Chicago Cubs Legend Billy Williams Smashes Four Doubles on this Day in 1969

The Chicago Cubs have had their fair share of great players come through the organization. Ron Santo and Ernie Banks are just two of them. In fact, those two players both have their jersey numbers retired by Chicago. However, there was one other player that took the field alongside Santo and Banks that also has his jersey number retired. That player is Billy Williams.

Williams played 16 seasons for the Cubs. He made his professional debut in 1959 at just 21 years old. He did not officially exceed rookie limits until 1961, though. In that year, Williams hit .278 with 25 home runs and 86 RBI. With that stat line, he earned himself the Rookie of the Year honors. Williams would go on to become a six-time All-Star and finish runner-up in the MVP race twice. In 1987, the Cubs legend was officially inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Williams made Major League Baseball history on this day in 1969 when he took the field against the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field. Williams was slotted third in the lineup, just before Santo and Banks. In the game, Wiliams was perfect at the dish going 4-4 with one run scored and two RBI. Those four hits were all doubles, and that is where history was made. The Major League Baseball record for doubles in a game is four, and Williams was able to tie that record during the game. It is a record that may never be broken and Williams may have been able to do it if he had gotten a fifth at-bat. Nonetheless, on a day Cubs' pitcher Bill Hands threw a complete game, it was their left fielder that stole the show.

As for this year, the Cubs have had a slow, but expected start to the season. Friday marked the beginning of a rather unique, but tough stretch of games. Hopefully the team finds a way to string together some wins, but do not expect anybody to break the Doubles record.