Earl Williams, born Earl Craig Williams, Jr. (July 14, 1948 in Newark, New Jersey), is a former catcher/first baseman in Major League Baseball who played with the Atlanta Braves (1970-72, 1975-76), Baltimore Orioles (1973-74), Montreal Expos (1976) and Oakland Athletics (1977). He batted and threw right-handed.

Signed by Atlanta as a amateur free agent in 1966, Williams debuted with the Braves in the 1970 season.

A powerful slugger, Williams was an All-Star catcher who, however, didn't want to catch. His most productive season came in 1971, when he posted career-highs in batting average (.260), home runs (33) and runs batted in (87), numbers that were enough to be selected Rookie of the Year in the National League, getting 18 of 24 votes, with the others going to Phillies first baseman Willie Montañez.

In his sophomore year, Williams hit .258 with 28 home runs and 87 RBI while catching and playing first base and third base as well, but his constant complaining about catching, led Atlanta to sent him to Baltimore before the 1973 season, in the same trade that brought Pat Dobson, Davey Johnson and Johnny Oates to the Braves.

With the Orioles Williams continued to hit for power, but he didn't stop to complaining and was sent back to Atlanta. When his production declined he was sold to the Expos. He finished his career with Oakland in 1977.

In his eight-year career, Williams was a .247 hitter with 138 home runs and 457 RBI in 889 games.

Highlights

• All-Star (1971)
• Rookie of the Year (1971)

Fact

• Williams is the only Braves player besides Hank Aaron to hit a home run into the upper deck at Fulton County Stadium.

External link

• Baseball Reference