Pegasus Interviews Baseball Hall of Famer Billy Williams

by Justin Smith

The legendary second baseman fields our questions.

Photo by Laura Seewoester

Billy Williams, ex second baseman for the Cubs. Williams was a 6 time All-Star baseman in his 15 year career with the Cubs.

I got the chance to speak with Billy Williams, the famed second baseman who spent most of his time with the Chicago Cubs, at the “Baseball As America” exhibit preview at the Museum of Nature and Science.

Pegasus News: Mr. Williams, you will have to forgive me if I seem a bit nervous, but you are the first Rookie of the Year I have ever met.

Billy Williams: Yeah, I won that back in 1969 though.

PN: But still, it’s quite an achievement. I was wondering though, after you won that award, did you feel there was any stigma or extra expectation placed on you? Was there any extra pressure?

BW: There is always a mental adjustment you have to make coming from the minor leagues to the major leagues. So I felt I had made that adjustment already. But of course there is always the sophomore curse. And it did take me a couple of seasons to adjust. Just like the adjustment I made when I came up to the majors.

PN: Being a second baseman, I am sure that you have followed Craig Biggio’s career, who is going to retire in a couple of days. Do you feel he has done enough to warrant being inducted into the Hall of Fame?

BW: Oh he's a lock. The guy hit over 3000 hits and played in multiple positions with the same organization for twenty years.