Brian Williams strove for best over nine majors seasons

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Brian Williams 1991 Auburn Astros baseball card

Into his second season in the majors, Brian Williams described the experience to his hometown Rock Hill Herald.

He also described his efforts to remain himself, both on and off the mound.

"I want to be liked and I take care of how I project myself," Williams told The Herald. "The way I see myself, I'm a nice person who likes to joke around and is always smiling. I'm a perfectionist, always striving for the best, but life has been good to me and I'm just happy for all the things I've experienced."

By that point, his third season as a pro, Williams had already experienced the majors over two campaigns.  He went on to see the majors over nine, with six clubs.

Williams' career began in 1990, taken by the Astros late in the first round of the draft out of the University of South Carolina.

Williams started with the Astros at short-season Auburn. He started three games, giving up three earned in 6.2 innings.

For 1991, he started at high-A Osceola, then hit AA Jackson and AAA Tucson. That September, he made it all the way to Houston.

"It's something you can't explain," Williams told The Charlotte Observer that offseason. "It's something you have to go through to realize how amazing it was."

Williams got two starts that September. He then got 16 more in 1992. He went 7-6, with a 3.92 ERA.

He saw 42 outings, five starts with the Astros in 1993, then 20 outings, 13 starts in 1994. Williams moved to the Padres for 1995, then the Tigers for 1996. He went 3-10 both seasons.

Williams picked up his first win to four defeats in a June game as he threw a complete game, The Associated Press wrote.

"It's an awesome feeling," Williams told The AP afterward. "I was so happy just to get a win, then to pitch a complete game and shutout, too."

Williams then played 1997 with the Orioles, and then 1998 in Japan with Daiei. He returned stateside with the Astros in 1999, playing in 50 games in relief.

His final major league time came in 2000, with the Cubs and Indians. He finished out his career at AAA in 2001 and at independent Atlantic City in 2002 and 2003.

Brian Williams 1991 Auburn Astros baseball card


1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:4,540
Made the Majors:1,435-31.6%-X
Never Made Majors:3,105-68.4%
5+ Seasons in the Majors:582
10+ Seasons in the Minors:359

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