Les Willis

Lester Evans Willis
(Wimpy or Lefty)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• 'Height 5' 9½", Weight 195 lb.
• School Marshall (TX) College
• High School Smithville (TX) High School
• Debut April 28, 1947
• Final Game August 23, 1947
• Born January 17, 1908 in Nacogdoches, TX USA
• Died January 22, 1982 in Jasper, TX USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Texas native Les Wllis spent thirteen active seasons in professional baseball from 1932 to 1947. He was out of baseball for three years (1943-1945) and on November 1, 1946 he was drafted by the Cleveland Indians from the Memphis Chickasaws of the Southern Association in the 1946 Rule V Draft.

This gave Willis his one and only major league chance in the majors, making his first appearance on April 28, 1947. He would have an 0-2 record and a 3.48 ERA while appearing in 22 games for the 1947 Indians. He pitched his last game in the big leagues on August 23, 1947.

Les also spent twelve active seasons in the minors with six double-digit winning years - in 1935, 1936, 1937, 1940, 1941 and 1946. Three of these years were 20 wins or more. Les pitched his final minor league season for the Memphis Chickasaws in 1946, building an 18-7 record and a 2.37 ERA in 30 appearances at the age of 38. This closed out his minor league career and he finished with down-under totals of 142 wins and 125 losses while appearing in 390 games and pitching 2,195 innings.

After baseball, he owned Star Cleaners in Jasper, the city where he lived for 50 years. Active in civic matters, he served on the city council and was mayor. He died from a cardiovascular accident on January 22, 1982 in Jasper, TX.

Related Sites

• Les Willis at the SABR Bio Project