Dan Williams

Daniel Lawrence "Dan" Williams (born on September 3, 1966 in San Gabriel, California) is a former professional baseball player and the current bullpen catcher for the Cleveland Indians. He has been a player or coach in the Indians system since 1988. Williams bats and throws right-handed.cite web
url = http://pressbox.mlb.com/pressbox/downloads/y2007/cle/coaches.pdf
title = Cleveland Indians: Media Guide 2007
accessdate = 2007-04-25
publisher = Major League Baseball
pages = [http://pressbox.mlb.com/pressbox/downloads/y2007/cle/coaches.pdf#page=9 p. 43] ]

High School Years

Williams attended Corvallis High School in Corvallis, Oregon, and was a letterman and a standout in football and baseball.

College career

Williams attended Ranger Junior College (1985–1986) and Western Oregon University (1987–1988). While at Western Oregon, he was named National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) All-District 2 honorable mention in both 1987 and 1988. [cite web
url = http://www.wouwolves.com/record_book/bsb/Accolades.pdf
title = Accolades
accessdate = 2007-04-25
publisher = Western Oregon University] He led the Wolves in hits, doubles and RBI both years and tied for the team lead in home runs in 1987. [cite web
url = http://www.wouwolves.com/record_book/bsb/Year-by-Year%20Stat%20Leaders.pdf
title = Wolves Baseball Year-by-year Statistical Leaders
accessdate = 2007-04-25
publisher = Western Oregon University]

Professional career

Williams was drafted by the Indians in the 37th round of the 1988 draft and assigned to the Burlington Indians of the short-season Appalachian League. In addition to catching, he also played first base and in the outfield for Burlington. He is best known as the losing pitcher in relief in Burlington's 27-inning marathon 3-2 loss to Bluefield on June 24-25, 1988. He spent the 1989 season with the Watertown Indians of the short-season Class A New York-Penn League. His last full season as a minor league player came in 1990 when he was with the Kinston Indians of the advanced Class A Carolina League. He concluded his playing career in 1991, appearing in just 6 games for Kinston before signing on as a full-time coach.

Coaching career

Williams coached at Kinston in 1991, Burlington in 1992 and for the Columbus RedStixx of the South Atlantic League in 1993. He was called up to Cleveland in 1993 to become their bullpen catcher following Don Chiti's promotion to pitching coach for the Indians. He returned to Columbus as third base coach in 1994 and then was named to the Cleveland coaching staff during spring training of 1995. His duties with the Indians include catching starting and relief pitchers in the bullpen, throwing batting practice and hitting fungoes.

Personal life

Williams resides in Cleveland, Ohio with his wife, Christine, and their three children.

References