Bruce Williams (minors02)

Bruce Allen Williams

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 220 lbs.
• High School West Linn High School

• Born December 28, 1962

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Bruce Williams, the older brother of Mitch Williams, was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the fourth round of the 1981 Amateur Draft. He was even more wild than his infamously wild brother.

He spent four and a half years in their farm system, stalling out in A ball. He debuted with the 1981 Butte Copper Kings, going 1-1 with a 12.00 ERA, walking 51 and throwing 12 wild pitches in 27 innings. He made the Pioneer League's top 5 in both walks and wild pitches. With the '82 Pikeville Brewers, he had a 3-5, 4.20 record despite 63 walks in 60 innings. He was third in the Appalachian League in walks and led with 8 hit batsmen.

The right-hander had a 9-5, 4.58 record and four saves for the Beloit Brewers with some pretty extreme Steve Dalkowski-esque numbers - 100 walks, 101 whiffs and only 33 hits in 74 2/3 innings. He was second on Beloit in wins behind Chuck Crim and tied for second in the Midwest League in walks, four shy of the leader. He struggled with the 1984 Stockton Ports - 4-8, Sv, 8.18. He allowed 84 hits in 106 2/3 innings and struck out 124 but walked 168, threw 24 wild pitches and plunked 13. He led the California League in all three wildness categories - 41 walks ahead of the runner-up, his brother; 5 wild pitches ahead of the runner-up, his brother; two hit batsmen ahead of the runner-up, Juan Nieves. He began 1985 with Stockton but walked 23 and allowed 25 runs in 11 innings; he somehow won his lone decision.

He moved to the Chicago Cubs system partway into the 1985 season and was 1-0 with a save and a 6.00 ERA in 11 games for the Peoria Chiefs, with 39 walks in 30 innings. 1986 saw him in the Texas Rangers system, still at the A level, with the Salem Redbirds. In 18 games (two starts) that year, he was a disaster. His ERA again went into orbit (14.23) and he failed to win a game, losing two. He walked 51 in 31 innings and allowed 50 hits. This was his final season.

In his six seasons, he appeared in 143 games, 43 starts. His ERA was 7.54 to go along with his 19-21 record. He struck out 10 per nine innings, but also walked a whopping 13.1 per nine with 495 free passes in 340 1/3 innings. He threw 72 wild pitches and hit 43 batters.