Frank Wills

Frank Lee Wills

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 202 lb.
• School Tulane University
• High School De La Salle High School (New Orleans)
• Debut July 31, 1983
• Final Game April 30, 1991
• Born October 26, 1958 in New Orleans, LA USA
• Died May 11, 2012 in New Orleans, LA USA

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Biographical Information

Frank Wills pitched parts of nine seasons in the majors.

A New Orleans native, Wills attended Tulane University. In addition to playing baseball, he was a three-year letterman as a punter on the school's football team and played in the 1979 Liberty Bowl. He was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the first round of the 1980 amateur draft and reached the majors with the team three years later, in 1983. Prior to the 1985 season, he was dealt to the New York Mets as part of a four-team trade, but before spring training ended, he was sent to the Seattle Mariners. While playing for the Calgary Cannons in their chain, he threw a no-hitter on May 31 of that year, and shortly thereafter, he joined the Seattle rotation, going 5-11 with a 6.00 ERA in 24 games (including 18 starts, his most ever in the big leagues).

After a season with the Mariners and two with the Cleveland Indians, Wills was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1988. The following year, he was the winning pitcher on September 30, 1989, as the Blue Jays clinched the AL East title with a win over the Baltimore Orioles. He made a career-high 44 appearances for the Jays in 1990, going 6-4 with a 4.73 ERA while pitching mostly out of the bullpen.

Related Sites

• New Orleanian, Former MLB Pitcher Wills Dies at 53