Mitch Williams

Mitchell Steven Williams (born November 17, 1964, in Santa Ana, California) was a baseball relief pitcher who appeared for six teams in Major League Baseball from 1986 to 1997.

Related Topics:
November 17 - 1964 - Santa Ana, California - Baseball - Relief - Pitcher - Major League Baseball - 1986 - 1997

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Williams, a left-hander with a high-90's fastball but terrible control, was largely effective, earning 192 saves in his 11 seasons including a career high of 43 in 1993. However, he is perhaps best known for a blown save after giving up a walk-off home run to Joe Carter in the sixth game of the 1993 World Series.

Related Topics:
Saves - 1993 - Blown save - Walk-off home run - Joe Carter - 1993 World Series

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Williams was drafted out of high school in 1982 by the San Diego Padres. The Texas Rangers acquired him in 1985, and he made his major league debut for the Rangers in 1986. The Rangers traded him to the Chicago Cubs after the 1988 season. It was with the Cubs that Williams earned the nickname The Wild Thing; his extravagant wide-up and release, coupled with the song to which he came out of the bullpen (The Troggs' Wild Thing), likened him to the character of Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn (played by Charlie Sheen) in the 1989 David S. Ward film Major League (who, like Williams, also wore the jersey-number 99 in the film).

Related Topics:
High school - 1982 - San Diego Padres - Texas Rangers - 1985 - 1986 - Chicago Cubs - 1988 - Bullpen - The Troggs - Charlie Sheen - 1989 - Major League - 99

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The Cubs dealt Williams to the Philadelphia Phillies at the start of the 1991 campaign. That year, he won 12 games and saved 30 for the Phillies, endearing himself to fickle Philadelphia fans. However, he suffered eight losses in 1992 and seven more in 1993. Still, Williams was the team's closer entering the World Series against the defending champion Toronto Blue Jays.

Related Topics:
Philadelphia Phillies - 1991 - Philadelphia - 1992 - 1993 - Closer - Toronto Blue Jays

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Williams earned a save in Game 2 of the series, relieving Terry Mulholland as the Phillies knotted the series at a game each. However, Williams suffered the loss in Game 4, the highest-scoring game in World Series history, as the Blue Jays crossed the plate six times in the eighth inning to earn a 15-14 victory and take a 3-1 series lead.

Related Topics:
Terry Mulholland - Inning

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After the Phillies won Game 5 on a complete-game shutout by Curt Schilling, the series returned to Toronto for Game 6. The Phillies scored five runs in the seventh inning to take a 6-5 lead, and it was up to Williams to preserve the victory and force a Game 7. With one out and two runners on base in the home ninth inning, Carter got hold of a 2-2 pitch and sent it over the wall in left field, giving the Blue Jays an 8-6 victory and the series crown.

Related Topics:
Curt Schilling - Toronto - Out - Carter

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The Carter blast was the end of the line for Williams in Philadelphia. The Phillies traded him to the Houston Astros prior to the start of the 1994 season. He closed out his career with the California Angels in 1995 and the Kansas City Royals in 1997.

Related Topics:
Houston Astros - 1994 - California Angels - 1995 - Kansas City Royals - 1997

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Williams retired from baseball to operate a bowling establishment outside Philadelphia, but the Atlantic City Surf of the independent Atlantic League lured him back into uniform to pitch in 2001. He went 4-3 for the Surf that season and then became the club's manager for 2002 and 2003.

Related Topics:
Bowling - Atlantic City Surf - Atlantic League - 2001 - Manager - 2002 - 2003

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