field."
In 2019, a street in Detroit was named "Willie Horton Drive" in his honor. He was also inducted into the Michigan Baseball Hall of Fame on August 17, 2019.
Life After Baseball
After retiring from playing, Willie Horton worked as a coach for the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox.
Since 2003, Horton has been a Special Assistant to the Tigers' President and General Manager. He helps the team in many ways. He even threw out the first pitch at the 2006 World Series at Comerica Park with his former teammate Al Kaline. On Opening Day in 2013, he threw out the first pitch again at Comerica Park.
Willie Horton's autobiography, a book about his life, was published in July 2022. It is called 23: Detroit's Own Willie the Wonder, the Tigers' First Black Great.
Willie and his wife, Gloria, live in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. They have seven children and 21 grandchildren. In September 1968, he officially changed his name from William Wattison Horton to Willie Horton because he preferred the shorter name.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
