|
85%, 2nd Ballot, Class of 1997
Rochester(1978~1981), Poplar Bluff(1982), Bay City(1992~1992), Duluth(1993)
Bryan Williams was the textbook definition of a shutdown closer over his distinguished Heartland Baseball League career. He began his career with the HBL during the league’s inaugural season as a 23-year-old reliever with the Rochester Reapers. The right-handed Williams was immediately installed as the club’s closer and saved 30 games over 55 appearances, the third highest save total in the league. Williams remained the closer for Rochester during the first four years of the HBL, culminating in a league-leading save total of 43 in 1981. It was an HBL record that would last for over a decade and propelled Williams to his first Reliever of the Year award.
Williams decided to pursue free agency rather than re-up with Rochester and found a taker with the Poplar Bluff Predators. However, Williams’ stay in Poplar Bluff lasted only a couple months as he was soon dealt to Bay City in May of 1982 for three players. It was later called one of the most lopsided trades in league history, as none of the three players acquired made any significant impact for Poplar Bluff.
On the other hand, Bay City made out well, armed with an established, reliable closer for the next decade. Williams continued to pile up saves, passing the 200 mark in 1984 and then the 300 mark in early 1988. He finished among the top five among HBL closers in saves for 13 straight seasons and was named to 11 All-Star teams along the way. By 1991 Williams was beginning to wind down his career, yet was a contributing member of Bay City’s only Heartland Series Championship.
Williams left Bay City has a free agent after the 1992 season and moved to Duluth for a partial season before being released in June, essentially ending his career at age 38. He retired with 386 career saves, which was 100 more than the next closest pitcher at the time, fellow Hall of famer Bakhtitar Davis. Williams saved 30 or more six times and appeared in 824 games (currently 7th all-time), posting an 8.7 strikeout to walk ratio (17th) and a 1.31 WHIP and 3.47 ERA. His .249 opponent’s batting average allowed is 13th among all HBL pitchers.
Williams first appeared on the HBL Hall of Fame ballot in 1996 but received just 23% of the voting with 75% needed. However, the following year, Williams received 11 of 13 votes, fulfilling the requirement for enshrinement as the second closer in the HBL Hall of Fame. Call it the ultimate closing act for a pitcher who made a great career out of closing out wins for his team over the course of a 17 year career.
Career Highlight
Williams retired as the career leader in saves for both the Lake Monsters and the Reapers.
Fun Fact
Footnote to the Poplar Bluff/Bay City trade: One of the players received by the Predators was a reliever named Erik Phillips. However, Poplar Bluff quickly gave up on Phillips and released him. Phillips was signed to a minor league free agent contract by Jefferson City, where he has become a reliable closer himself, posting 236 saves so far.
|
