Position: shortstop, second base, third base Bats: left Throws: right

Willie was born in Orangeburg, SC on May 25, 1925, the youngest of the seven Williams' children. His father passed away when he was only six months old. The family remained in Orangeburg, where Willie attended school. He played football in high school as his interest in the game of baseball began to blossom. By the time he graduated high school he had position on the local Orangeburg Tigers baseball team roster. The Tigers would challenge the Negro League teams that barnstormed through town. This is how the Newark Eagles discovered him. He joined the Eagles in the spring of 1945 and remained with them for four years in Newark and two years in Houston. The 1946 team won the Negro National League Title. In 1950 he was selected to play in the annual East-West All-Star game in Cominsky Park. He played quite well and was scouted by the Chicago White Sox Organization.

He recalls batting against some of the greatest pitchers the game ever had - Satchel Paige and Don Newcomb, both were very tough to hit. "Curley" took his game to the professional Triple A level with the Chicago White Sox Organization in '51 before returning to the Eagles whose home in '52 was New Orleans. In 1953 Williams was heading north for a chance to play in the Canadian Leagues. He played for the Carmen Cardinals of the Mandak League. In the winter months he played in Cuba and Puerto Rico. One of his most memorable moments in baseball took place during his winter ball play - Willie hit a total of seven home-runs in six consecutive games. By playing year-round, Willie was able to provide well for his family.

His final season within the Negro Leagues was spent with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1954. In 1955 he played third base for the Lloydminster Meridians of the Western Canada Baseball League. For nine years "Curly" contributed big for the Meridians. In 1961, Cliff Pemberton, the Meridians playing-manager, started the season but in late June fractured his hand and was sidelined. He decided to return to the field as an umpire and turned over the Meridians managerial position to veteran Curly Williams. Williams remained active there until he retired from baseball in 1963.

Willie worked twenty-seven years for the Sarasota Coroners office before he retired in 1990.

"Curly's" tips to better play:

"Identify your weaknesses and work at them extra hard!" Anticipate - "Remember each batter's tendencies and position yourself for the probable action." And last but not least, "prepare plays for each and every situation in advance so that any ball hit will have a pre-planned course of action."