Davey Williams – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Davey Williams, a promising second baseman, saw his Major League Baseball career end suddenly in 1955 when he was just 27. Growing up in Dallas, he spent six seasons with the New York Giants and became known as one of their most reliable infielders. He played a big part in their pennant-winning runs in 1951 and 1954.

Chronic back problems, which had bothered him for years, forced Williams to retire from professional baseball in the middle of the 1955 season. His early exit left fans and teammates wondering what might have been, since he’d already made the All-Star team in 1953 and helped the Giants win the World Series in 1954.

Williams’ story, from working as an usher at Dallas’s Burnett Field to reaching the top as a World Series champion, really shows both the promise and the unpredictability of a baseball career. He moved up through the minors, became the Giants’ starting second baseman, and eventually faced the tough reality of a premature retirement. His journey gives a real look at the struggles many players dealt with during baseball’s so-called golden era.

Early Life and Background

David Carlous Williams was born on November 2, 1927, in Dallas, Texas, and he spent his whole life there. Growing up in Oak Cliff, he got an early taste of baseball thanks to his family’s business ties and his dad’s own sports background.

Family and Childhood in Dallas

David Carlous Williams Jr. was born to David Carlous Williams Sr. and Eva Cleo Haire. His parents ran the Jim Town Grocery store in Oak Cliff.

Athletic talent ran in the family. Davey’s father played minor league baseball in the Arizona-New Mexico League before settling down to run the grocery.

The Williams family always stayed close to their Dallas community. That stable home environment in Oak Cliff probably helped Davey succeed later on.

Young Davey found creative ways to stay close to baseball. He worked as an usher at Burnett Field, home to the Dallas Eagles of the Texas League, which let him watch games for free and pick up a little cash.

Sunset High School Achievements

At Sunset High School, Williams stood out as a four-sport athlete. Even though he was only 5’9″, he lettered in football, basketball, baseball, and track.

He played running back on the football team, weighing just 141 pounds. His size never stopped him from competing hard.

Baseball was his real strength. As a senior, he captained the team and led them to a state championship.

His high school baseball success got him chosen to represent Texas in the 1945 Esquire Magazine Boys’ All-American baseball game. That game took place at the Polo Grounds in New York City, where he’d later play as a pro.

Early Baseball Influences

The 1945 All-American game put Williams in the same dugout as legends. Babe Ruth managed the East team, while Ty Cobb managed the West, which included Williams.

Williams hurt his finger in the first inning but kept playing. He tore off his damaged fingernail and taped his hand to stay in the game.

Ty Cobb noticed Williams’ grit and sent him a letter later, praising his determination to play through pain.

Williams also played with and against future football stars like Doak Walker and Bobby Layne on Dallas youth baseball teams. Those early years definitely shaped his competitive side.

Path to Major League Baseball

Williams’ journey to the majors kicked off after high school. He chose pro baseball over college and signed with the Atlanta Crackers in 1946. He moved up the minor league ladder quickly, grabbing the attention of big-league scouts and eventually landing with the New York Giants.

Signing and Minor League Career

After graduating from Sunset High, Williams planned to attend the University of Texas. But with the draft looming, he decided to sign a pro contract and handle his military service first.

He signed with the Atlanta Crackers of the Southern Association in 1946. Scout Claude Dietrich convinced him that the Crackers would give him a faster shot at the majors than going straight to a big-league organization. Dietrich said that after a good season or two, the Crackers could sell his contract to any major league team looking for a second baseman.

Williams served 14 months as a paratrooper at Fort Benning before joining the Crackers for spring training in 1947. At 19, he landed in Waycross in the Class D Georgia-Florida League, hitting .282 and leading the league with 147 runs scored. He made the league’s all-star team.

In 1948, Williams played for the Pensacola Fliers in the Class B Southeastern League. He hit .308 and again led the league in runs scored with 119. For the second year in a row, he was named top second baseman in his league.

