Ralph Willis

Ralph B. Willis

• Born Unknown in Chillicothe, OH USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Ralph Willis was a minor league player whose professional career ran from 1904 to 1916, winning over 150 games. He was born in Chillicothe, OH.

Willis began with the Marion Oilworkers/Peoria Distillers in 1904. In 1905, he played for the Fort Wayne Railroaders/Canton Red Stockings and the Springfield Babes (going a combined 10-14), then returned to Canton with the Canton Chinamen in 1906. He posted a 27-8 record, leading the Central League in wins (4 ahead of Sam Van Anda). His 11 shutouts and 427 innings pitched were both the highest marks in the history of the CL. He moved to the Pacific Coast League with the San Francisco Seals in 1907 (12-16, 3.29, batting .207) and remained with San Francisco through 1909. He went 19-18 his second year there, placing 9th in the 1908 PCL in victories. He also tied Cack Henley for 6th in losses. He had a 21-9, 2.09 record in 1909, tying Spider Baum for 8th in victories and making the top 10 in ERA. In 1910, he played for both the Oakland Oaks and the Seals, falling to 13-18.

He spent 1911 with the Spokane Indians, going 23-11; he led the Northwestern League in wins, one ahead of George Engel. He returned to Spokane in 1912 and also played for the Vancouver Beavers that year. His composite record was 13-9. In addition to his professional playing career, Willis coached the baseball team at Gonzaga University in 1913. He continued in professional baseball with the Quincy Gems in 1913, posting a 20-9, 3.29 record. He tied Jesse Barnes and Joe Kaiser for 6th in the Three-I League in wins. He was 18-15 with a 2.93 ERA for the Omaha Rourkes in 1914, tying for sixth in the Western League in victories with Frosty Thomas, Dan Tipple and Kirby White. His 46 games pitched trailed only Carl Sterzer while he was 3rd with 307 IP (after Sterzer and Prince Gaskell). He went 7-8 with a 3.18 ERA for the Davenport Blue Sox in 1915, and 6-4 with a 2.59 ERA for the Bloomington Bloomers in 1916.