Ken Williams (baseball player)

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Kenneth Roy Williams (June 28, 1890 Grants Pass, Oregon - January 22, 1959 Grants Pass, Oregon) was an American outfielder who played Major League Baseball for 14 seasons, 1915-1916, 1918-1929. His best season came in 1922 with the St. Louis Browns, when he led the American League with 39 home runs and 155 RBIs. More significantly, he became the first player in history to have 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in the same season. This would not be achieved again until Willie Mays did it in 1956 with the New York Giants. He was also one of only two players to break Babe Ruth 's twelve-year string leading the AL in homers (the other being Bob Meusel).

Williams batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Although not becoming a regular starter until almost 30 years old, he finished his career with a .319 batting average, 1,552 hits, 196 home runs and 913 RBIs. He led the American League in home runs with 39 and RBIs with 155 in 1922. As baseball evolved out of the dead ball era, Williams proved himself one of baseball's great early sluggers as he finished in the top 4 of the American League in home runs for 7 consecutive seasons (1921-1927).

[edit] External link

• Baseball-Reference.com - career statistics and analysis

Preceded by Babe Ruth	American League Home Run Champion 1922	Succeeded by Babe Ruth
Preceded by Babe Ruth	American League RBI Champion 1922	Succeeded by Babe Ruth