In his first major league start, the game got away from him and he was pulled after two innings.  In his second start, he pitched a much better complete game, but lost.  Six months later, twenty-year old pitching prospect August Williams was dead.

Augustine Henry Williams was the third child of six born to Alfred and Eliza (McGrath) Williams on August 10, 1870.  Alfred was a stove dealer; Eliza was busy tending to their Manhattan home.  After learning the game on the sandlots of New York City, Williams appears to have started professionally with Waterbury (not Bridgeport) as he appears in the box scores at pitcher and centerfield with that club in the Waterbury Democrat.  (Example: “Waterbury vs. Derby,” Waterbury Democrat, May 11, 1888: 1.)

The following spring, Williams earned a tryout with Jersey City in the Eastern Association, earning immediate praise.  On May 8, 1889, Williams beat New Haven for the Jersey City club, 21 – 3.  He allowed three unearned runs on five hits, fanned nine and walked three,  He even made a fine play in the field.  With the bat, he fanned three times, got a double, and scored a run.

Later on, he beat the Metropolitans in an exhibition game on July 8, 1889, but faired less successfully against the Athletics.  Williams allowed back to back homers to Ed Larkin and Harry Stovey as the Athletics toyed with Jersey City in a 23-10 romp.  And, as a small piece of trivia, he was the winning pitcher (in relief) in the first professional baseball game played on a Sunday in Jersey City.

That said, the Atlantic Association team was disbanded as July approached August.  Waterbury was in second place about two games out of first place at the time of departure.  (Easton also disbanded – but they had done that a while back and were in last place at the time.)

Some people find opportunities in failure – August Williams was one of those people.  In 1890, the Players League opened for business and opportunities abounded with the National League and American Association teams that lost talent to the new league.  Williams auditioned for a position with the Brooklyn Gladiators in the American Association – and got the job.

“August Williams, pitcher, is the youngest member of the team.  He was born in New York City and is only 19 years of age.  He is a lusty lad, 5 feet 11 inches in height and weighs 170 pounds.  His first professional engagement was in Bridgeport, Conn., in 1888, where he pitched great ball.  Last season he played with the Jersey Citys and built up an enviable reputation.  So far this season he has pitched with great credit to himself, having a good delivery and throwing a ball hard to hit.  He will be heard from in the not far distant future.”

“The American Association Team,” Brooklyn Eagle, April 20, 1890: 17.

Williams got the start in Brooklyn’s second game on April 18, 1890 against Syracuse, but gave up six runs in the second inning and was removed when the inning was over.  Brooklyn won in a see-saw match, 22 – 21.  Williams got an at bat in the second inning and got a hit.  At one point in the second inning, his catcher (Herman Pitz) came out to try to settle the kid pitcher down; instead he was sat down.  It was also really cold that day – the barehands of fielders were less happy receiving batted balls and heavy throws.

In his second start, Williams went the distance in a 7 – 2 loss to Rochester – but that would be the end of his time with the Gladiators, at least on the field.  Sadly, six months later he would draw his last breath on October 14, 1890 at his home on West 152nd Street in New York.  His earthly remains are buried at Calvary Cemetery in Woodside, New York.

Notes:

Baseball-Reference.com

1870, 1880 US Census Records

“New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962”, FamilySearch.com, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HQT1-TK6Z : 21 January 2020), Augustin Henry Williams, accessed October 14, 2024.

(Props to Ron Jones, an Ancestry.com user who had done some legwork on Williams in his family tree.  He has helped SABR fix name and birthdate information in their records.)

“He Knows How to Pitch,” Jersey City News, May 8, 1889: 3.
“The Pets and the Mets,” Jersey City News, July 9, 1889: 3.
“The Ball Was Hit Hard,” Jersey City News, July 23, 1889: 3.
“Blithe Out Door Sport,” Jersey City News, June 10, 1889: 3.
“How the Clubs Rank,” Jersey City News, July 30, 1889: 3.
“Rank of the Clubs,” Jersey City News, August 3, 1889: 3.
“First Victory,” Brooklyn Eagle, April 19, 1890: 1.
“Died,” New York World, October 15, 1890: 1.