Stanley Wilson Williams was born on September 14, 1936, in Enfield New Hampshire. His dad Irving, was a construction worker, and his mom a housewife. The census showed that by 1940 they had moved to Denver. Stan was the baby of the family with older brothers, Irving and Gordon, and an older sister, Doris. He grew up on Denver’s East side. He starred in baseball and football for Denver’s East Side High. The Dodgers Denver based bird dog scout, Manuel Boody and scout Burt Wells signed him out of high school in 1954 at the age of 17.
He went to spring training with the big club and more than 50 years later he still talked about how Jackie Robinson impressed him with his desire and work ethic. He started his pro career at Shawnee in the Class-D Sooner League. He went 3-5 with a 4.57 ERA. William’s potential was so great that even after a rocky first season the Dodgers promoted him to Class-B Newport News in the Piedmont League. There in 1955 Williams came into his own winning 18 and losing 7 with a 2.42 ERA.
It wasn’t surprising that the Dodgers were keeping an eye on him. Hard to ignore a 6’4″ 225 pound pitcher with a plus 90 fastball. Despite his occasional troubles the team kept advancing him. In 1957 his first full AAA season he went 19-7 with a 3.04 ERA. When the Dodgers opened the 58 season in LA, Williams was in St. Paul. He started the season with a 2-3 record and was promoted to the Dodgers. He joined a staff that included 21 year old Don Drysdale, Sandy Koufax, and World Series hero, Johnny Podres.
He made his MLB debut on May 17 after Newcombe and Koufax were knocked out. He got knocked around a bit, but in his first MLB start on June 1st, he threw a 2 hit 1-0 shutout over the Cubs. Alston made him a part of the regular rotation and he finished with a 9-7 record and a 4.01 ERA. He struck out 80 in 119 innings, but walked 65 demonstrating the control problems which would plague him most of his career.
He had shown he could win with a seventh-place team. He was considered a big part of the Dodger’s future. His nickname was Big Daddy. His penchant for throwing at batters to intimidate them earned him another name, ” The Big Hurt”. He fit right in on a Dodger staff that featured two of the most intimidating fastball pitchers of all time, Drysdale and Koufax. Batters did not dig in a lot against the Dodgers. It was also said that he had a booklet he called ” The List”. It consisted of the names of batters he wished to intimidate. When he would hit a batter, he would put his name in the booklet.
In 1959 the Dodgers won their first Championship in LA. Williams had a 5-5 record with an improved ERA of 3.97. He was used as a spot starter and reliever. But he still had a problem with walks and Alston put Roger Craig in the rotation in his place. Alston was a little nervous putting him in high leverage situations with his walk rate.
Williams did pitch in the pennant clincher against the Braves. He came in in relief in the 10th and held the Braves scoreless the next 3 innings. The Dodgers pushed a run across in the 12th for the win and went on to the World Series. His only action in the World Series came in relief of Koufax in Game 5, pitching two innings of scoreless relief. It must have felt like he was on top of the world winning a title in his second year.
In 1960 he had his only All-Star season, winning 14 and losing 10 with a solid 3.00 ERA. He also had twice as many K’s as BB’s. He roomed with Koufax in 1960. Larry Sherry in his book, Pen Men, he told of Williams love of the night life. He told the story about spring training when he hosted a poker game that went late and the noise woke up manager Walter Alston just as Williams and Koufax were returning from a night of carousing. Sherry locked his door and pretended to be asleep. Alston was so upset by the curfew violations that he broke his World Series ring pounding on Sherry’s door so hard.
He told of another prank that went totally wrong. Williams was big at 6’4″, but Frank Howard was bigger, 6’7″ and 275 pounds. One day in Philly, Howard was not playing and wanted to watch the game from the bullpen. Williams thought it would be funny to borrow a rope and tie Howard up so he could not leave the bullpen. Sherry said Williams came around a dirt pile in the bullpen with a noose. Howard picked him up and threw him over the dirt pile without even getting angry.
1961 was the Dodgers last season in the Coliseum. Stan went 15-12 with a 3.90 ERA and he walked over 100. Again he had control problems. He was used both as a starter and reliever. In 1962, the Dodgers moved into Dodger Stadium. The team finished with 102 wins, but a late-season swoon the last week allowed the Giants to tie them. So for the second time in 3 years, LA was in a playoff.
