Bump Wills

Bump Wills
Second baseman
Born: July 27, 1952
Washington, D.C.
Batted: Switch Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 7, 1977 for the Texas Rangers
Last MLB appearance
October 3, 1982 for the Chicago Cubs
Career statistics
Batting average .266
Hits 807
Stolen bases 196
Home runs 36
Teams

Elliott Taylor "Bump" Wills (born July 27, 1952 in Washington, D.C.) is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Texas Rangers (1977–81) and Chicago Cubs (1982). He also played two seasons in Japan for the Hankyu Braves (1983–84). He is the son of Maury Wills, the former Major League shortstop who later managed the Seattle Mariners.

His career batting average was .266.

Wills and teammate Toby Harrah hit back-to-back inside-the-park home runs on Saturday, August 27, 1977, only the second time this feat has ever occurred in a Major League Baseball game, and the only time it occurred on consecutive pitches. Harrah's HR came on a drive to the right-center field gap; on the play, Yankee outfielder Lou Piniella hit the wall and was injured. By the time another player was able to retrieve the ball, Harrah was being waved home. Wills' HR came on a drive to center field over the head of Mickey Rivers. Also in 1977, Wills controversially replaced Lenny Randle at second base, which led to Randle's punching Rangers manager Frank Lucchesi in the face.[1]

In 1978 Wills stole 52 bases, breaking Dave Nelson's single-season franchise record of 51 in 1972; the number remains a Ranger record for thefts in a season.

Wills retired at the end of the 1982 season and later played in Japan.

Personal life

Bump Wills grew up in Spokane, Washington and coached the Central Valley Bears. He regularly managed clinics for younger players in the area as well.

Bump now lives in Garland, Texas with his wife Deborah. He coaches for the Dallas Mustangs, a renown youth select baseball club.

See also

References

  1. ↑ The Official Site of The Texas Rangers: News: Swapping stories: The '77 Randle trade

External links