Larry McWilliams

Who is Larry McWilliams?

Larry Dean McWilliams, is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1978-1990. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 1st round of the 1974 amateur draft. He is married to Vicki McWilliams and they have six children and nine grandchildren.

McWilliams was the winning pitcher when the Atlanta Braves stopped Pete Rose's 44-game hitting streak in 1978, his rookie season. McWilliams made what was probably the key play to stop the streak when Rose, in his second at-bat of the game, lined a pitch up the middle that McWilliams dove and caught.

McWilliams' best seasons were 1978, his rookie season, when he went 9-3, and 1983, when he posted a 15-8 record with 8 complete games, 4 shutouts, and a 3.25 ERA with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

On September 2, 1989, McWilliams was traded from the Phillies to the Royals for catcher Jeff Hulse.