Willie Mills

From BR Bullpen

WillieMills.jpg

William Grant Mills
(Wee Willie, Billy)

  • Bats Right, Throws Right
  • Height 5' 7", Weight 150 lb.

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Biographical Information[edit]

Willie Mills, who was also known as Billy Mills, was long listed as having died on July 5, 1914 in Norwood, NY, but this was a case of mistaken identity. A person did die on that day after being hit by a train, but authorities at first had trouble identifying the badly mangled corpse. The body was identified as Willie Mills tanks to a grocery slip found in one pocket, and news of the former ballplayer's death was published as a result. However, the authorities recanted a few days later, confirming that Mills was in fact alive and well. Alas, the original article was found by researchers, but not the correction which was published a few days later.

When SABR researchers tried to identify Mills' final resting place a century after the train wreck, they uncovered the mistake and were able to trace the ballplayer's final years. He died of a heart attack in 1933 and an obituary correctly identified him as the former pitcher.

Willie Mills was the father of Art Mills.

Further Reading[edit]

  • "Billy Mills", in Bill Carle, ed.: Biographical Research Committee Report, September/October 2014, p. 1.

Related Sites[edit]