Time with Atlanta Crackers

Williams kept developing with the Atlanta Crackers in 1949. He hit .290 and earned his third straight all-star selection at second base. By then, he’d shown he was ready for the majors.

His steady improvement across three minor league levels showed his adaptability and skill. Moving from Class D to Class B to Triple-A, he kept boosting his offense and defense.

Transition to New York Giants

The New York Giants bought Williams’ contract from the Crackers for $50,000 and two players after his 1948 season. They wanted him to spend 1949 with Atlanta for more seasoning.

After a solid 1949 with the Crackers, Williams got a late-season call-up to the Giants. He played 13 games, got 58 plate appearances, and hit .240 in his big-league debut.

On September 19, 1949, Williams hit his first major league home run—a 10th-inning shot off Pittsburgh’s Harry Gumbert at Forbes Field. That homer drove in the winning run in a 6-4 Giants victory.

The Giants planned to make Williams their regular second baseman for 1950. But after they traded for Eddie Stanky in December 1949, Williams went to the Minneapolis Millers in the American Association for more experience. He helped them win the pennant and hit .280 with 17 home runs.

MLB Career Highlights

Davey Williams made a name for himself as a skilled second baseman in his six seasons with the New York Giants from 1949 to 1955. He earned an All-Star selection in 1953 and played a key role in the Giants’ 1954 World Series championship team.

Becoming the Giants’ Regular Second Baseman

Williams won his starting spot through hard work and talent, even after a few early setbacks. After his 1949 debut, the Giants brought in Eddie Stanky and sent Williams to Minneapolis for more playing time.

His big break came in 1951 when the Giants called him up at the All-Star break. Williams made an immediate impact on July 13, going three-for-six with a grand slam and five RBIs in a 14-4 win over St. Louis.

The Giants traded Stanky to the Cardinals in December 1951, opening the door for Williams at second base. He teamed up with shortstop Alvin Dark to form a strong double-play combo starting in 1952.

Williams played in 138 games his first full season as the starter in 1952. He hit .254 with 13 home runs, and the Giants won 92 games but finished behind Brooklyn.

Notable Seasons and Achievements

Williams’ best season came in 1953. He batted .297 in 112 games, even while dealing with back issues. That year, he made the National League All-Star team as Red Schoendienst’s backup.

His All-Star selection stirred up some debate, since he finished fourth in fan voting behind Schoendienst, Jack Dittmer, and Connie Ryan. Manager Charlie Dressen backed him up, saying, “Williams is a damn good ballplayer.”

In the 1953 All-Star Game at Crosley Field, Williams replaced Schoendienst in the seventh inning. He drew a walk against Mike Garcia and caught Yogi Berra’s popup for the final out in the National League’s 5-1 win.

Williams played a key part in the Giants’ 1954 World Series title. He caught the relay throw after Willie Mays’ famous over-the-shoulder catch, helping keep Larry Doby at third base.

A serious back injury forced Williams to retire in July 1955 at just 27 years old.

Statistics and Playing Style

Williams finished his career with a .252 batting average, 32 home runs, and 163 RBIs in 517 big league games. He scored 235 runs and collected 450 hits over six seasons.

His best power year was 1952, when he hit 13 home runs. Williams showed patience at the plate and made solid contact throughout his career.

Career Statistics:

• Games: 517
• Batting Average: .252
• Home Runs: 32
• RBIs: 163
• Runs: 235
• Hits: 450

Williams played great defense at second base, teaming up with Dark for a reliable double-play partnership. In 1951, he handled 81 chances without an error, putting up a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.

He focused on fundamentals and teamwork more than personal stats. Williams built a reputation for turning double plays and making steady, clutch plays in the field.

All-Star Selection and Recognition

Davey Williams joined baseball’s elite when he made the 1953 National League All-Star team. His performance in the Midsummer Classic included catching the final out from Yogi Berra and facing pitcher Mike Garcia.

