Ted Wills

Theodore Carl "Ted" Wills is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox from 1959-1965. Statistically, he has been compared to Frank Biscan.

Biography

Wills was born on February 9, 1934 in Fresno, California. He attended Fresno State University. Wills batted left-handed and threw left-handed, and he was 6'2" and 200 pounds.

Professional career

The Red Sox signed Wills in 1955 as a free agent. After a few years in the minors, he made his big league debut on May 24, 1959. Throughout his career, Wills was used mostly as a reliever, appearing in 83 total games and starting 13. He was more successful as a reliever, too-he compiled a 6-4 career record as a reliever, with 5 saves and a 5.17 ERA. Overall, he went 8-11 with a 5.46 ERA with perhaps his best season being his last-in 1965, he appeared in 15 games and had an ERA of 2.84. At the plate, Wills was a solid batter-in 44 career at-bats, he hit .250 with three career doubles. Fielding wasn't his best asset-he had a .911 career fielding percentage, committing four career errors. Wills played his final game on June 12, 1965.

Transactions

• On May 8, 1962, the Reds purchased Wills from the Red Sox.
• Before the 1965 season, the Reds sent Wills to the White Sox in an unknown transaction.

Other information

• Wills wore multiple numbers in his career:
  • 28 in 1959
  • 25 in 1960-1962
  • 39 in 1962 (while with the Reds)
  • 26 in 1965
• Wills did not play Major League Baseball in 1963 or 1964.
• Wills earned $7,500 in 1965.
• Wills currently resides in Clovis, California.

Sources

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference