Remembering the '80s with Two-Time Team MVP Dallas Williams

INDIANAPOLIS - A well-rounded outfielder for five seasons with the Tribe (1982-83, 1985-87), Dallas Williams was a two-time Team MVP and played on three of Indy's five American Association Championship squads in the '80s. With over 40 years of professional baseball experience, Williams today passes his knowledge of the game to former and future big leaguers as a coach for Pericos de Puebla in the Mexican League.

"Where has the game of baseball taken you since your playing career ended after the 1988 season?"
I continued to stay in the game as a coach and instructor at various stops with the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians, and in the big leagues as a first base coach with the Colorado Rockies (2000-02) and Boston Red Sox (2003) for a year. I remained in the game after playing and tried to get my service in as needed.
The game of baseball has evolved over the years. "What is the biggest change in your mind from when you played and the current state of baseball?"
Theoretically the game hasn't changed, but the style of players features a lot more of the power game. You don't see the running game like you did 30 years ago, and a lot of managers don't emphasize the importance of stealing bases and manufacturing runs that way. They rely on the two-run doubles and three-run homers today more than anything. I played for guys like Joe Sparks in Indianapolis. Those guys gave us the liberty to try to create runs by stealing bases. The freedom to run the bases was a lot more prevalent back then than it is now.
Describe your style of play to our younger fans who didn't get the chance to see you play at Bush Stadium.
I was a gritty player, not a lot of power, but I played with a lot of desire and passion. The negative part of my game was that I thought I should never make a mistake. I played hard and played the outfield, tried to catch everything hit to me, and tried to make every play. I think I was a pretty good teammate, as well.
In 1981, Williams played in the longest game in professional baseball history, a 33-inning game with Rochester at Pawtucket that spanned a total of three days. He finished 0-for-13 in 15 total plate appearances. "Did you think that game would ever end?"
Never. That was the worst day of my baseball life. A lot of people still talk about that game, and I always mention that if you check the stats, I struck out zero times and hit the ball extremely hard that day (Rochester struck out a baseball record 34 times as a team). It was one of those days where they didn't fall in, it just happened to be 13 times. I never thought that I'd make the Hall of Fame like that, but I guess I did. It was a game that I'll obviously never forget, a record that will probably never be broken. When I go to Cooperstown and take my grandkids, they'll see my name in the box score.
Williams hit second for Rochester in the 33-inning game against Pawtucket, one spot ahead of future Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. Williams saw firsthand that Ripken Jr. was going to be one of the best to ever play the game.
"He was destined for greatness. His dad was a hell of a baseball player, coach and later manager for the Orioles. As an 18-year-old when I saw him in the instructional league, he exemplified the gritty, powerful player that he later became. He didn't have speed but had some unbelievable range as you could tell by him playing shortstop as a 6-foot-5 guy. He was a great student of the game and played as hard as anyone I've ever played with. He hated to fail, so he made himself the great player that he was by continuing to grind. He was a good guy to be around with after the game and talk baseball with him, eating a big 'ol bag of popcorn. It was a pleasure being around him.
Williams played for three American Association Championship teams in Indianapolis - 1982, 1986 and 1987. "Which of those three teams were the toughest to beat?"
They were all great teams. That 1982 team with Gary Redus, Nick Esasky, Tom Foley and Tom Lawless, we were loaded. Between 1986 and 1987, '86 was probably the magical season that I enjoyed most because of the way we won it in Game 7, with Billy Moore getting that walk-off base hit. Every championship team I've played on, dating back to high school, you had a certain quality from the team that everybody stuck together, worked together, stayed together off the field and cared for each other. That '86 team epitomizes the word 'champion' because we were champions on and off the field. Razor Shines, a dear friend of mine, was a great leader himself. Guys like him helped us gel as a team and kept us together when times weren't as great as they should've been.
Williams became and remains one of just three players in franchise history to win multiple Team MVP awards, doing so in 1983 and 1987. "Which season was the better of the two in your opinion?"
Statistically, '87 was my best year but '83 was an all-around year for me. I was with the Cincinnati organization at that point, and my game was different because I played center field and stole more bases in '83. I was just trying to set up my teammates to drive me in. In '87, I had a stronger offensive year and had some guys behind me like Shines and Billy Moore that pitchers respected. As a result, I got better pitches to hit and coincidentally won a batting title because of the guys that were batting behind me. 1983 was my best year as far as my overall game, but '87 was the better year offensively.
Despite Williams' success in the minors, he didn't receive much of an opportunity in the majors, only playing in a total of 20 games. But he handled the adversity in stride.
"I think I was one of those guys that got caught up in the numbers game. I remember when I first got to Indianapolis in 1982, just traded over from Baltimore. At one point I was hitting .370-something, and Duane Walker, who was an outfielder with the Indians at that time, got called up over me. He was hitting in the mid-.200s. I think I should've had more opportunities, but they just never came. I have no regrets, I'm happy for the guys who made it and were successful - I just continued to do what I could to be the best player that I could be.
Williams played in over 300 games at Bush Stadium. "What made that ballpark so special?"
The nostalgia of it all, just knowing the Negro Leagues played there and all the history of the great players who went through that stadium, from the old Reds players to the current players who just finished up in the big leagues. Bush Stadium was a great place to play in a great location, and obviously the front office with Max Schumacher, Cal Burleson, Howard Kellman - I have a lot of affection for them. Victory Field is a beautiful place, but I don't know if it'll ever replace the nostalgia and the history of Bush Stadium.
Williams lives in Indianapolis during the offseason. "What about Indianapolis made you want to make it your permanent home?"
Well I met my wonderful wife, Teal, at the ballpark (Bush Stadium) actually. We've been married for 34 years and will celebrate our 35th anniversary on October 15 this year. I didn't want to bring my kids up in New York City, so Indianapolis was the prime place for us to raise a family, and we were successful raising two wonderful kids, Dallas III (33) and Dior (30). Dallas III played one season in the White Sox organization with Bristol, and Dior became a great basketball player at Occidental College in Los Angeles.
"What is one thing or message you say to your players that you wish you could've told yourself when you played 30-35 years ago?"
You should play each game, have each at-bat and make each play like it might be the last play you'll make in your life. That means you'll do it the best, come out and be able to accept failure. Three times out of 10 you're going to be successful, but those other seven, you get out offensively. You're going to have good days and bad days, but the good ones, the good players are the ones who can maintain their composure and competitive spirit - that no-give-up attitude when the chips are down. Regardless of the day you're having, think about the opportunity that you're given to play. Put yourself in millions of other kids' positions who want to be where you are playing professional baseball. Appreciate every moment that you're on the field like it's your last moment.