Chicago Cubs: All-Time best lefties out of the bullpen

Chicago Cubs: Mitch Williams – 1989 to 1990

Mitch Williams spent just two years in Chicago, but there might not have been a better character than ‘Wild Thing.’ He came in 1989 for the Texas Rangers and might have had his best season. 1993 was close, but for the sake of Williams, I’m not going to speak of the other former Cub Joe Carter. If you don’t know? See here. That said, Williams was an excellent fit for the ‘Boys of Zimmer, as they became to be known under manager Don Zimmer.

If you watched the video, you know how he got the nickname ‘Wild Thing.’ His delivery would take him off the mound to the third-base side. He was actually hit in the head while playing in Chicago, but somehow, I couldn’t find the video of that. But while in Chicago, especially in ’89, he was something special.

Williams saved 36 games that season but blew 11 of them. Even then, he was an All-Star, finished ninth in the Cy Young and 10th in the MVP. Sadly, Williams was out of the league by 32. And in case you’re curious? Charlie Sheen was Wild Thing first in the movie ‘Major League.’ And Sheen wasn’t happy about Williams adopting the nickname, and eventually his number 99.