Jimmy Williams (williji01)

Note: This page links to major league infielder Jimmy Williams. For other players with similar names, click here.

James Thomas Williams

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 175 lb.

• Debut April 15, 1899
• Final Game October 3, 1909
• Born December 20, 1876 in St. Louis, MO USA
• Died January 16, 1965 in St. Petersburg, FL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Jimmy Williams was a second baseman with an 11-year major league career who led the league in triples three times around the turn of the 20th century.

He was a sensation as a rookie in 1899, hitting 28 triples and 28 doubles and 9 home runs and hitting .355. He was third in the league in quite a few categories: slugging percentage, hits, total bases, home runs, and RBI.

However, he slumped in 1900 and then jumped in 1901 to the new American League. He led the 1901 Baltimore Orioles in slugging percentage, beating out John McGraw and Roger Bresnahan. The next year he slugged .500, by far the highest on the team. In both 1901 and 1902 he was in the top ten in the league in slugging. On June 18, 1901, he hit an inside-the-park grand slam.

The Orioles became the New York Highlanders in 1903, and he played with them from 1903 to 1908. While not as good as he had been in previous years, he led the Highlanders in slugging percentage in 1903. He was in the top ten in the league in home runs in 1905-1906, and in RBI in 1903-1904 and 1906-1907.

In 1904, there is bad blood between the Highlanders and umpire Silk O'Loughlin. Police escorted Williams and manager Clark Griffith off the field during one game, and they received suspensions. The Highlanders' owner threatened to bar O'Loughlin from entering the park in New York where the Highlanders played.

On September 3, 1906, Williams hit a ball toward third, and third baseman John Knight of the Philadelphia Athletics stepped into the path of baserunner Willie Keeler to get the ball. Amidst the confusion, Keeler fell down, and the ball rolled into the outfield. Keeler then scored. Philadelphia players argued angrily enough with the umpire (again Silk O'Loughlin) that O'Loughlin called a forfeit in favor of the Highlanders.

He finished out his major league career in 1908-1909 with the St. Louis Browns.

From 1910-1915 he played for the Minneapolis Millers, hitting over .300 twice.

Notable Achievements

• 3-time League Triples Leader (1899/NL & 1901-1902/AL)
• 200 Hits Seasons: 1 (1899)
• 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 2 (1899 & 1901)
• 100 RBI Seasons: 1 (1899)

Records Held

• Triples, rookie, season, 27, 1899

Related Sites

• Jimmy Williams at the SABR Bio Project