1953 NL All-Star Team

Williams earned his only All-Star nod in 1953, hitting a career-high .297 that season. He got recognized for solid defense and a better bat.

He joined the National League roster with other top players. That selection came right as Williams was hitting his stride with the Giants.

The All-Star honor marked the high point of his six-year MLB career. It was a pretty big deal, considering he’d started as a part-timer in 1949 and worked his way up to a full-time role.

All-Star Game Highlights

The 1953 All-Star Game gave Williams moments he’d never forget. He came in as a defensive replacement for Red Schoendienst at second base.

Williams caught the last out, a pop-up from Yankees catcher Yogi Berra. “One of the most memorable moments of my entire career was when I caught the last out in the 1953 All-Star Game, a pop-up from Yogi Berra,” Williams said later.

That catch helped seal the National League’s win. Williams wore number 10 in the game, representing the Giants on a big stage.

Midsummer Classic Performance

Williams’ plate appearance against Cleveland’s Mike Garcia stuck with both men. Williams drew a walk in his only at-bat, finishing the game with a perfect 1.000 on-base percentage.

“I got to bat against Garcia, after they took out Red, and after Mike threw me a pitch, he surprised the hell out of me, since it was a fastball,” Williams remembered. “It looked like he threw it 110 miles per hour!”

The two crossed paths again in the next year’s World Series. Williams nearly homered off Garcia, hitting a foul ball that would have left the park. Garcia joked with Williams, “I must have made that a bit too good.”

World Series and Pennant Race Participation

Williams played big roles in two pennant-winning runs with the New York Giants, showing up in the 1951 and 1954 World Series. His most unforgettable moment happened during Willie Mays‘ famous catch in the 1954 World Series, when he handled the crucial relay throw to finish off the defensive play.

1951 and 1954 World Series Appearances

Williams joined the Giants during their wild 1951 pennant race comeback. The team called him up from Minneapolis at the All-Star break, with the Giants trailing by eight games.

The Giants pulled off one of baseball’s greatest comebacks and caught the Brooklyn Dodgers. During the three-game playoff against Brooklyn, Williams filled in as a pinch-runner.

He sat on the bench next to Jack Lohrke during the legendary third game, the one where Bobby Thomson hit his “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” homer. Williams saw some action in the World Series against the Yankees, but not much.

The 1954 World Series against the Cleveland Indians really defined Williams’ career. As the Giants’ everyday second baseman, he played a key part in their four-game sweep.

That team won 97 games before they shocked the heavily favored Indians. Williams played in six World Series games between both series.

He stepped up to the plate twelve times during those championship runs.

Iconic Moments and Defensive Plays

Williams’ most famous moment happened in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series at the Polo Grounds. When Willie Mays made that over-the-shoulder catch on Vic Wertz’s deep drive, Williams set himself up just right to catch the relay throw.

The play took sharp timing and solid positioning. Larry Doby tagged up from second after the catch, but Williams snagged Mays’ quick throw and held Doby at third, stopping a possible run.

Williams later joked that if the camera had followed the ball after Mays’ throw, he would have shown up on TV more often than Dave Garroway. That defensive play helped keep the Giants ahead in their 5-2 win.

People kept asking Williams about that moment, and honestly, he didn’t love answering the trivia questions. Still, the play showed off his instincts and defensive chops during one of baseball’s most unforgettable moments.

Teammates and Rivals

Williams built a strong double-play partnership with shortstop Alvin Dark during the Giants’ best years. The two worked together in the middle infield and anchored the defense.

He played for manager Leo Durocher, who was famous for his fiery personality. Williams had some run-ins with Durocher, including the time he threw an ice chest across the clubhouse after a heated exchange.

His teammates included pitching stars Sal Maglie and Larry Jansen. Williams remembered seeing both pitchers coaching the bases during the 1951 season, while Durocher lounged in the dugout catching a suntan.

