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

Frank Williams made his mark during a six-year run in Major League Baseball, pitching in relief from 1984 to 1989 for the San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds, and Detroit Tigers. He was born Frank Lee Williams on February 13, 1958, in Seattle, Washington, and came from modest beginnings. His story is a mix of big league highs and some pretty tough lows.

Williams put together a 24-14 win-loss record, a 3.00 earned run average, and 314 strikeouts in 333 games. He built a reputation as a reliable middle reliever during his time in the majors. His standout year was 1986, when he posted a jaw-dropping 1.20 ERA and notched one of the lowest defensive isolated power percentages ever. Williams even came up with the “slurve,” a slow, side-arm curveball that really became his thing.

But Williams’ story isn’t just about numbers on a stat sheet. He grew up as an adopted child with Tseshaht First Nation heritage and wrestled with personal struggles after hanging up his cleats. His journey reminds us that pro athletes have stories that go way beyond the field.

Early Life and Background

Frank Lee Williams was born on February 13, 1958, in Seattle, Washington. His mother, sick with tuberculosis and already raising seven kids, couldn’t care for him and his twin brother Francis.

They both had Tseshaht First Nation roots through their biological father. After being placed for adoption, the twins bounced around foster homes in the Seattle area for years.

Eventually, a Boeing engineer in Kirkland, Washington gave them a home. That bit of stability changed everything.

Tseshaht First Nation Heritage

Frank and Francis carried Tseshaht First Nation heritage from their father’s side. The Tseshaht First Nation is based near Port Alberni on Vancouver Island in British Columbia.

For years, the twins didn’t even know about their Indigenous background. Williams once said, “We didn’t even know we were native. We had wavy hair and afros. We knew we weren’t white.”

He only found out about his aboriginal heritage in college, when a coach helped him apply for financial aid. Digging into his background led to relatives in a Seattle housing project.

That discovery reconnected him with extended family on Vancouver Island. Learning about his Tseshaht roots became a big part of his life after baseball.

Adoption and Foster Care Experiences

Hospital staff named the twins Frank and Francis when their mother gave them up at birth. She was sick and already had a full house.

For their first four years, the boys moved from one foster home to another in the Seattle area. Williams later remembered being so hungry he ate dog food just to get by.

Their luck changed when Dick McCullough, a Boeing aircraft engineer, took them in. McCullough, who had a withered right arm, really believed in sports as a way for kids to thrive.

He raised the twins in his comfortable Kirkland home. For once, they had support and a place to call their own.

Youth in Seattle and Early Exposure to Baseball

Growing up in Kirkland, Washington, a suburb that called itself “Baseball Town USA,” the twins got their start in baseball thanks to Dick McCullough. One Easter, they woke up to baseballs and gloves in their baskets.

Frank took the mound and became the star pitcher, while Francis caught for him on sandlot fields all over town. Baseball gave them a sense of identity and belonging.

As teenagers, Frank made a combined team representing Kirkland in the senior Babe Ruth League tournament. That group went on a tear, winning city, state, and regional titles, then the national championship at Sicks’ Stadium in Seattle in August 1975.

Before leaving home, the twins shook hands and made a promise: “whoever makes it looks after the other.”

Amateur Baseball Journey

Frank Williams started carving his path to the majors in the Pacific Northwest. He honed his skills in high school competition and continued at two colleges that helped shape his career.

He went from Lake Washington High School to community college and then to a four-year program. Each step laid the groundwork for his pro journey.

High School and Babe Ruth League Success

Williams attended Lake Washington High School in Kirkland, where he started to stand out as a promising baseball talent. The baseball diamond gave him a sense of purpose he couldn’t find anywhere else.

Coaches noticed his right-handed delivery and knack for hitting his spots. He kept getting better, and his high school years built the foundation for everything that followed.

He also played in the Babe Ruth League, which gave him more chances to compete and improve. Those extra games helped him get noticed by scouts and college coaches.

The mix of high school and amateur ball let Williams show off his skills. Before long, college programs started calling.

Education at Shoreline Community College

After high school, Williams headed to Shoreline Community College in Seattle. That move turned out to be huge for his growth, both on and off the field.

Shoreline Community College let Williams keep playing competitive baseball while he worked on his studies. For a lot of athletes, community college is a good place to get extra development and figure things out.

Williams kept sharpening his pitching skills at Shoreline. Facing older players and working with experienced coaches pushed him further.

He stayed eligible as an amateur, which kept his options open. This period was important for him, both as a student and as a ballplayer.

College Career at Lewis-Clark State College

Williams then transferred to Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho, to finish his college baseball career. That was a big leap forward.

Lewis-Clark State College had a solid baseball program at the NAIA level. The school had a reputation for sending guys to pro ball, which fit perfectly with Williams’ goals.

He kept working on his pitches and learned how to compete against tougher college players. The coaches there helped him find consistency and the right mindset for pro baseball.

Scouts took notice of his performance at Lewis-Clark State. The San Francisco Giants picked him in the 11th round of the 1979 amateur draft.

That moment confirmed all the work Williams put in on his baseball journey. His pro career was about to begin.

Professional Baseball Career

Frank Williams pitched for six seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1984 to 1989. He built a reputation as a middle reliever for three teams.

He finished with a 24-14 record, a 3.00 ERA, and 314 strikeouts in 333 games with the San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds, and Detroit Tigers.

Entry into Major League Baseball

The San Francisco Giants drafted Williams in the 11th round of the 1979 amateur draft. They scouted him while he pitched for Lewis-Clark State College.

Williams spent five years grinding in the minors, pitching for teams like Great Falls, Fresno, Shreveport, and Phoenix. He worked hard to earn his shot at the big leagues.

He relied on a sidearm delivery and a 93-mph fastball, which gave right-handed hitters a tough time. Williams also came up with the “slurve,” a slow, sidearm curveball that kept batters guessing.

On April 5, 1984, Williams made his MLB debut with the Giants at age 26. The team used him almost exclusively as a middle reliever—he started just one game in his whole career.

San Francisco Giants Years

Williams spent his first three seasons with the Giants, from 1984 to 1986. He made an immediate impact as a rookie and even threw a shutout in his only start that year.

His breakout came in 1986, when he posted an incredible 1.20 ERA. That season, he gave up just 34 singles and one double in 52.1 innings.

He set a defensive isolated power percentage of .006—a stat that measures extra bases allowed on hits. That’s the lowest number for any pitcher with 50 or more innings since 1957.

Williams’ sidearm delivery baffled right-handed hitters. His fastball broke in sharply, making solid contact tough.

The Giants mostly used him as a middle reliever. He picked up only eight saves in his career, showing his main job was to bridge innings, not finish games.

Cincinnati Reds Period

After the 1986 season, the Giants traded Williams to the Cincinnati Reds. He pitched for Cincinnati in 1987 and 1988.

The Reds kept him in the middle relief role he knew so well. Williams’ sidearm delivery and knack for handling righties made him a go-to situational pitcher.

He kept getting outs with his sidearm fastball and the slurve he’d perfected. The Reds were in the mix those years, but details about his specific stats are a bit hard to come by.

Detroit Tigers and Final Season

Williams joined the Detroit Tigers for his last season in 1989. He pitched until September 27, 1989, which turned out to be his final MLB appearance.

The Tigers used him the same way: middle relief. By then, Williams really knew how to use his delivery and get the most out of every outing.

He wrapped up his six-year career with consistent numbers. A 24-14 record and 3.00 ERA showed he was dependable every step of the way.

With 314 career strikeouts, Williams proved he could fool hitters, even if he wasn’t a classic power pitcher. His success came from an unusual arm angle and a strong sense of the strike zone.

He finished up in 1989 at age 31. Williams had become a trusted middle reliever for three teams.

Playing Style and Achievements

Frank Williams earned his reputation as a steady middle reliever with a unique pitching style. He invented the “slurve” and had a 1986 season that still stands out for its defensive stats.

Pitch Repertoire and Signature ‘Slurve’

Williams’ pitching style was pretty distinctive. He threw sidearm, and his fastball came in at a tricky angle for hitters.

But it was the “slurve”—his slow sidearm curveball—that really set him apart. That pitch became his signature and gave hitters fits.

The sidearm delivery made him tough to square up, especially for certain batters. Williams’ unusual approach helped him stay effective throughout his time in the majors.

He threw and batted right-handed. His style fit perfectly with the middle relief role, where he could come in, change the pace, and keep things under control.

Career Highlights and Notable Stats

Williams put up some strong numbers as a big leaguer. He finished with a 24-14 win-loss record and a solid 3.00 earned run average over 333 games.

His best year was 1986, with that incredible 1.20 ERA. In 52.1 innings, he allowed just 34 singles and one double.

That season, he posted a defensive isolated power percentage of .006—the lowest for any pitcher with 50 or more innings since 1957 (as of 2014).

He struck out 314 batters over his career. Williams only notched eight saves, which just shows how teams used him mainly for middle relief.

In his rookie year, he tossed a shutout in his only complete game start. After that, he worked almost entirely out of the bullpen.

Recognition as a Middle Reliever

Williams found his place as a middle reliever with three different teams. He pitched for the San Francisco Giants from 1984 to 1986, then moved to the Cincinnati Reds for 1987 and 1988, and finished up with the Detroit Tigers in 1989.

He jumped into games at all sorts of moments, handling whatever situation came his way. Williams showed up in 333 games over six seasons, which is honestly a lot for any reliever.

