Sweet Swinging Billy Williams

Sweet Swinging Billy Williams, he was tagged early in his career with the Chicago Cubs. Williams, who was the 1961 National League Rookie of the Year made his mark in baseball history with his durability, and bat.

Williams spent sixteen seasons in the major leagues fourteen of those with the Cubs, and his last two with the Oakland Athletics. Williams was an iron man his day playing 1,117 straight games from 1963-1970. His streak currently ranks sixth in major league history. He was a six-time National League All-Star, won the battling title in 1972. He was snubbed for the All-Star game in 1970 when had a 26 home runs and 80 RBI at the all-star break.

His best season was 1972, when he hit 37 home runs with 122 RBI, and hit .333. He finished second to Johnny Bench of the Reds in the MVP voting. His career numbers of 426 home runs, 1475 RBI, and a .290 batting average were enough to get him elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987.

Often over shadowed in recent years by fellow Hall Fame players Ferguson Jenkins, Ron Santo, and Ernie Banks, but Williams was a key member of the solid Chicago Cubs teams of the late 60's and eaarly 70's.

Ferguson Jenkins Records His 3,000th Strikeout

May 25, 1982. Chicago Cubs right-hand pitcher Ferguson Jenkins whiffs Gary Templeton of the San Diego Padres to record his 3,000th career strike out.

Joe Glasgow is a former senior staff writer at Fanstop.com, and is the author of the book Play Ball! Growing Up With Baseball https://amzn.to/2o4M62h

The Chicago Cubs Acquisition of Ferguson Jenkins

On this day April 21, 1966. The Chicago Cubs send pitchers Larry Jackson, and Bob Buhl to the Philadelphia Phillies in return for future Hall of Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins, outfielder-first baseman John Herrnstein, and outfielder Adolfo Phillips. Jackson and Buhl would combine to go 47-53 for the rest of their careers. Starting in 1967, Jenkins would win 20 plus games a season for six consecutive seasons. He would finish with a record of 284-226 with an ERA of 3.34, striking out 3,192. He was a three time All-Star selection, and won the 1971 Cy Young Award.  He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. He pitched for the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, and Texas Rangers. His #31 has been retired by  the Chicago Cubs, where he ended his career in 1983.