ESPN's Hall of 100 -- Ranking the all-time greatest MLB players

Billy Williams


Billy Williams, LF

 

Career: 1959-1976, Cubs, A's
Fun fact: Beat out Joe Torre to win National League Rookie of the Year in 1961


Machine-like efficiency was sweet-swinging Williams' greatest feature, as year after year, the Cubs' left fielder drove in runs from the three-hole. Spending his prime seasons during the death valley of offense that was baseball in the '60s hurt his overall numbers. He belted a career-high 42 homers in 1970 and slugged .606 in 1972, hints of what might have been.

Previous rank: 121

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