That middle relief role just seemed to fit him. With his funky sidearm delivery and a mix of pitches, he kept hitters guessing, especially in shorter outings.

Teammates and coaches respected how steady he stayed on the mound. Even as he bounced from team to team, Williams always seemed to deliver as a reliable bullpen guy.

His stats, especially from that wild 1986 season, really highlighted what a middle reliever could do. Williams showed you didn’t need to throw 100 mph to make a difference—sometimes, it was all about precision.

Challenges and Life After Retirement

Frank Williams ran into some brutal personal and financial troubles after he walked away from baseball in 1989. He battled depression and substance abuse, ending up on the streets of Vancouver Island for a while. Eventually, the baseball community reached out to him.

Personal Struggles and Setbacks

Everything changed for Williams after his wife crashed their car into a tree in 1989. He broke a bone in his neck and needed a lot of plastic surgery to fix his face. Just like that, his playing career ended.

The New York Yankees let him take a year to recover, but he never got back to his old self. Depression took over, and he left his wife and two kids behind. Williams drifted back to Vancouver Island, living on the streets with his twin brother Francis, who’d also gotten hurt in a bike accident.

Key struggles included:

• Severe depression after a career-ending injury
• Leaving his family behind
• Homelessness and substance abuse
• Losing financial security, even after earning $500,000 a year

Things got even worse when Francis died in an apartment fire. Williams blamed himself for not keeping the promise they’d made as kids to look out for each other. He spent his days in downtown flophouses, sometimes signing baseball cards for a few extra bucks at a memorabilia shop.

Return to Vancouver Island

During his darkest times, Williams started to reconnect with his Indigenous heritage. Back in college, his uncle George Watts had helped him find his Tseshaht First Nation family.

On Vancouver Island, Williams grabbed construction jobs when he could. He even tried to play again with an amateur team in Victoria, but that comeback didn’t work out. Adjusting to life without the routine and money of pro baseball turned out to be a huge challenge.

He bounced between temporary housing and the streets for years. Gone was the “high-class living, high-class everything” of his playing days. The difference between his peak and his struggles really showed how financially vulnerable athletes can be after retirement.

Even then, people said Williams kept his generous spirit and the easygoing nature he’d had as a player.

Support from Baseball Community

In 2000, a firefighter named Mark Perkins stepped in and made a real difference. Perkins, who’d also pitched for the same Idaho college as Williams, helped save him from a drug overdose. That moment turned things around for Williams.

Perkins reached out to Walt Burrows, who worked as the Canadian supervisor for Major League Baseball’s Scouting Bureau. Burrows made sure Williams got some financial help from a charity for former ballplayers. That support gave Williams some basics and a little stability in his final years.

The baseball community didn’t just help with money. Williams joined motivational speaking tours at schools in Nuu-chah-nulth territory, telling his story and meeting family he’d never known.

Support network included:

• Emergency medical help
• Financial support from an MLB charity
• Speaking gigs in Indigenous communities
• Reconnecting with extended family

Williams passed away on January 9, 2009, at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, B.C., when he was 50. His story still inspires a lot of Vancouver Island Nuu-chah-nulth youth, showing both the high points of pro sports and how much community support can matter when things get tough.

Legacy and Impact

Frank Williams left a story of resilience that continues to inspire Indigenous youth and baseball fans alike. His journey from the streets of Victoria back to his Tseshaht First Nation roots created lasting bonds between professional sports and Indigenous communities.

Influence on Indigenous and Local Communities

Williams became a symbol of hope for Tseshaht First Nation youth after he reconnected with his heritage in college. His uncle George Watts helped him discover his Canadian roots and family ties on Vancouver Island. That connection mattered even more once Williams returned as a baseball star.

During his career, Williams spoke at schools across Nuu-chah-nulth territory. He gave Indigenous youth a chance to meet someone from their own community who’d made it to the big leagues. His niece Jacqueline Watts said people in their community admired him and talked about him all the time.

“He was such an inspiration to everyone. Even though he was adopted out, here was this guy who went out and succeeded,” Watts said. Williams showed Indigenous youth they could reach the highest levels of professional sports.

Remembering Frank Williams

Frank Williams spent his last years in Victoria. You could often spot him downtown, where he became a familiar face.

After his baseball career ended, he faced some tough personal struggles. Still, he kept his generous spirit and stayed connected to his fans.

He liked to sign autographs at a local sports memorabilia shop. People really appreciated that.

Bob Soderlund, a close friend, called Williams “truly a good, generous person” who never took advantage of anyone. Even when he played in the majors, Williams made himself available to fans and always found time to sign autographs after games.

Frank Williams died on January 9, 2009, at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. He was only 50.

His story still means a lot to Indigenous communities. It reminds us of the real possibilities—and the big challenges—that Indigenous athletes face in professional sports.