3/31Cubs to honor Billy Williams
The Cubs will honor Hall of Famer Billy Williams with a statue of the left fielder, to be unveiled Sept. 7 outside Wrigley Field. New owner Tom Ricketts told Williams and his wife Shirley on Tuesday night at a team function. The location is yet to be determined, but it may be temporary. One of the plans connected to the so-called Triangle building to be constructed along Clark Street includes a pedestrian walkway. Williams’ statue could be located close to left field with Banks’ statue remaining near Clark and Addison streets.
“”It’s a great tribute,” Williams said Wednesday.
The statue will be engraved with Williams’ nickname, “Sweet Swinging.”
“It’s a great tribute and his legacy will live on forever,” Lou Piniella said. “A statue of Billy on one side and Ernie on the other, it doesn’t get any better than that. It’s well deserved and a well thought gesture by the Ricketts family.”
It’s nice to see that one of the first moves by the Ricketts is to honor the past.
“They said they were fans,” Piniella said. “This is a gesture in that direction.”
– Carrie Muskat
mlblogsmuskat1
Uh-oh…
Close to left field??? Can we get them to put it IN left field? The defense would improve. (o.k. who didn’t see THAT coming?)
This is a great and deserved honor for Williams. Looking forward to the celebration!
I’m sure that Santo will also follow soon.. maybe in time for an unveiling during the 100th anniversary of Wrigley? or as part of the completion of the Triangle Building and the Cubs Hall of Fame. Let’s finish the Clark Street addition and then “Bronze Ron” in a permanent location.
Oh and how bout a Gabby Hartnett statue? Frank Chance?
I’m just waiting for the Santophiles to check in.
But hey — why not a statue of the Babe, somewhere, pointing toward center field? I’m serious. Sure, it’ll tick off Charlie Root’s offspring, but talk about iconic Wrigley Field images . . .