After getting blown out in game one, Williams came in in relief in game two with a one-run lead. He gave up the tying run. He got the Giants 1-2-3 in the ninth and then got the blown save and the win when the Dodgers scored in the bottom of the inning. Staying at home for game 3, Podres started for the Dodgers and Marichal for the Giants. LA took a 3-2 lead on a Tommy Davis homer in the 6th. They scored another to go ahead and take a 4-2 lead into the 9th. Ed Roebuck had pitched well in relief of Podres, but by the 9th he was gassed. Nevertheless, Alston sent him back out to start the 9th.
Roebuck had given up one run and now the bases were loaded with one out. Perranoski and Sherry had been warming up with Cepeda and Bailey due up for the Giants. Then in one of the most second-guessed moves in playoff history, Alston brought in Williams. Bench coach Leo Durocher and Duke Snider begged Alston to bring in Drysdale. But Alston wanted to save him for game one of the Series, forgetting you have to get there first. Durocher remarked to Roseboro, he’ll walk the ballpark. Rosey replied he would be ok. They all wanted him to be ok, but they all knew about his wildness.
Williams himself figured Alston wanted to use Williams against Cepeda and then bring in Perranoski to face the lefty Bailey. After getting Cepeda to fly out and knock in the tying run, Williams figured he was done. He started to walk off of the mound, but Alston stayed in the dugout. Trying to get one by Bailey, Williams threw one in the dirt that Rosey blocked, but Mays moved to second. Alston ordered Bailey walked to load the bases. Davenport came up and although Williams battled him he walked to force in the go-ahead run. Perranoski came in and induced a grounder to Larry Burright who promptly kicked it and the Giants were up 6-4. The Dodgers went down meekly in the 9th and the Giants won the pennant again on another heart breaker for Dodger fans. Myself, I was 14 when this happened. My biggest wish was that Walter Alston would never manage another game for the Dodgers and Stan Williams would never pitch as a Dodger again.
For Williams’s part, he said it never bothered him that he gave it his all and ended up walking Davenport. He said had he given up a hit he would have never forgiven himself, but he finished with a 100MPH fastball and just missed. That was Stan Williams-throw the high heat and take your chances. The Dodgers decided that winter they could not live with that anymore and traded him to the Yankees for Bill Skowron. Williams became a member of what Bill James called one of the best rotations of all time with Ralph Terry, 17-15, Whitey Ford, 24-7, Jim Bouton, 21-7, and Al Downing, 13-5. Williams went 9-8 with a 3.21 ERA and 98 K’s in 146 innings. His only World Series action came in three innings of scoreless relief against his former team as LA swept the Yankees.
Williams was with another pennant winner in 64 as the Yankees won again and lost the series to the Cardinals. But he did not pitch well. He was injured. He was traded to the Indians after the season. Years later he explained his injury to a fan, he had slipped on the rubber and injured his arm. And it got progressively worse for the next 6 1/2 years. One day he lifted his arm and something popped. It hurt like crazy but just like that his arm did not hurt anymore and he was able to pitch for another 7 years. They lowered the mound in 69 and not every pitcher was able to adjust. Williams had a terrible year in Cleveland and they traded him to the Twins.
Williams had a great year for the Twins going 10-1 out of the pen with a 1.99 ERA. He pitched 6 scoreless innings in relief during their loss to the Orioles in the ALCS. That gave Williams a career post-season ERA of 0.00. The next season he got a raise to 40,000 dollars. The most he would ever make in the majors. But he pitched poorly and was traded to the Cardinals. He started out with the Red Sox in 72 but was back in the minors before the end of the season and never pitched in the majors again. His final stat line, 109-94 with a 3.48 ERA.
After a year out of the game, he was the manager of the Red Sox Bristol team. They won the division and Williams even pitched in a couple of games. He may have had control problems in his own career, but that did not stop Red Sox Darrell Johnson from bringing him to Boston as their pitching coach. He became a coach on a team that included former Indian teammate Luis Tiant and Bill “Spaceman” Lee. The Red Sox won the pennant and faced the Big Red Machine in one of the best World Series ever in 1975.
