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He was the “Big Hurt” before the “Big Hurt”. And Hank Aaron called him the toughest NHL right-hander he’s ever faced.
Former Major League pitcher and pitcher coach Stan Williams passed away on Saturday morning at the age of 84 in his home in Laughlin, Nevada. Williams had been hospitalized on February 11 and in palliative care due to the effects of cardio-pulmonary disease.
Williams, who earned the nickname “Big Hurt” by intimidating hitters with fastballs inside that were known to hit the occasional hitter, was a right-hander who pitched the Majors from 1958 to 1972. The Temple slugger of fame Frank Thomas would later receive the nickname, although the pain he inflicted was in baseball.
Williams made his MLB debut in the Dodgers’ inaugural season in Los Angeles following their move from Brooklyn, and he quickly became a fixture in a rotation that also included Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, and Johnny Podres.
Still primarily a reliever in 1959, Williams helped the Dodgers win their first World Series in Los Angeles by beating the White Sox in six games. His best season as a Dodger came in 60, when he posted a 3.00 ERA in 207 1/3 innings and was named an NL All-Star.
The Dodgers traded Williams to the Yankees for Bill “Moose” Skowron after the 62 campaign. Williams spent two seasons in New York City before pitching for the Indians from 1965 to 1969. Cleveland traded him to the Twins before Season 70, and Williams went on to post a 1.99 ERA in 68 relief appearances. His stint with Minnesota was short-lived, however, as the Twins traded him in Season 71 to the Cardinals. He pitched three games for the Red Sox in 1972, his last season as a player.
Williams ended his playing career with a 109-94 record and a 3.48 ERA. He would go on to become a pitcher’s coach, scout and counselor at several clubs, and was the Reds’ pitcher’s coach when Cincinnati won the 1990 World Series against highly-favored athletics. He has also been a pitching coach for the Red Sox and Yankees.
Williams is survived by daughter Shawn, son Stan Jr., brother Jim, three grandchildren and several great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
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