Tom Williams (willito03)

Thomas Williams

• Bats Right, Throws Right

• School Morris Brown College
• Debut 1920
• Final Game 1924
• Born September 28, 1896 in Charleston, SC USA
• Died January 19, 1937 in Bremen, IL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Tom Williams was a Negro League pitcher for a decade, having several very good seasons.

Williams debuted in 1916 with the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) in 8 2/3 IP. He moved to the Chicago American Giants in 1917 and starred at 13-2, 1.28. He only allowed 29 walks and 78 hits in 126 2/3 innings. He finished second in the midwest among top black teams in wins (behind Dick Redding), tied for third in complete games (12), tied for second with 3 shutouts (behind Redding), led in WHIP and second in ERA (trailing Redding). He split 1918 between the Brooklyn Royal Giants (0-3, 3.40) and Hilldale (1-0, 1.56 in 3 G). He was 4-4 with a 3.20 ERA for Hilldale in 1919 and tossed 7 innings (3 R, 0 ER) for the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants.

Williams returned to Chicago in 1920 and duplicated his 1917 stardom. He was 12-4 with 3 saves, 1.83 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. He tied Jim Jeffries and Bill Holland for the save lead in the inaugural season of the Negro National League. He also tied for second with 2 shutouts (one back of Dizzy Dismukes), tied for 6th in wins, was 5th in WHIP and again finished second in ERA (this time behind Dave Brown). He was 14-8 with a 2.82 ERA in 1921, walking 37 in 159 2/3 innings. He tied Rube Curry for 7th in wins, tied for third with 3 shutouts (even with Bullet Rogan), was 4th in ERA and 3rd in WHIP (behind Brown and Curry). He then spent 1922 with the New York Lincoln Giants and Atlantic City.

In 1923, he was back in Chicago and had his fourth big season in four years for them. He was 9-1 with a 2.97 ERA, finishing third in the NNL in ERA behind Ed Rile and Rogan. The Morris Brown alumnus was 12-4 with a 3.68 ERA and 99 strikeouts for Chicago and the Detroit Stars in 1924. He was 5th in the NNL in wins (behind Rogan, Andy Cooper, Sam Streeter and Juan Padron), second in ERA (to Padron) and 4th in whiffs (trailing Streeter, Bob Poindexter and Rogan). He was 0-1 for Chicago in 1925 to end his career.

Williams threw a curveball, drop, spitball, fastball and floater and was noted for his pick-off move.

From 1916-1923, he was 53-22 with a 2.44 ERA, walking 177 in 668 2/3 IP. His WHIP was 1.09 and his ERA+ 143. For this period, he was 5th in the Negro Leagues in wins (behind Redding, Dick Whitworth, Jeffries and Rogan), 1st in winning percentage (for hurlers with 100+ games), tied for third with 10 shutouts (with Brown and Jeffries), fourth in ERA for pitchers with 50+ games (trailing Cyclone Joe Williams, José Leblanc and Redding), third in ERA+ for those with 100+ appearances (behind Rogan and Redding) and second in WHIP (behind Brown).

Notable Achievements

• NNL Winning Percentage Leader (1923)
• 2-time NNL Saves Leader (1920 & 1924)

Sources

• The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues by John Holway
• Seamheads bio
• The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues by James Riley

Related Sites

• Tim Williams at the SABR Bio Project