I often wonder if we'll ever come across an era in Baseball more exciting and with more talented players than the late 60s and early 70s, a span of years where some of the greatest hitters and pitchers in Baseball history graced the field.
In terms of offensive superstars, Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Ernie Banks, Willie Mays, Frank Robinson, and countless other perennial All-Stars and future Hall of Famers were the faces of Baseball for many years.
In addition to talent, the players of this time period had consistency, leading them to the Hall of Fame whereas star players in subsequent decades were unable to replicate their success year after year.
Specifically, the 1972 MLB All-Star game featured 29 future Hall of Fame players and coaches, 13 from the American League and 16 from the National League. As intriguing as any era in Baseball history can be, I can't think of a single one that had as many superstars and Hall of Famers as the late 60s and early 70s, the time when Cubs outfielder Billy Williams was in his prime.
Williams was one of the 29 future Hall of Famers who played in the 1972 All-Star game. Despite being a career .290 hitter with well over 400 homers and 25 RBI shy of 1,500, Williams was unable to stand out at the level of fellow sluggers who he played alongside with, including his teammate Ernie Banks.
Unbelievably, it took the 1962 NL Rookie of the Year 6 years on the ballot before he was elected into Cooperstown with 85% of the votes.
I haven't yet tracked down any Billy Williams cards from 2018, but Topps has been generous with Williams' inclusion in their products this decade. Maybe not as many sets as Ryne Sandberg, but like I said, Williams wasn't always able to stand out.
At the moment, I have 56 cards of this Chicago Cubs legend, excluding his 1961 Topps Rookie card that's going towards building the 1961 Topps set. Without further adieu, I give you my 5 favorites.
#5 1998 Fleer Sports Illustrated Then & Now
For a brief time period, the Chicago Cubs' jerseys had the players' numbers on the front of the uniform directly under the city name. If you take a look at 1973 Topps Cubs cards, you'll see many original examples of these short-lived uniforms. Fleer's use of one of these images in their 1998 Sports Illustrated Then & Now set was a cool one, especially when combined with the brown/sepia color used throughout the card with the exception of the indigo coloring for Williams' name.
#4 1965 Topps
Being that 1965 Topps is one of my favorite Flagship sets ever made, it seemed like a given that this card would make my list. However, an abundance of cards to choose from, both vintage and modern, caused the card to come in a bit lower on the list than I would've originally thought. The use of the vintage Cubs logo on this card is near perfect next to the pennant along with the excellent choice of including red as the predominant color of the card.
#3 2004 Upper Deck Legends Timeless Teams
If it's a possibility, I typically try to include at least one card with a black and white image on every single top 5 cards post that I do. It's a nice contrast to the color images of all the other cards on the list, and the little bit of Cubs blue at the bottom of the card is another fantastic touch.
As if the black and white image wasn't a good enough reason for me to like the card, the timeless team being commemorated is the classic 1969 Cubs team, one of the most iconic teams in Baseball history that didn't go on to win the Fall Classic.
#2 1964 Topps
While the 1964 Topps set isn't exactly the most interesting set you'll ever lay your eyes on, the image of 6-time All-Star Billy Williams helps to bring an element of excitement to the card that it otherwise would've lacked. The Cubs uniform is another standout despite its simplicity.
All in all, the era in which Williams played in was a very simple time for Baseball cards so there won't be all shiny cards and numbered cards that we see today. Thus, the criteria for a "good" card in the 1960s is very different from what it is today. Now, this is an example of what would qualify as a fantastic card during that time.
#1 1962 Topps
The classic wood borders of the 1962 Topps set along with the old-school Topps All-Star rookie trophy are a winning combination for the greatest Billy Williams card in my collection out of 56 options. It's also a nice choice to include the classic Cubs home jersey though the blue pinstripes are slightly fainter and slimmer than they are today. Simply put, the card works and sometimes, that's just enough for the top spot on the list.
