March 9, 1893-November 4, 1959

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Stats

• Batted: Right
• Threw: Left
• Win-loss record: 82-48
• ERA: 3.13
• Strikeouts: 515
• Position in 1919: Pitcher

Biography

Born in Aurora, Missouri, Lefty Williams had his major league debut on September 17, 1913, with the Detroit Tigers.  In 1915, he played with the Salt Lake City Bees.  He led the league in strikeouts and wins, and threw a fastball over 90 miles per hour.  In 1916 he was sold to the Chicago White Sox. He helped the team with the World Series in 1917, and spent 1918 working in Navy shipyards.  He returned to baseball in 1919 and had his best year yet.

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Chick Gandil offered Williams $10,000 to lose his starts in the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds.  Williams did just that, with a win-loss record of 0-3 and an ERA of 6.63.  Williams was only rewarded with $5,000, half of what Gandil offered.  This amount was still twice that of his 1919 salary.  Williams' last game in the MLB was September 25, 1920.  He was banned from organized baseball for life for his participation in throwing the World Series.