Joe Williams was one of the greatest baseball pitchers during his time. He never made it big but everyone knew his name when he was on the field.

Williams was born in 1886 in Seguin, Texas. He discovered his love for baseball as a young boy. He began his career playing in small leagues in and around the San Antonio area before being discovered by Rube Foster, during a game Foster’s Leland Giants had in the region. Williams stood around the same height as Paige, standing about six-foot-four, weighed about 220 pounds in his prime, and had an absolutely crazy fastball.

At the request of Foster, Williams joined his team in 1910 and became a well-known name for the for the New York Lincoln Giants. It was there where he was given the nickname “Cyclone” due to the power in his right arm. After playing with the Giants Williams moved on to play with the Homestead Grays in 1925.

At the age of 44 in 1930, Williams fanned 27 Kansas City Monarchs, and then went on to defeat Paige in another dazzling display in a later game. Williams retired from the game in 1932.

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Negro League featured piece by Kyle McNary – Smokey Joe Williams