The Giants’ main rivals back then were the Brooklyn Dodgers. Williams felt both heartbreak and triumph against Brooklyn, from watching Thomson’s dramatic homer to battling in the tense pennant races that shaped National League baseball in the early ’50s.

Career-Ending Injury and Retirement

Davey Williams’ promising career ended suddenly in 1955 after a collision with Jackie Robinson made his existing back problems much worse. That incident forced Williams to retire at just 27, and people still wonder what might have been if he’d stayed healthy.

1955 Collision with Jackie Robinson

Williams’ career-changing moment came in 1955, when Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers barreled into him while he covered a bunt. The collision wrecked Williams, who had already struggled with back issues since a 1950 injury in Minneapolis.

Robinson’s hard slide at second base was just part of the intense Giants-Dodgers rivalry. The impact made Williams’ arthritic back way worse.

Williams had dealt with back pain for years. His first serious injury happened in 1950, when he collided with a right fielder in Minneapolis and took a knee to the base of his spine.

After Robinson ran him over, Williams’ back just couldn’t take it anymore. He couldn’t keep playing at the major league level.

Aftermath and Decision to Retire

After the collision, Williams tried to keep playing, but the pain was too much. His back had gotten so bad that he couldn’t perform on the field.

He retired in the middle of the 1955 season. At 27, he should have been in his prime.

The decision to quit was tough, especially since Williams had made the 1953 All-Star team and locked down the Giants’ second base job next to Alvin Dark.

His retirement ended a career that had flashed a ton of promise. In 1953, he hit .297 and looked like one of the league’s best second basemen.

Impact on the Giants Lineup

Williams’ retirement left a big gap in the Giants’ infield. Losing the Williams-Dark double-play team really hurt their defense.

The Giants scrambled to replace Williams at second base. His exit came just as the team was trying to keep up with the dominant Brooklyn Dodgers.

Williams had been a huge part of the Giants’ 1951 and 1954 World Series teams. His absence was felt all over the organization.

The timing only made things tougher for the Giants in 1955. Both Williams and Dark missed big chunks of the season with injuries, and the infield never really steadied.

Post-Playing Career and Legacy

Williams didn’t waste time after retiring. He joined the Giants coaching staff in 1956 under manager Bill Rigney, and his baseball smarts made him a valuable mentor for younger players.

Coaching with the Giants

Bill Rigney brought Williams onto the coaching staff when he took over in 1956. That move kept Williams with the organization he’d played for his whole career.

Williams shared his infield knowledge in his new role. He worked with young second basemen and helped shape the next wave of Giants players.

His All-Star experience at second base made him especially good at teaching defensive fundamentals. Williams understood the mental game, having played through injuries and pressure.

Coaching let Williams stay close to baseball, even though his back wouldn’t let him play anymore. He still found ways to contribute from the dugout.

Minor League Management

After coaching for the Giants, Williams moved into managing in the minors. He worked in different minor league systems to help develop young talent.

Williams’ background as a player and coach made him a natural fit for minor league managing. He knew what it took to climb the baseball ladder.

He focused on fundamentals and player development. Williams always stressed proper technique and mental toughness.

Managing in the minors gave Williams a chance to shape young careers. He shared lessons from his own journey, from high school standout to major league All-Star.

Recognition and Later Honors

Sunset High School put Williams in their Hall of Fame. They wanted to celebrate everything he did as a student-athlete and as a pro player.

The Dallas school felt proud that he became their first graduate to play in the major leagues.

Williams never really left his Dallas roots behind. He kept living in the city where he grew up and went to high school.

People still talk about his part in Willie Mays’ famous catch during the 1954 World Series. Williams took the relay throw that stopped Larry Doby from reaching third base on that play.

Folks in the baseball world saw Williams as a talented player and a genuinely good person. He kept giving back to the game even after he retired in 1955.