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 on October 18, 1942), also known as "Willie the Wonder", is a famous American former baseball player. He played as a left fielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1963 to 1980. He is best known for his time with the Detroit Tigers.
Willie played for six different teams in the American League over 18 years. He was chosen for the All-Star team four times. In 1968, he helped the Tigers win the World Series. Willie hit 20 or more home runs in seven different seasons. When he retired, his 325 career home runs were the sixth most among right-handed hitters in the American League. His best year was 1968, when he hit 36 home runs. Later in his career, he was twice named the best designated hitter in the American League.
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Early Life
Willie Horton was the youngest of 14 children. He was born in Arno, Virginia, a small town in the United States. When he was 16, he hit a home run at Tiger Stadium during a high school game.
In 1959, he won a city championship with Detroit Northwestern High School. He then signed with the Detroit Tigers in 1961. He started his professional career playing for the Duluth Dukes, a Tigers farm team.
Playing Career
Detroit Tigers Star
From 1965 to 1976, Willie Horton hit at least ten home runs every season. He hit two home runs in a single game 30 times in his career. In 1968, he hit a career-high 36 home runs. This was a special year for pitchers, but Willie still shined. The Tigers won the 1968 World Series that year.
Willie's batting average in 1968 was .285, which was very good. He finished fourth in the voting for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
In the 1968 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Willie batted .304. To make the team stronger, manager Mayo Smith made some changes. He moved Mickey Stanley to shortstop and kept Al Kaline in right field. Willie Horton played left field.
In Game 2 of the World Series, Willie hit a solo home run. This helped the Tigers win the game 8–1. Even though he wasn't known as a great defensive player, Willie made a huge play in Game 5. With the Cardinals leading the series, Lou Brock hit a double. He tried to score on a single, but Willie's throw to catcher Bill Freehan got him out. Willie 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 champions!
Willie was an All-Star four times (1965, 1968, 1970, and 1973). On July 18, 1969, he tied a record for most putouts by a left fielder in a nine-inning game. He also hit three home runs in one game on June 9, 1970. In 1975, he was named the American League's Outstanding Designated Hitter. He hit 25 home runs and had 92 RBI that year.
In 1970, Willie saved his teammate Al Kaline's life during a game. Al collided with another player and fell. His jaw locked, and his tongue blocked his breathing. Willie quickly rushed over, opened Al's mouth, and cleared his airway.
Moving Teams
After his time with the Tigers, Willie was traded to the Texas Rangers in 1977. He continued to hit well, even hitting three home runs in a game against the Kansas City Royals. In 1978, he played for the Cleveland Indians, Oakland Athletics, and Toronto Blue Jays. He then played for the Seattle Mariners from 1979 to 1980.
Playing in Venezuela
In 1978, Willie also played in Venezuela for the Navegantes del Magallanes team. He was a designated hitter and manager. He was nicknamed "El Brujo" (meaning "The Wizard") because he led the team from last place to first. They even won the 1979 Caribbean Series championship!
Back with the Mariners
In 1979, with the Mariners, Willie was again named the American League's Outstanding Designated Hitter. He batted .279, hit 29 home runs, and had a career-high 106 RBI. He also won The Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year Award. On June 6, he hit his 300th career home run. Willie played his last major league game on October 5, 1980.
Career Highlights
In his 18-season career, Willie Horton had a .273 batting average. He hit 325 home runs, 284 doubles, and had 1,163 RBI. His 325 home runs were the sixth most among right-handed hitters in the American League when he retired.
Willie had a unique baseball superstition. He used the same batting helmet throughout his entire career. He would just 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 special honor. A statue of him was placed at Comerica Park, the Tigers' home stadium. His jersey number, 23, was also 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.
In 2004, the state of Michigan declared October 18 as "Willie Horton Day." This day is celebrated every year to honor Willie, who has done a lot of charity work in Detroit. The governor at the time, Jennifer Granholm, said Willie was "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 he stopped playing, Willie Horton worked as a coach for the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox.
Since 2003, Willie has been a Special Assistant to the Tigers' President and General Manager. He helps the team in important ways. He even threw out the first pitch at the 2006 World Series with his former teammate Al Kaline.
On Opening Day in 2013, Willie threw out the first pitch at Comerica Park again. The Tigers won that game against the New York Yankees.
Willie'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 liked "Willie" better.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
