William Henry Davis April 15, 1940, Mineral Springs, Arkansas – March 9, 2010, Burbank, California) was a center fielder in Major League Baseball who played most of his career for the Los Angeles Dodgers. At the end of his career he ranked seventh in major league history in putouts and total chances in the outfield, and third in games in center field.
LOS ANGELES — Willie Davis, a speedy center fielder who collected two World Series rings, three Gold Gloves and was a two-time All-Star during his 14 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, has died. He was 69.
“He was beloved by generations of Dodger fans and remains one of the most talented players ever to wear the Dodger uniform. Having spent time with him over the past six years, I know how proud he was to have been a Dodger. He will surely be missed and our sincere thoughts are with his children during this difficult time,” Dodgers owner Frank McCourt said in a statement.
Davis was found dead Tuesday in his Burbank home, police said, adding that they did not believe foul play was involved.
Davis left the Dodgers in 1973 and went on to play for the Montreal Expos, Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres and California Angels. The Angels were playing the Washington Senators, as bad of a team as there was in baseball. The Angels weren’t very good either, but they liked to brag about their “star” shortstop, Jim Fregosi.
Davis could be a circus in the outfield — even I remember his errors in that 1966 World Series game, and I was only 6 — but he was among the most exciting players in baseball. If anything, he hustled a little too much, tried a little too hard.
