# Pop Williams
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{{Short description|American baseball player (1874–1959)}}
{{for|the American football player|Pop Williams (American football)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| name =Pop Williams
| image =Pop Williams 1 (cropped).jpg
| position =[Pitcher](/source/Pitcher)
| birth_date ={{birth date|1874|5|19}}
| birth_place =[Bowdoinham, Maine](/source/Bowdoinham%2C_Maine)
| death_date ={{death date and age|1959|10|4|1874|5|19}}
| death_place =[Topsham, Maine](/source/Topsham%2C_Maine)
| bats =Right
| throws =Left
|debutleague = MLB
| debutdate =September 14
| debutyear =1898
| debutteam =Washington Senators
|finalleague = MLB
| finaldate =September 15
| finalyear =1903
| finalteam =Boston Beaneaters
|statleague = MLB
| stat1label =[Win–loss record](/source/Win%E2%80%93loss_record_(pitching))
| stat1value =16–25
| stat2label =[Earned run average](/source/Earned_run_average)
| stat2value =3.17
| stat3label =[Strikeouts](/source/Strikeouts)
| stat3value =132
| teams =
*[Washington Senators](/source/Washington_Senators_(1891%E2%80%9399)) ({{mlby|1898}})
*[Chicago Orphans/Cubs](/source/Chicago_Cubs) ({{mlby|1902}}–{{mlby|1903}})
*[Philadelphia Phillies](/source/Philadelphia_Phillies) ({{mlby|1903}})
*[Boston Beaneaters](/source/Boston_Beaneaters) ({{mlby|1903}})
}}
'''Walter Merrill "Pop" Williams''' (May 19, 1874 – August 4, 1959) was a professional [baseball](/source/baseball) [pitcher](/source/pitcher) whose playing career spanned nine seasons, including three in [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball). He was born in [Bowdoinham, Maine](/source/Bowdoinham%2C_Maine) on May 19, 1874. Williams batted right-handed and threw left-handed. Over his major league career, Williams compiled a [win–loss record](/source/win%E2%80%93loss_record_(pitching)) of 16–25 with a 3.17 [earned run average](/source/earned_run_average) (ERA), 41 [complete game](/source/complete_game)s, two [shutouts](/source/shutouts) and 132 [strikeouts](/source/strikeouts) in 47 games, all starts. He was also the [coach](/source/manager_(baseball)) of the [Bowdoin College](/source/Bowdoin_College) baseball team during the spring of 1903. During his time in the majors and the [minor leagues](/source/Minor_League_Baseball), Williams occasionally played [outfield](/source/outfield) and [first base](/source/first_base). In the majors, Williams played for the [Washington Senators](/source/Washington_Senators_(1891%E2%80%9399)) (1898), [Chicago Cubs](/source/Chicago_Cubs) (1902–1903), [Philadelphia Phillies](/source/Philadelphia_Phillies) (1903) and the [Boston Beaneaters](/source/Boston_Beaneaters) (1903).
==Professional career==
===Early career===
Williams attended Bowdoin College from 1893 to 1896.[{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/schools/bowdoinme.shtml |title=Bowdoin College Polar Bears (Brunswick, ME) |author= |date= |work=Baseball-Reference |accessdate=August 4, 2010}}] His professional career began in 1895 with the Lewiston ball club in the Class-B [New England League](/source/New_England_League). In 1896, Williams played for two teams; his previous club, Lewiston, and Fall River Indians. That season, Williams went a combined 14–16 with a 3.15 [earned run average](/source/earned_run_average) (ERA), 28 [complete game](/source/complete_game)s, and 86 [strikeouts](/source/strikeouts) in 35 games, 30 [starts](/source/starting_pitcher). Williams also four games in the [outfield](/source/outfield) and four games at [first base](/source/first_base) that season. He [batted](/source/batting_average_(baseball)) a combined .312 with 29 [runs](/source/run_(baseball)), 43 [hits](/source/hit_(baseball)), 10 [doubles](/source/double_(baseball)), three [triples](/source/triple_(baseball)), one [home run](/source/home_run), and eight [stolen bases](/source/stolen_bases) in 138 [at-bats](/source/at-bats).
Williams moved on to the Class-A Toronto Canucks of the [Eastern League](/source/International_League) in 1897. Although records were not kept in his first season there, in 1898 he went 16–14 with 26 complete games, and 70 strikeouts in 37 games, 34 starts. That season, Williams made his debut in [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball). Playing for the [Washington Senators](/source/Washington_Senators_(1891%E2%80%9399)), Williams went 0–2 with an 8.47 ERA in 2 games, both starts. His debut with the Senators made Williams the first person from Bowdoin College to play in the majors.[{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/leader.cgi?type=pitch&id=11328 |title=1899 Eastern League Pitching Leaders |author= |date= |work=Baseball-Reference |accessdate=June 18, 2010}}] Williams played with the Toronto team until 1901. In 1901, he went 16–13 in 34 games.
===Chicago Cubs===
thumb|Williams with the Toronto Canucks.
Williams joined the major league [Chicago Orphans](/source/Chicago_Orphans) in 1902. He went 11–16 with a 2.49 ERA, 27 complete games, and 99 strikeouts. Williams was tied for eighth in the [National League](/source/National_League_(baseball)) in both [losses](/source/loss_(baseball)) and [home runs per nine innings](/source/home_runs_per_nine_innings) that season.[{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1902-pitching-leaders.shtml |title=1902 National League Pitching Leaders |author= |date= |work=Baseball-Reference |accessdate=June 18, 2010}}] Williams was re-signed by the Orphans, now renamed the [Chicago Cubs](/source/Chicago_Cubs), for the 1903 season.[{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BggbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mkgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1086,4043749&dq=pop+williams+baseball&hl=en |title=Baseball notes |author= |date=February 28, 1903 |work=The Pittsburgh Press |publisher= |accessdate=June 18, 2010}}] He did not join the Cubs in [spring training](/source/spring_training) that season as he was coaching the [Bowdoin College](/source/Bowdoin_College) baseball team.