Carl Willey

Carlton Francis Willey

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 175 lb.
• High School Cherryfield High School
• Debut April 30, 1958
• Final Game September 26, 1965
• Born June 6, 1931 in Cherryfield, ME USA
• Died July 21, 2009 in Ellsworth, ME USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Carl Willey was signed by the Boston Braves in 1951 and spent the next two seasons in the minors. After serving two years in the U.S. Army at the time of the Korean War, he returned to baseball in 1955. With the Wichita Braves of the American Association in 1957, he won a league-high 21 games and was selected the circuit's MVP.

Willey entered 1958 as a highly-touted prospect, finishing second in the Sporting News Top Prospect poll prior to that season. In his rookie big league campaign that summer, he started 19 games for the Milwaukee Braves, winning 9 and leading the National League with 4 shutouts. He pitched one inning in the World Series that year against the New York Yankees. However, that year would prove to be his only winning season in the majors.

Willey was sent to the New York Mets in 1963 and pitched 4 shutouts that summer. He also hit a grand slam home run on July 15th in a win over the Houston Colt 45s. He was having an excellent spring training the following year, 1964, but he suffered a complex compound fracture of the jaw when Gates Brown hit a line drive back through the box. He did not return until that June and also developed a sore arm.

Willey retired in 1966 after eight seasons in the majors, finishing with a record of 38-58.

Following his playing career, Willey returned to his hometown of Cherryfield, Maine. He later spent some time as a Philadelphia Phillies scout.

Notable Achievements

• 1957 MVP American Association Wichita Braves
• NL Shutouts Leader (1958)

Related Sites

• Carl Willey at the SABR Bio project