RetroSimba

(Updated March 5, 2023)

When Walt “No Neck” Williams played in the Cardinals’ system, he was hailed as the best hitter in the minor leagues and was said to have the potential to be the next Minnie Minoso.

Though he impressed the Cardinals, he never played for them at the major-league level.

The Cardinals were stocked with premier outfielders such as Lou Brock and Curt Flood, with prospects such as Bobby Tolan waiting in reserve. When the Cardinals acquired Roger Maris from the Yankees in December 1966, Williams was deemed expendable.

On Dec. 14, 1966, the Cardinals traded Williams and reliever Don Dennis to the White Sox for catcher Johnny Romano and minor-league pitcher Leland White.

Rushed to majors

At 19, Williams signed with the Houston Colt .45s, got sent to the Class A level of the minor leagues and batted .341 in 1963.

At spring training in 1964, Williams, 20, impressed the Colt .45s _ he nailed three runners at home with his outfield throws _ and opened the regular season in the major leagues.

Williams told The Sporting News it was during this time someone in the front office gave him the nickname of “No Neck.”

At 5 feet 6 and 190 pounds, Williams was described by one writer as “built along the lines of a fireplug,” creating a perception his head was touching his shoulders.

Williams, hitless in nine at-bats for the Colt .45s, was placed on waivers in May 1964 and claimed by the Cardinals, who assigned him to Class A Winnipeg.

Coached by Cardinals

Williams batted .318 at Winnipeg, went to the Florida Instructional League after the season, got guidance from manager George Kissell and hit .320 for the instructional league team.

In 1965, Williams was moved up a level to Class AA Tulsa and hit safely in his first 18 games. Williams finished the 1965 season with a .330 batting average, 36 stolen bases and 106 runs scored.

In 1966, Tulsa joined the Class AAA Pacific Coast League and Williams, playing left field, had another stellar season there. He led the league in batting average, hitting .330 for the second consecutive season, and produced 54 doubles and 25 steals with 107 runs scored.

Asked about the 1966 team in a 1981 interview with the Tulsa World, Williams said, “That year was one of the high moments of my career. The thing I remember about that 1966 team was that we had six or seven guys hitting over .300 but nobody was envious of the other. It was just a fun season.”

Change in plans

Cardinals general manager Bob Howsam and manager Red Schoendienst considered promoting Williams to St. Louis during the 1966 season, The Sporting News reported, but opted to have him stay at Tulsa, knowing he was unlikely to get many at-bats on a Cardinals club featuring outfielders Brock, Flood and Mike Shannon.

Based on his minor-league success, Williams was rated likely to win a spot with the 1967 Cardinals until the club acquired Maris on Dec. 8, 1966. The Cardinals planned to move Shannon to third base and start Maris in an outfield with Brock and Flood.

A week later, Williams was dealt to the White Sox.

“Williams should be a crowd pleaser,” Howsam said. “When you take a look at our outfield picture, you can see why we could afford to deal him.”

Hit man

The White Sox expected Williams to contend for the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 1967. “We picked up the best hitter in the minor leagues,” said White Sox general manager Ed Short.

Comparisons were made to Minoso, an all-star outfielder who six times batted better than .300 for the White Sox in a career that led to election to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

“White Sox officials believe they may just have another Minnie Minoso in No Neck Williams,” The Sporting News declared.

Les Moss, manager of the White Sox’s Class AAA Indianapolis team, had seen Williams play for Tulsa and said, “He’s the nearest thing to Minnie in his hustle, desire and aggressiveness that I’ve seen around anywhere. He’s no power hitter, but he can whack that ball. He’s an excellent leadoff man.”

Said Tulsa manager Charlie Metro: “The White Sox got themselves a fine-looking prospect. He not only was the best hitter in the league, but he’s a pretty fair outfielder … He overcomes mistakes with his speed.”

No fooling around

Williams hit .358 in spring training for the 1967 White Sox and was named Opening Day starting left fielder by White Sox manager Eddie Stanky.

“He’s really an aggressive hitter,” Stanky said. “He doesn’t fool around up there at the plate. He attacks the ball. He’s one of the few players who can tie into a high pitch and whack it for a line drive.”

Williams, 23, hit .240 as a White Sox rookie. He went on to play 10 years in the majors for the Colt .45s, White Sox, Indians and Yankees, batting .270 overall. His best season was in 1969 when he hit .304 for the White Sox and ranked third among American League right fielders in assists.

Looking back at his time in the majors, Williams told the Tulsa World, “I felt they never gave me a chance to relax to see me really play at my best.”

Neither of the players acquired by the Cardinals for Williams contributed much. Romano, a backup to catcher Tim McCarver, hit .121 in 24 games for the 1967 Cardinals and was released after the season. White, a left-hander, never appeared in a big-league game for St. Louis.

With Brock, Flood and Maris in the outfield and Shannon at third base, the 1967 Cardinals won the National League pennant and World Series championship.