Willie Williams (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Willie Williams |
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| Infielder | |
| Born: May 25, 1925 Orangeburg, South Carolina or Holly Hill, South Carolina |
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| Died: August 23, 2011 (aged 86) Sarasota, Florida |
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| debut | |
| 1945, for the Newark Eagles | |
| Last appearance | |
| 1951, for the New Orleans Eagles | |
| Teams | |
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Willie C. Williams (born May 25, 1925 – died August 23, 2011) was a talented baseball player. People often called him "Curley". He played as an infielder (a player who fields balls in the infield) in the Negro Leagues and later in minor league baseball. His career lasted from 1945 to 1953.
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Who Was Willie "Curley" Williams?
Willie Williams was born in South Carolina. His birthplace was either Orangeburg or Holly Hill, South Carolina. He grew up to become a professional baseball player.
Playing in the Negro Leagues
Willie Williams started his baseball career in 1945. He joined the Newark Eagles, a team in the Negro Leagues. The Negro Leagues were professional baseball leagues in the United States. They were for African American players. This was before baseball was fully integrated.
Williams played for the Newark Eagles for several years. The team changed its location and name over time. In 1949, the team became the Houston Eagles. Then, in 1951, they moved again and were called the New Orleans Eagles. Willie Williams stayed with the team through all these changes until 1951.
Moving to Minor League Baseball
In 1951, Willie Williams began playing in the minor leagues. Minor leagues are professional baseball leagues. They are a step below the major leagues. He signed with the Chicago White Sox organization.
He played for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox that year. While playing for them, he hit very well. He had a batting average of .297. This means he got a hit almost 30% of the times he tried to hit the ball. He also hit four home runs in just 20 games.
In 1952, Williams played for teams connected to both the White Sox and the St. Louis Browns. He played 102 games that year. His batting average was .256. In 1953, he played for an independent team. This team was the Carman Cardinals in the Mandak League.
Later Life
Willie C. Williams passed away on August 23, 2011. He was 86 years old. He died in Sarasota, Florida.
