Willie Royster
Willie Arthur Royster (April 11, 1954 – November 23, 2015) was an American professional baseball player. The catcher spent eleven seasons in minor league baseball, with a brief, four-game Major League trial for the 1981 Baltimore Orioles. He threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall and weighed 180 pounds (82 kg).
| Willie Royster | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Catcher | |
| Born: April 11, 1954 Clarksville, Virginia | |
| Died: November 23, 2015 (aged 61) Ocean View, New Jersey | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 3, 1981, for the Baltimore Orioles | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 2, 1981, for the Baltimore Orioles | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Games played | 4 |
| At bats | 4 |
| Hits | 0 |
| Teams | |
Royster was chosen by the Orioles in the 22nd round of the 1972 Major League Baseball Draft. He played in the minors from 1972 to 1976 and 1978–1981 — missing the entire 1977 season — until a breakout season with the 1981 Charlotte O's of the Double-A Southern League saw him hit 31 home runs and drive in 88 runs batted in, both career highs.[1] Baltimore recalled him after the September 1 roster expansion.
In Royster's four MLB games played, he appeared as a late-inning defensive replacement and pinch hitter. In his four big-league at bats, he struck out twice and grounded out twice.[2]
He returned to the minors in 1982, and his pro career ended after the 1983 season. He played all but 66 of his 961 minor-league games in the Orioles' organization. Willie died at his home in the Ocean View section of Dennis Township, New Jersey on November 23, 2015 at the age of 61.[3]
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Pura Pelota (VPBL stats)