Charlie Williams, 1947-2015

[G-Fafif]

Charlie Williams, native of Flushing, phenom at Great Neck South and a winner of 5 games on Gil Hodges's final staff, passed away Tuesday, January 27, at the age of 67. The righty swingman pitched only that one season, 1971, for the Mets before finding himself traded, with cash, to San Francisco for an outfielder named Willie Mays.

Charlie, who underwent heart surgery prior to the new year, had been suffering from Parkinson's and other ailments. One of his buddies down in Florida, where he lived in retirement, said he wore his place in baseball history as a badge of honor.

R.I.P. Charlie.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20150128/SPORTS/150129440?p=1&tc=pg

[Edgy MD]

These are deadly times.

Charlie had a strong, cleft chin, like a proto-Neil Allen. Played for the Mankato Mets in 1968, one of their but two years of existence, under future Mets manager Joe Frazier. Had a strong season for them.

The trade was ironic, in that it was formulated to right an historical wrong, but it ended up sending away the only Met born in Flushing. (To that date, anyhow � Flushingite Ed Glynn would follow later.)

[G-Fafif]

Mike Jorgensen want to HS at very nearby Francis Lewis, though was born in Passaic. Jorgy and Charlie perhaps talked over games at the Seville Diner on Northern Blvd.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I've logged this in the UMDB so Charlie is, sadly, now officially dead. I still need to fill in the place of death. I infer from the article that it was somewhere in Florida, but I'll have to circle back and check subsequent obituaries to make sure I get the right city.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Being traded for Willie Mays is nothing to be ashamed about!

[Zvon]

Too young.
RIP Mr. Williams.
[fimg=300:1ikpyx3h]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-IYND42cEkOM/UxrXnO9-dCI/AAAAAAAANZ4/5bj7AS9A-Cs/s576/72opcWILLIAMS-z14.png[/fimg:1ikpyx3h]

[G-Fafif]

Some thoughts on players who go from being known for what they're doing to being known for who they're traded for, here.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

G-Fafif wrote: Some thoughts on players who go from being known for what they're doing to being known for who they're traded for, here.

Awesome!