Professional_baseball Ed_Willett

1 professional baseball

1.1 wichita jobbers
1.2 detroit tigers
1.3 st. louis terriers
1.4 career overview
1.5 minor leagues
1.6 managerial career

professional baseball
wichita jobbers

willett began professional baseball career in western association, playing wichita jobbers in 1905 , 1906. compiled 10–5 win-loss record 2.69 earned run average (era) in 16 games during 1905 season , 12–17 record in 38 games wichita in 1906. on august 27, 1906, in final game in wichita uniform, willett held webb city 1 run in 15 innings. although lost more games won in 1906, reportedly lost number of games on flukes , regarded many best pitcher in western association.

detroit tigers

ed willett, 1910

on august 9, 1906, willett purchased wichita detroit tigers, , became first western association player make major league club. scheduled remain wichita through end of 1906 season, tigers asked in late august report early. willett made major league debut detroit on september 5, 1906, pitching five-hitter against chicago. in final month of 1906 season, willett appeared in 3 games, starter, , compiled 0–3 record 3.96 era.

in 1907, willett saw limited action tigers, appearing in 10 games, 6 starter, , compiled 1–5 record 3.70 era in 48-2/3 inning pitched.

willett became regular starting pitcher 1908 detroit tigers team won american league pennant. appeared in 30 games, 23 starter, , compiled 15–8 record 2.28 era , 77 strikeouts in 197-1/3 inning pitched.

willett s best season 1909 when appeared in 41 games, 34 starter, , compiled 21–10 record 2.34 era. ranked among american league leaders 21 wins (third) , .677 winning percentage (sixth). appeared in 2 games relief pitcher in 1909 world series, giving no earned runs , 3 hits in 7-2/3 innings pitched against pittsburgh pirates.

willett had strong season in 1910. appeared in 37 games, 25 starter, , compiled 16–11 record , 2.37 era. remained regular starting pitcher tigers through 1913 season, compiling records of 13–14 in 1911, 17–15 in 1912, , 13–14 in 1913.

st. louis terriers

in january 1914, willett signed contract play mordecai brown s st. louis terriers in federal league. terriers finished in eighth place in federal league in 1914, , willett compiled career-worst 4–17 record 4.27 era in 27 games. in 1915, willett returned terriers, though converted relief pitcher. appeared in 17 games, 2 games in relief, , compiled 2–3 record 4.61 era. appeared in last major league game on september 23, 1915, @ age 31.

career overview

willett s 1911 american tobacco card

throughout career, willett had propensity hit batters pitches. led american league 17 hit batsmen in 1912 , among league leaders 7 straight years 1908 1914. career total of 106 hit batsmen ranks 73rd in major league history.

willett excellent fielding pitcher, consistently achieving range factor in excess of league average. on career, had range factor of 2.89 — 71 points higher league average of 2.09 pitchers. in 1910, willett had 113 assists in 224 innings pitched, meaning had assist every other inning. range factor of 3.38 in 1912 remarkable 1.43 points higher league average of 1.95 — meaning willett got twice many batted balls typical pitcher of era.

willett hitter pitcher, batting .268 .333 on-base percentage , .427 slugging percentage in 1911. in 1913, raised batting average .283. detroit trainer harry tuthill later recalled, ed hit, gave fans real thrill 1 afternoon @ old bennett park, clouting 2 home runs. , in era of comparatively dead ball, 2 home runs in single game quite feat.

in 274 career games, willett had 102–100 win-loss record 142 complete games, earned run average of 3.08, 600 strikeouts, , 695 assists in 1,773 innings pitched.

minor leagues

although major league career ended st. louis in 1915, continued play in minor leagues through 1919 season, playing memphis chickasaws of southern association in 1916, new orleans pelicans of southern association in 1917, , salt lake city bees of pacific coast league in 1918 , 1919. in 1920, played rexburg, idaho, club in snake river-yellowstone league. began 1921 season blankenship team in pacific international league , played victoria, british columbia, team in first half of 1921 season.

managerial career

on june 4, 1921, willett took on player-manager ogden gunners in northern utah league. led ogden second half pennant. went on manage grand island champions in 1922 , beatrice blues in 1923, both clubs playing in nebraska state league.