Williams would remain a coach for the rest of his working life. Besides the Red Sox staff in 75, he coached the Yankees, 81, and the Reds, 1990 staffs into the World Series also. He was the pitching coach for the Mariners in 1999 but was involved in a brawl and the owner decided not to retain him. It was his last coaching job in the majors. He did various scouting for the Rays and Nationals before officially retiring from baseball at the age of 74. He was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. He told the audience he still wanted to pitch every day showing at age 77 he still had the competitive fire. Stan Williams passed away Saturday morning, February 21, 2021, at the age of 84 after battling a cardiopulmonary illness.
Thx Bear. Another great bio of a guy I didn’t know of. Quite the compliment to be called “ big daddy” when Drysdale was your teammate. Why was it such a badge of honor to intentionally throw at guys back then but today you rarely see it. I guess players weren’t multi million dollar corporations back then. Nice job Bear
How about being called ” The Big Hurt ” long before they hung that moniker on Frank Thomas? Thanks. I hope everyone enjoys this series of stories. I am trying to alternate from a Brooklyn player to a guy who played in LA.
Thanks Bear
When you wrote “ in one of the most second guessed moves in playoff history” my mind went directly to Tommy walking Andy Van Slyke to pitch to Jack Clark.
Alston was not the best at handling the pitching staff.
you mean NOT walking Jack Clark with 1st base open to get to Andy Van Slyke
Yeah, Niedenfuer to Clark…. ugh.
And let’s not forget Roberts leaving Kershaw in to pitch to Rendon and Soto, resulting in two HRs. …
Maeda was the better match with Rendon (who hits lefties well), and Kolarek had been dominating Soto.
Sending Joe Kelly out to pitch a second inning of game 5 of the 2019 LCS at home is up there too with bone headed moves.
Right Bobby thanks
Must be getting old
Other way around, but I get the drift. My mind also goes to Roberts pulling Hill when he was shutting out the Red Sox. Bullpen imploded, game lost.
Clayton Kershaw experimenting with a changeup again:
https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2022-03-26/clayton-kershaw-is-tinkering-with-a-changeup-again
… only this time it could be different.
CK really needs this pitch if he ceiling is now 90. Something with arm side movement would really help along with more changes of speed.
And I thought his 87mph pitch was his fastball!
It has been so far.
Here’s Today’s Lineup:
While I would not categorize it “make or break” for Andrew Heaney, it is significant for him.
Oops, I think we DFA’d the wrong outfielder!
It’s been said many times before that spring training performance means nothing and I generally agree with that statement, but you can officially count me in the “Bellinger worries me camp.” Another game with no hard contact and 4 strikeouts.
A great defensive CF indeed but with a $16.1 salary you would expect more consistent contact. Yes, it’s only ST, but I’m very concerned Cody will never regain his MVP form.
I’d settle for All-Star form….
No, I’d be thrilled with All-Star form.
Based on recent performances, the recent MVP should be batting 9th. Just nuts.
17 mil and I am sure the coaches are talking to him daily. One of two things will happen, he will either turn it around and start hitting, or he won’t. Confidence is the biggest asset for a hitter and I am pretty sure at this point in spring, Bellinger has none. He went back to the stance that he used last year, quit choking up, and he still stands straight up. No bend in his knees. He told someone he knows himself better now than he ever did. But unfortunately, it has not translated to success with the bat.
He will – or he won’t……………….
Bellinger’s confidence is shot right now. Confidence is needed for success. And lack of confidence breeds lack of success. But there’s not anything to be confident about right now. He’s currently in the same place ever common-man golfer has been. Totally lost and grasping for a swing and some contact. I sat 2 rows from the on-deck circle last week and watched him fidget and fuss with his feet and drawing lines while rehearsing a swing that looked nothing like his swing at the dish. I didn’t realize until watching this closely to him, what a grinder he is. And he’s listening to the voices now. Paralysis from over analysis. You can smell his brain burning. It’s the smell of burning rubber.
I’m really rooting for the kid and I feel for him. But I’m on record here as hating his swing. And he has struggled, while never like this, since Mid-season 2019. I’ve said my piece about what I see as correctable swing flaws in the past, but as Bear points out, “He has three (well paid professional) coaches giving him advice and he does not need any from the peanut gallery”.
How about hitting right handed? Could it be any worse?
Serious or joking?. Hard to tell.
Serious or joking aside… he’s right.
He could not do any worse RH. 😉
Dr. Phil nailed it: “Cody is a grinder.”
He will get it figured it… eventually, but it might take a trip to AAA.
