Vic Willis (1995)


Date of Birth: 4/12/1876
Date of Death: 8/3/1947
Birthplace: Cecil County, Maryland
College: University of Delaware

Vic Willis started his baseball career playing for the University of Delaware in 1897. The following year, he was signed by the Boston Beaneaters/Braves.

Boston Beaneaters/Braves

Willis pitched in 41 games with the Beaneaters in 1898 and he had a 25-13 record with 160 strikeouts to 148 walks and a 2.84 ERA in 311.0 innings. The next year, he led the NL in ERA and in shutouts. He finished the 1899 season with a career high 27 wins and 8 losses, 120 strikeouts to 117 walks, and a 2.50 ERA in 342.2 innings in 41 games. He had 5 shutouts. He pitched the only no-hitter of his career in 1899.

Willis' ERA jumped up to 4.19 in 1900. He had control issues, walking 106 batters and striking out only 53. He had a significantly better season in 1901, when he had a 2.36 ERA in 38 games. He had 20 wins and 17 losses and 133 strikeouts to 78 walks in 305.1 innings. He again led the NL in shutouts with 6.

Willis had his best season in 1902, when he led the NL in strikeouts, innings pitched, and complete games. He had career highs in games played (51), complete games (45), innings pitched (410.0), wins (27 to 20 losses), and strikeouts (225 to 101 walks). He had a 2.20 ERA. Defensively, he led NL pitchers in putouts with 37.

In 1903, Willis had an average season, finishing with 12 wins and 18 losses, 125 strikeouts to 88 walks, and a 2.98 ERA in 278.0 innings in 33 games. He led the NL in complete games in 1904 with 39. He finished the season with 18 wins and 25 losses, 196 strikeouts to 109 walks, and a 2.85 ERA in 350.0 innings in 43 games. Defensively, he again led NL pitchers in putouts with 39.

Willis' ERA went up to 3.21 in 1905, his final season with the Beaneaters. He had 12 wins and 29 losses and 149 strikeouts to 107 walks in 342.0 innings in 41 games. He once more led NL pitchers in putouts with 37.

Pittsburgh Pirates

From 1906 through 1909, Willis played with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He had a strong first season with the Pirates, winning 23 games in 1906. He had a career low ERA of 1.73 with 124 strikeouts to 76 walks in 322.0 innings in 41 games.

Willis continued to play well in 1907, 1908, and 1909, with an ERA under 2.35 and having over 20 wins each year. He finished 1907 with a 2.34 ERA and 21 wins (to 11 losses). The following season, his ERA dropped to 2.07 and he had 23 wins, again to 11 losses. He had a career high 7 shutouts in 1908. He finished his career with the Pirates with 22 wins and 11 losses, 95 strikeouts to 83 walks, and a 2.24 ERA in 289.2 innings in 39 games in 1909.

Willis played his last season in the major leagues (1910) with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Career Statistics

Statistics for Willis in 13 seasons (1898-1910) in the major leagues include:

  • 8 seasons with 20 or more wins, with a high of 27 in 1899 and 1902
  • 3 seasons with over 150 strikeouts, with a high of 225 in 1902
  • 10 seasons with an ERA under 3.00, with a low of 1.73 in 1906

Career pitching statistics for Willis include:

  • 513 games played
  • 3,996.0 innings pitched
  • 249-205 win-loss record
  • 1,651 strikeouts to 1,212 walks
  • 2.63 ERA

Post Playing Years

In 1911, Willis was a pitcher in semi-pro baseball.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Vic Willis
ESPN - Vic Willis
Baseball Reference - Vic Willis

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