Williams recounts walk-off shot in ‘71 opener

This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian’s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

ARLINGTON -- Billy Williams sat at a table on the back patio at the Cubs’ Spring Training complex on a recent morning. The Hall of Famer cracked a smile when asked about Opening Day in 1971, and then leaned forward in his chair as he began to weave a tale.

“I knew it was gonna be a short game,” Williams said. “Because after Fergie pitched, I had something planned for after the game.”

The 85-year-old Cubs legend recounted that day in a fashion that made it clear he has fine-tuned this story over the decades and enjoys telling it. It was bitter cold that day and Cubs workhorse Fergie Jenkins and Cardinals great Bob Gibson were locked in a vintage fast-paced duel at Wrigley Field.

Something had to give after Jenkins and Gibson -- familiar foes during their respective Hall of Fame careers -- each worked nine innings and entered the 10th with the score knotted, 1-1. After Jenkins handled St. Louis’ lineup in the top half, Gibson induced a groundout off the bat of Glenn Beckert to begin the bottom of the 10th.

Up stepped Williams, who faced Gibson more than any other pitcher in his career.

In fact, the 45 hits that the Cubs outfielder amassed off the Cardinals righty-hander marked his most against any one pitcher. Williams had more homers (10), RBIs (31) and walks (24) off Gibson than any pitcher, and those were Gibson’s highest totals surrendered to any one batter. Williams singled in his first battle with Gibson in ‘61 and did so again in their last meeting in ‘74.

“Although I hit 10 home runs off him, I don't know how I did it,” Williams said with a laugh. “He was a great pitcher. But he threw me a slide piece on the inside part of the plate. And, of course, that time of year the wind is blowing in.”

The first-pitch temperature for Opening Day on April 6, 1971, was listed at 40 degrees. There was a 17-mph wind making the conditions even less favorable. Williams quipped that he was not able to go fishing that morning due to the weather. The outfield did, however, catch that breaking ball and he sent it rocketing to the bleachers in right-center field.

“I hit the ball,” Williams said, “and I kept hollering down the first-base line, ‘Get up! Get up! Get up!’”

The ball stayed up, soared out and Williams clapped his hands as he trotted around the bases. His Cubs teammates were waiting for him at home plate.

“Anytime you hit a walk-off home run, it's fun,” said Williams, who had five game-winning blasts in his career. “But when you do that on Opening Day, the fans have something to look forward to. It was a great day for Fergie, for myself and for the fans in Chicago.”

Williams said he still looks forward to Opening Day and is looking forward to seeing Cubs lefty Justin Steele take the ball on Thursday against the World Series-champion Rangers. The Hall of Famer, who hails from Whistler, Ala., also appreciates that Mississippi-born Steele is from his neck of the woods.

“Well, he's close to Alabama, so that water runs from Alabama over there to Mississippi,” Williams said with a grin. “He did a tremendous job last year. He was up for the Cy Young. He threw the ball real good. He's got a good breaking ball and he's not afraid to pitch in. For a pitcher to win baseball games, they can't be afraid to do that.

“You have a pretty good idea of what he wants to do on the mound. And I see him winning more games this year, because he's seen the league a little bit more now and he just knows how to pitch.”