Billy Williams Chicago Cubs Baseball Autographed Brace 8x10 Color Photo JSA COA

Description: You are bidding on an autographed original George Brace 8x10 Photo signed by baseball star Billy Williams, .... JSA COA..........Note that items with COAs come with individual COAs, sticker usually on back of item. I do not accept "Best Offer". Prices are reduced every 30 days until the item sells. Thanks for understanding this policy! POSTAGE: $5 first item; 50 cents ea additional lot Billy Leo Williams (born June 15, 1938) is a former left fielder and coach in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played from 1959 to 1976, almost entirely for the Chicago Cubs. A six-time All-Star, Williams was named the 1961 National League (NL) Rookie of the Year after hitting 25 home runs with 86 runs batted in (RBI). A model of consistent production, he went on to provide the Cubs with at least 20 home runs and 80 RBI every year through 1973, batting over .300, hitting 30 home runs and scoring 100 runs five times each. Along with Ernie Banks and Ron Santo, Williams was one of the central figures in improving the Cubs' fortunes in the late 1960s after the club had spent 20 years in the bottom half of the league standings. His 853 RBI and 2,799 total bases in the 1960s were the most by any left-handed hitter in the major leagues.In 1970, Williams was the runner-up in voting for the NL Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) after leading the major leagues with 137 runs, 205 hits and 373 total bases, also hitting 42 home runs with 129 RBI, all career highs; excepting his run total, each remains the team record for left-handed hitters. In 1972, he was again the runner-up in MVP voting after winning the NL batting title with a .333 average, adding 37 home runs and 122 RBI while leading the major leagues in total bases and slugging percentage; in both years, he lost the award to Johnny Bench of the Cincinnati Reds. Williams played 1,117 consecutive games between September 1963 and September 1970, holding the NL record from 1969 to 1983. He was traded to the Oakland Athletics after the 1974 season, becoming a designated hitter in the American League (AL), and contributed 23 home runs and 81 RBI to finally reach the postseason as the team won their fifth consecutive division title.When he retired, Williams' 426 career home runs and 4,599 total bases each ranked eighth in major league history among left-handed hitters; his 302 home runs as a left fielder trailed only Ralph Kiner in NL history. His 392 home runs, 2,510 hits, 1,353 RBI and 4,262 total bases with the Cubs are all team records for left-handed hitters, as were his 402 doubles until Mark Grace passed him in 1999. He led NL left fielders in assists and double plays four times each, and in putouts and fielding percentage three times each; at the end of his career, he ranked fifth in NL history in games in left field (1,737), and fourth in fielding percentage (.974), sixth in putouts (2,811) and total chances (3,005), and ninth in assists (116) in the NL after 1900. He later became a coach with the Cubs for nearly two decades. Williams was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987,[1] and was selected as a member of the Cubs All-Century Team in 1999. The longest-running operation of all the great early photographers, George Burke and George Brace covered baseball in one form or another for the better part of the 20th century—from 1929 to the 1990s. Their tenure had an auspicious beginning, to say the least. In 1929, Cubs manager Joe McCarthy and catcher Gabby Hartnett sought out the ballclub’s previous photographer. They could only remember his last name, Burke, so they looked him up in the phone book. A listing leapt out at them: studio photographer George C. Burke, whose office was located near Wrigley Field. Thus began the baseball photography career of George Burke, who had no prior sports experience, and thus ended the career of photographer Francis Burke—the Cubs’ time-honored official cameraman and an unwitting victim of mistaken identity.George Burke hired a young, baseball-knowledgeable assistant named George Brace, and the two soon became a Chicago institution. Ever-present at Wrigley Field and Comiskey Park, Burke and Brace endeavored to amass a complete portfolio of player portraits—a daunting task made possible by the fact that Chicago was the only city with both an American League and a National League franchise from 1929 all the way until Brace’s retirement in 1993. Nary a visiting ballplayer refused a quick sitting during Chicago home stands. Some even stopped by Burke and Brace’s studio for additional, more formal portraits. The tandem was also well-known for endearingly candid pre-game and off-the-field shots—proof positive that both photographers were always welcomed by their famed subjects, embraced by them as friends at the stadium, at parties, in hotels, and on the street. The Sporting News, Baseball Digest and Who’s Who in the Major Leagues were just a few of the publications in which Burke and Brace’s work frequently appeared. In 1948, Burke suffered a heart attack. Brace carried on the business for several years in order to offset his partner’s medical expenses. Then, upon Burke’s death in 1951, Brace reduced his commitment from a job to an all-encompassing hobby. Though no longer their official photographer, he was still allowed full access by the Cubs and Sox organizations. It was a privilege he would maintain up until his death, a half-century later. With the exception of time spent as a U.S. Army medic in the South Pacific during World War II, Brace attended at least one game of every home series at Wrigley Field and Comiskey Park throughout his entire 65-year career. For many of those years, he worked late shifts or odd jobs that paid his expenses and wouldn’t conflict with the game schedule. He always liked to arrive at the ballpark several hours early, when players were just arriving and fans were nowhere to be seen. In 1994, his age finally caught up with him. Worsening eyesight forced his retirement from this long-time labor of love. Brace followed baseball up until the end and also co-authored a book, The Game That Was: The George Brace Photo Collection. I...... Shipping and Packaging details: I ship everything with cardboard backing. Additionally, I slip all autographed photos inside sturdy photo-protective sleeves. Payment details: Typically, I ship paypal payments right away. PAYPAL is recommended. International shipping will be higher as all international orders go through the Global Shipping program. How I obtained my autographs, and why I promise a FULL MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE: As a kid, from roughly the years 1965 to 1973, and later from 1974-the present, I have amassed an enormous collection of autographed sports and celebrity memorabilia. In most cases, using Jack Smalling's baseball address lists and other assorted address lists, I wrote to both active and retired baseball players, sending them letters, requests for signatures, and self-addressed-stamped envelopes. This is how I obtained thousands of autographs. I also obtained many autographs in person at area parks and hotels.In the 1980's and 1990's, I travelled the country doing shows (20 National Conventions) and would buy quantities of autographs through player signings. I have every reason to believe that all of the autographs I'm selling are absolutely authentic. I stand by every item I sell. Upon purchasing an item from me through eBay, you may return that item, in the condition in which I shipped it to you, within 14 days of receipt of that item if you are not satisfied with the item. I am selling each item "as is", per the guarantee I've promised above. All the old time autograph dealers know me and the professional authenticators will vouch for my reputation as well. I do this on a part time basis, so sometimes emails take a day. I have worked hard for my feedback rating. The last thing I want to do is damage my credibility, so if you have legitimate concerns about any item you win from me on eBay, I'll make every effort to remedy the situation to your satisfaction. PLEASE NOTE: Most items come with certificates of authenticity from outside companies (JSA and PSA predominantly; they are the best). I have spent lots of money with third party authenticators and have had very few come back without passing. Sincerely, Joe Binder , Downers Grove, Illinois

Price: 36.99 USD

Location: Downers Grove, Illinois

End Time: 2025-01-01T08:00:01.000Z

Shipping Cost: 5.5 USD