By Fred Mitchell
The dedication of the Billy Williams statue Tuesday night at Wrigley Field will have a profound and emotional impact on his former longtime teammate, Ron Santo.
"Once Ernie (Banks' statue) went up, I knew Billy was going up. There was no doubt in my mind," said Santo, a nine-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove third baseman. "I hit behind Billy all of my career. I have never played with a hitter of his caliber."
Santo and Williams first met while playing for the Cubs Double A minor league affiliate in San Antonio, more than 50 years ago. The experience was quite eye-opening for Santo, then a naïve 18-year-old from Seattle.
"We went through a lot in Double A, especially Billy," Santo recalled. "That really bothered me when we went to Victoria, Texas. We get in (the team bus), and all of a sudden we stop in this area and Billy and J.C. Hartman had to get off: the two black ballplayers. I said, 'What's going on?' Because at 18, I didn't understand that, you know what I mean? They got off and they couldn't stay at the same hotel. They couldn't drink with (white teammates). Yet Billy never let it affect his baseball."
The dedication of the Billy Williams statue Tuesday night at Wrigley Field will have a profound and emotional impact on his former longtime teammate, Ron Santo.
"Once Ernie (Banks' statue) went up, I knew Billy was going up. There was no doubt in my mind," said Santo, a nine-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove third baseman. "I hit behind Billy all of my career. I have never played with a hitter of his caliber."
Santo and Williams first met while playing for the Cubs Double A minor league affiliate in San Antonio, more than 50 years ago. The experience was quite eye-opening for Santo, then a naïve 18-year-old from Seattle.
"We went through a lot in Double A, especially Billy," Santo recalled. "That really bothered me when we went to Victoria, Texas. We get in (the team bus), and all of a sudden we stop in this area and Billy and J.C. Hartman had to get off: the two black ballplayers. I said, 'What's going on?' Because at 18, I didn't understand that, you know what I mean? They got off and they couldn't stay at the same hotel. They couldn't drink with (white teammates). Yet Billy never let it affect his baseball."
Then there was the incident in Corpus Christi, Texas, when Hartman and
Williams tried to get a bite to eat in a restaurant. "We will feed you
boys, but you have to go back to the kitchen to eat," the white
restaurant owner told them.
As a general rule, Williams and Hartman had to wait on the bus until their white teammates finished eating their meals in a restaurant. Jim Brewer, a left-handed pitcher, often would bring back a sandwich to Williams.
"Jim Brewer always looked out for me," said Williams.
Williams finally had enough of the racist conditions in Texas in 1959. Even though he was batting .320 and challenging Carl Yastrzemski for the Class AA minor league batting title, Williams headed home to Whistler, Ala., hopping on a train headed to nearby Mobile.
"There was no air conditioning on that train, yet I thought to myself, 'Damn, I feel good,'" Williams recalled.
Williams then told his father he would rather get a job back home doing pretty much anything else than go through the humiliation he was going through in San Antonio.
"And that's when Buck O'Neil went down and brought him back," said Santo of the former scout for the Cubs who would later become the first black coach in the major leagues.
"Sweet Swinging" Billy Williams would become the National League Rookie of the Year in 1961. During his 18-year major league career, including 16 seasons with the Cubs (1959-74), Williams batted .290 with 2,711 hits, 426 home runs and 1,475 RBI. The six-time National League All-Star hit 20 or more home runs 14 times, had 90-plus RBI 10 times and batted at least .300 five times. Williams played in a then-National League record 1,117 consecutive games from 1963-1970. His 392 home runs as a Cub are third-highest in franchise history.
"When you look at his numbers and what he has done ... an all-around player. Not just a real great hitter, but a good ballplayer, a smart ballplayer and a wonderful guy," said Santo.
Following the statue dedication, Williams will be recognized in an on-field ceremony before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the 7:05 p.m. game against the Astros. Williams will also lead the crowd in "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch.
The statue will be unveiled at 5:30 p.m., at the corner of Sheffield and Addison.
Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said: "Billy is a legendary Cub and we appreciate his activity within the organization, dedicating his time in the community and sharing his knowledge and experiences with players and staff."
The Ernie Banks statue, immortalizing the longtime Hall of Fame teammate of Williams and Santo, was dedicated in 2008 and is located near the corner of Clark and Addison.
"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for these two guys," said Santo.
As a general rule, Williams and Hartman had to wait on the bus until their white teammates finished eating their meals in a restaurant. Jim Brewer, a left-handed pitcher, often would bring back a sandwich to Williams.
"Jim Brewer always looked out for me," said Williams.
Williams finally had enough of the racist conditions in Texas in 1959. Even though he was batting .320 and challenging Carl Yastrzemski for the Class AA minor league batting title, Williams headed home to Whistler, Ala., hopping on a train headed to nearby Mobile.
"There was no air conditioning on that train, yet I thought to myself, 'Damn, I feel good,'" Williams recalled.
Williams then told his father he would rather get a job back home doing pretty much anything else than go through the humiliation he was going through in San Antonio.
"And that's when Buck O'Neil went down and brought him back," said Santo of the former scout for the Cubs who would later become the first black coach in the major leagues.
"Sweet Swinging" Billy Williams would become the National League Rookie of the Year in 1961. During his 18-year major league career, including 16 seasons with the Cubs (1959-74), Williams batted .290 with 2,711 hits, 426 home runs and 1,475 RBI. The six-time National League All-Star hit 20 or more home runs 14 times, had 90-plus RBI 10 times and batted at least .300 five times. Williams played in a then-National League record 1,117 consecutive games from 1963-1970. His 392 home runs as a Cub are third-highest in franchise history.
"When you look at his numbers and what he has done ... an all-around player. Not just a real great hitter, but a good ballplayer, a smart ballplayer and a wonderful guy," said Santo.
Following the statue dedication, Williams will be recognized in an on-field ceremony before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the 7:05 p.m. game against the Astros. Williams will also lead the crowd in "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch.
The statue will be unveiled at 5:30 p.m., at the corner of Sheffield and Addison.
Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said: "Billy is a legendary Cub and we appreciate his activity within the organization, dedicating his time in the community and sharing his knowledge and experiences with players and staff."
The Ernie Banks statue, immortalizing the longtime Hall of Fame teammate of Williams and Santo, was dedicated in 2008 and is located near the corner of Clark and Addison.
"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for these two guys," said Santo.
If you don't like the man fine. I saw all three of those guys play. Santo was the best third baseman in his time period! You're an idiot...