Billy Williams

Billy Leo Williams (born June 15, 1938) is an American former left fielder and coach in Major League Baseball who played from 1959 to 1976, almost entirely for the Chicago Cubs. A six-time All-Star, he was named the 1961 National League Rookie of the Year after hitting 25 home runs with 86 runs batted in. A model of consistent production, Williams gave the Cubs at least 20 home runs and 80 RBI every year through 1973, five times each batting over .300, hitting 30 home runs, and scoring 100 runs. Along with Ernie Banks and Ron Santo, he was a central figure in improving the Cubs' fortunes in the late 1960s, after the club had spent 20 years in the bottom half of the league standings. His 853 RBI and 2,799 total bases in the 1960s were the most by any left-handed hitter in the major leagues.

In 1970, Williams was runner-up in voting for the NL Most Valuable Player Award after leading the major leagues with 137 runs, 205 hits, and 373 total bases, while also hitting 42 home runs with 129 RBI, all career highs; excepting his run total, each remains the team record for left-handed hitters. In 1972, he was again the runner-up in MVP voting.