Little bit of both on this one! Anyway at least my dog thinks I’m funny
It goes beyond Bellinger just being late on inside fastballs. Right now he has absolutely no pitch recognition. He’s looking at fastball strikes and swinging (and missing) at sliders down and out of the strike zone.
I don’t know what the answer is.
“But it’s just Spring Training. It means absolutely nothing.”
Yeah, I guess, but if he’s completely lost now against Spring Training pitching, is he suddenly going to find himself against MLB pitching when the season starts?
Well the one person who counts a lot more than any of us is not worried. Dave Roberts said in an interview that in his view, it is all about his timing. He went back to the stance he used in his MVP season because he is stronger than he has been in the last couple of years. He also said he sees the work he is putting in. I will defer to Dave on this since he is privy to information I am not.
Seriously Bear. What do you think Doc is going to say publicly about Bellinger?
Seriously? Well Dave is after all a players manager. I doubt he would roast any player publicly. Unlike Alston, who did that to Williams and some others. But, I also know none of us are there watching Bellinger work. We have no clue what he is doing daily. So like I said, I am deferring to the manager who knows a hell of a lot more about his players make up than I do. There are rumors out there that the Dodgers are seriously looking to move Price.
Thinks are looking up. Heaney has gotten his ERA down to a minuscule 15.19!
Thanks in part to Mr. Alberto who is a “player.”
This is not a pretty day of baseball on our end
Spring ball. Meh, no big deal. Heaney was hit hard, so was Cleavinger. Ferguson was burned by some worm burners. White Sox have some thumpers in that lineup. Anderson is the real deal.
3 quick Grand Slams and the Game is Over!
Just a little heads up to the IT department of LA Dodger Talk. If I try to post from my phone, my posts just disappear into the void. Been happening a while. Just FYI.
Bellinger is obviously struggling, and it’s now in his head. I agree with the confidence issue. Right now it’s more than him being late on fastballs. His pitch recognition/reaction is non-existent at this point – watching fastball called strikes and swinging and missing at sliders in the dirt. I don’t know what the answer is, but I’m not going to get a lot of reassurance from what Dave Roberts says. Remember, Dave is a Company Man. He’s a general manager, but he’s also a PR manager. He’s not going to say the unvarnished truth. He’s going to choose his words carefully and give a positive spin on Bellinger’s struggles. Think of him as a sort of Jen Psaki with a baseball cap.
I LOVE that last line Dodgerpatch. Perhaps a trip to OKC will help him out.
Richie get serious. When was the last time you have seen a player making 17 million dollars a year optioned to AAA? Ain’t going to happen. They will stick with Bellinger as long as his defense is elite. With the boppers in the line up just consider him a weak hitting pitcher and he hits ninth. Patch, I believe Roberts believes every word he said about Bellinger in that interview. He knows a hell of a lot more than we fans.
I don’t think Heaney fooled anyone today. Even when the White Sox were swinging through his pitches, they were all getting good rips at pitches in the zone.
Hanser Alberto is an above average contact hitter but has no power and doesn’t walk. What isn’t really appreciated, though, is his defense, which is above average at the multiple infield positions he plays. He made a pretty good diving stop of a liner at third and managed to throw out the runner. I like this signing. Probably better than the guy from the Angels they were gonna trade Joc and Stripling for. It worked out that Arte Moreno is an idiot and scuttled that deal.
I found it in spam. I will check more frequently. I just have to “train it” to not do that!
Pujols going back to the Cardinals on a one year deal. Marte signed to a 5 year extension by Arizona.
The Los Angeles Dodgers optioned Darien Núñez and re-assigned Beau Burrows to Minor League camp for a third round of Spring Training roster cuts.
L.A. previously optioned Jacob Amaya, Michael Grove, Eddys Leonard, James Outman and Jorbit Vivas to Minor League camp; and re-assigned Carson Taylor, Hunter Feduccia, Kody Hoese, Miguel Vargas, Michael Busch, Andy Pages, Ryan Noda, Bobby Wahl, Yefry Ramirez, Sam Gaviglio, Robbie Erlin, Carson Fulmer, Ryan Pepiot, Mike Wright and Jon Duplantier.
The Dodgers roster is now at 45 active players in big league camp, which includes 11 non-roster invitees. The total breakdown is 23 pitchers (three non-roster), four catchers (two), 10 infielders (three), five outfielders (three), and three outfielder/infielders.