Ken Williams
| Birthdate | 6/28/1890 |
| Death Date | 1/22/1959 |
| Debut Year | 1915 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Browns, Red Sox, Reds |
| Position | Left Field |
In 1922 the Browns’ Ken Williams became baseball’s first 30-homer, 30-steal man and the first AL player to homer twice in the same inning.
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Heilbroner Baseball Bureau information card filled out & signed by Williams in 1914 before his MLB debut
Heilbroner Baseball Bureau information card filled out & signed by Williams in 1914 before his MLB debut
Ken Williams was one of the most prolific home run hitters of his day. Each season from 1921 through 1927 he finished in the top four in the American League home run race, topping the junior circuit in 1922. The big leagues’ charter member of the 30-homer, 30-stolen base club, Williams enjoyed his best years with the St. Louis Browns.
His career year came in 1922 when he founded the 30-30 club and interrupted Babe Ruth’s four-year run as AL homer champ. Williams led the league in total bases in ’22 and posted an OPS of 1.040, the first of three seasons in which the slugger’s OPS was above 1.000.
Born in 1890, Williams had a tough time breaking into the Major Leagues. From 1913-1917, he played mostly in the minors, amassing 620 games there while appearing in only 81 NL contests for the Reds. Williams finally became a full-time big leaguer in 1920 in his age-30 season. From there his career quickly took off.
From 1920-1927, Williams hit .327, averaging 22 homers per year, finishing in the top 5 in seven seasons. His on-base percentage during that time was .403. A man of firsts, Williams was the first AL player to hit two homers in one inning. He was also the first major leaguer with at least 15 homers in a season to have more homers (39) than strikeouts (31), and the inaugural member of the 30-homer, 30-stolen base club.
In the collection is this autograph from 1914, before the start of his Major League career. By virtue of his 1959 death year, Williams signatures remain somewhat scarce with examples such as this, written before his big league debut very hard to come by.
This example is from the Heilbroner Baseball Bureau Service, founded by Louis Heilbroner the manager of the 1900 St. Louis Cardinals. The Bureau gathered biographical information on players using 3×5 cards. Williams has neatly signed his name in the top right side of the card.
Reverse of the Ken Williams Heilbroner card with a list of the teams he played for from 1913-1916
Reverse of the Ken Williams Heilbroner card with a list of the teams he played for from 1913-1916
The back of the card provides a partial list of the teams for which Ken Williams played at the start of his career: 1913 – Regina, 1914 – Edmonton, 1915 – Spokane, 1915 – Cincinnati, 1916 – Spokane, Portland Oregon. He also played for Spokane in 1914.
The Heilbroner cards provide a way for collectors to obtain autographs of players early in the professional careers. Had Williams found a way to the big leagues earlier, he just might have a plaque in Cooperstown, New York.
With Williams in left, the Browns outfield of 1919-1925 started 556 games together to set a still-standing MLB record
With Williams in left, the Browns outfield of 1919-1925 started 556 games together to set a still-standing MLB record
In addition to his individual accomplishments, Ken Williams was a part of baseball’s longest-running outfield. The St. Louis Browns trio of Williams in left Baby Doll Jacobson in center and Jack Tobin in right, started 556 games together from 1919-1925. That’s the most for an outfield in the game’s history.
During their 7 seasons together, the Jacobson, Williams, Tobin triumvirate combined for a .330 batting average. From 1919-1925 the three men totaled 1,670 runs batted in, 944 walks and just 556 strikeouts for the Browns.
Shown here is the autograph of Jacobson. A fine player, he hit over .300 in each of his 7 seasons with his outfield mates. He topped the .340 mark three times, and the .350 mark twice.
The centerfielder had his finest season in 1920 with 216 hits, 34 doubles, 14 triples, 305 total bases, a .355 average, .402 on-base percentage, and .501 slugging mark. His 122 RBI that year were bested only by Babe Ruth.
Jack Tobin rounded out the the Browns outfield with Williams and Jacobson
Jack Tobin rounded out the the Browns outfield with Williams and Jacobson
Jack Tobin played right field beside Bill “Baby Doll” Jacobson and Ken Williams in the longest-running outfield in baseball history. Together the trio started 556 games together for the St. Louis Browns.
During their 7 seasons together, the St. Louis triumvirate combined for a .330 batting average. From 1919-1925 the three men totaled 1,670 runs batted in, 944 walks and just 556 strikeouts for the Browns.
The trio’s time together came to an end when the Browns sent Tobin to the Senators in February, 1926.
Only two other other trios made as many as 500 starts as a crew. The 1980s Toronto trifecta of Lloyd Moseby, George Bell, and Jessie Barfield fell just four games short of Tobin and his mates. The other 500-game fly-catching trio played for the Pirates. Bill Virdon, Bob Skinner, and Roberto Clemente started 542 games together for the Pirates from 1956-1963.
Though he’s the least-known of the three Browns’ fly-catchers, Tobin was a fine player in his own right. Standing at 5’8 and carrying 142 pounds, Tobin was a career .309 hitter. His 1,906 hits are the most among the three men.
Tobin enjoy his greatest success from in the five-year period from 1919-1923. During the run he hit .334 and averaged 201 base hits, 99 runs scored, and 31 doubles. He also had four-straight 200-hit campaigns starting in 1920. The right fielder’s 1921 season included an astonishing 236 hits, a figure surpassed only 24 times in big league history. Tobin also hit .352 with a league-leading 18 triples.
Shown here is a government postcard signed by Tobin. Notice the postmark from St. Louis dated September 7, 1951. Then 60 years old, Tobin was born, raised, and buried in St. Louis where he spent 11 of his 13 big league seasons.
