The Main Event
April 7, 1991 – The Phillies traded pitchers Chuck McElroy and Bob Scanlan to the Chicago Cubs for closer Mitch Williams, who would save 102 games for the team from 1991–1993, including 43 during the 1993 pennant season.
Mitch Williams built a reputation as one of baseball’s most unpredictable and entertaining closers, earning the nickname “Wild Thing” for his high-velocity fastball and equally high walk totals. Drafted by the San Diego Padres in the eights round of the 1982 Draft, Williams wound up with Texas in a roundabout way. The Rangers selected Williams in the 1985 Rule 5 Draft, but returned him to the Padres on April 6, 1986. On that same day, the two teams worked a deal to send Williams back to Texas for infielder Randy Asadoor. Three days later, Williams made his MLB debut with a shutout inning against Toronto, and yes, he did walk a batter.
Williams was traded to the Chicago Cubs following the 1988 season. It was with the Cubs that he began to gain national attention, serving as their closer during the 1989 postseason run. He saved 36 games that season and helped Chicago reach the National League Championship Series, though his tendency to allow baserunners kept fans on edge. He also was selected for the All-Star Game that summer, the only time in his career that he would be chosen.
Philadelphia Years and “Wild Thing” Mania
Williams arrived in Philadelphia in April 1991 in a trade that sent Chuck McElroy and Bob Scanlan to Chicago. Almost immediately, he became one of the most talked-about players on the team. His personality, intensity, and unpredictable outings made him a fan favorite at Veterans Stadium. When he took the mound, the atmosphere shifted. Every pitch felt like it could end the game or extend the chaos.
One of the more amusing clubhouse stories from his arrival involves John Kruk. At the time, Kruk wore uniform number 99, but Williams also preferred that number. According to Kruk, Williams essentially bought the number from him, paying a case of beer and a case of TastyKakes to obtain the number. It was a lighthearted moment that reflected the loose, personality-driven culture of those Phillies teams in the early 1990s, but was important to Williams because he had bought his wife very expensive jewelry with “99” on it.
Kruk told the story on Late Night With David Letterman and said: “It’s actually a sad story because the beer and the TastyKakes are gone, and Mitch got divorced.”
Williams saved 30 games in 1991 and followed that with 29 in 1992. His peak came in 1993 when he recorded 43 saves and helped lead the Phillies to a surprising National League pennant. That team was known for its grit and chemistry, and Williams was right at the center of it. He finished games with dramatic flair, often working himself into trouble before escaping. Fans embraced the ride.
The 1993 World Series, however, brought the most defining moment of his career. In Game 6 against the Toronto Blue Jays, Williams entered with a 6-5 lead in the ninth inning. After allowing two baserunners, he faced Joe Carter, who hit a walk-off three-run home run to end the series. It remains one of the most famous moments in baseball history. Williams was devastated, but to his credit, he faced the media and took responsibility, which only deepened the respect many had for him in Philadelphia.
Later Career Stops
After the 1993 season, Williams was traded to the Houston Astros, where he continued to serve as a closer. He later pitched for the California Angels and made seven relief appearances, albeit with a 10.80 ERA, with the Royals in 1997, his final major league season. Across his career, he accumulated 192 saves and struck out 660 batters and walked 544 in 691 innings.
Despite his success, Williams never completely shook his control issues and his outings often included a mix of dominance and chaos. That unpredictability became part of his identity and, in many ways, part of his appeal.
Memorable Moments and Personality
Williams’ time in Philadelphia also intersected with one of the more humorous visuals involving Curt Schilling. During games, particularly tense ones, Schilling would sometimes sit in the dugout with a towel draped over his head while Williams pitched, unable to watch the drama unfold. It became a running joke that even his teammates struggled to handle the stress of his outings.
Off the field, Williams was known for being candid and approachable. He never tried to hide from the spotlight, even when things went wrong. That authenticity helped him maintain strong relationships with fans and media alike. In a city like Philadelphia, where effort and honesty are valued, that went a long way.
Legacy
Mitch Williams’ career is remembered as much for its emotional swings as for its accomplishments. He was a key figure on a pennant-winning team, one of the most recognizable closers of his era, and a player who brought energy every time he took the mound. While the 1993 World Series ending is often the first thing people recall, it does not define his entire career.
In Philadelphia, he remains a symbol of that scrappy, unforgettable 1993 team. His story is one of resilience, intensity, and embracing the highs and lows that come with playing the game on the edge.
Philadelphia Baseball Events for April 7
- April 7, 1948 – The Philadelphia Phillies traded outfielder Ralph LaPointe and $30,000 to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for first baseman Dick Sisler, who would later deliver the pennant-winning home run in 1950.
- April 7, 1969 – The Phillies sent shortstop Bobby Wine to the Montreal Expos as a replacement for pitcher Larry Jackson, who had been selected in the expansion draft but chose to retire rather than report.
- April 7, 1978 – A trapeze artist delivered the ceremonial first pitch while hanging from a bar beneath a hovering helicopter at Veterans Stadium; the Phillies went on to lose to the Cardinals, 5-1.
- April 7, 1980 – The Phillies signed free agent outfielder Roger Freed, but he never did play in the majors with the team.
- April 7, 1983 – The Phillies traded pitcher Ray Borucki to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for infielder Eddie Miller, who did not appear in a major league game for Philadelphia.
- April 7, 1986 – Steve Carlton made his 14th Opening Day start for the Phillies, setting a National League record, but took the loss in a 7-4 defeat to the Cincinnati Reds.
- April 7, 1991 – The Phillies signed veteran pitcher Dave LaPoint as a free agent; he would make just two starts with a 16.20 ERA before being released on April 23.
- April 7, 1995 – Major League Baseball spring training camps officially opened to players following the end of the players’ strike that had canceled the 1994 World Series.
- April 7, 1995 – The Phillies signed catcher Lenny Webster as a free agent; he later appeared in 49 games for the team that season.
- April 7, 1998 – The Phillie Phanatic delivered the ceremonial first pitch by sliding down a wire from the upper deck to the field at Veterans Stadium.
- April 7, 2010 – The Phillies claimed pitcher Nelson Figueroa off waivers from the New York Mets; he made one start and 12 relief appearances with a 3.46 ERA that season before being placed on waivers in July.
- April 7, 2017 – Vince Velasquez started the home opener against the Washington Nationals, striking out 10 batters in four innings; the Phillies struck out 17 total but lost 7-6.
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Philadelphia Baseball Birthdays for April 7
- Bobby Del Greco (born 1933) – Outfielder who played Phillies in 1960 and 1961 and then returned to play eight games with the 1965 Phillies.
- Danny Sandoval (born 1979) – Infielder in the Phillies minor league system who played in 3 games with the 2005 Phillies and 28 with the 2006 Phillies.
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