Saturday, August 23, 2014

1975 Profile: Walt Williams

"If there's a more popular baseball player around, considering the amount of time he plays, you'd be hard-pressed to beat Walt Williams. From the day he reported to the Yankees in spring training a year ago, he was at once one of the most recognizable men in the game. And he maintains his popularity through one of the most pleasant personalities going.
As a player, Walt is still a dangerous hitter, although his playing time was quite limited last season. But obviously, the Yankees would not keep a man around unless they felt he could contribute when called upon - and such is the belief in Walt."

-The New York Yankees Official 1975 Yearbook

"Walt saw less action last year than he ever had in the majors, and although he would have liked to play more, he never lost his good natured personality or his popularity among fans. Among the most recognized players in the game, Walt got an ovation whenever he appeared around the league. Long referred to as 'No-Neck,' he prefers Walt, and that's what Yankee fans came to call him.
Walt originally signed with Houston in 1963 and hit .381 at Modesto that year. Transferred to the Cardinal organization, he led the Pacific Coast League in hitting in 1966, then was traded to the White Sox for John Romano, and later went to Cleveland for Eddie Leon.
Walt attended Galileo High School in San Francisco, which produced the DiMaggio brothers and O.J. Simpson. He has done extensive work with underprivileged children, is a fine basketball player and enjoys singing, drawing and public speaking."

-1975 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide

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