t was during his five years as a member of the Chicago White Sox that Lefty Williams gained the reputation of being a control pitcher as well as one of the toughest lefthanders in all of baseball. From 1916-1920, Lefty averaged 101 strikeouts, 16 wins and had a 3.09 earned run average.

Considered quiet and moody throughout his career, Claude Preston Williams was born to William and Mary Williams on March 9,1893 in Aurora,Missouri. Claude spent his youth growing up in the south and became close friends with another southener on the White Sox, Joe Jackson.

Claude made his Major League debut on September 17,1913 as the starting pitcher for the Detroir Tigers in the second game of a doubleheader. Williams opposed Joe Boehling of the Washington Senators at old Griffith Stadium. The Tigers won the game 4-2 to complete a sweep of the doubleheader. The young Detroit lefthander would end the season with a 1-3 record however, and the Tigers would finish the season 66-87, 30 games behind the Philadelphia A's.

As was the custom of the time, ballplayers would commonly refer to each other by colorful nicknames. Inevitably lefthanders would be given the nickname "Lefty," which is likely how Claude got his nickname.

In his only major league appearance in 1914, Lefty pitched one inning for the Tigers and gave up 3 hits, 5 runs, walked 2 and suffered a loss. One of Lefty's teammates on that 1914 Detriot team was future Black Sox teammate, Fred McMullin.

It was also in 1914 that Lefty tried out for the Mobil Gulls of the Southern Association. In two appearances, Claude was 0-2 as he pitched 8 innings, gave up 7 hits, 7 walks, 5 runs and struck out 2.

The following season Lefty played for the Salt Lake City Bees of the Pacific Coast League. Lefty was leading the league with 33 wins, 294 strikeouts and 419 innings pitched when he was purchased by the Chicago White Sox in mid-August.

Lefty's stint with the White Sox would be briefly interrupted during the 1918 season when he was called into military service. With a record of 6-4 in mid-June, Lefty went to work in the shipyards and missed the remainder of the 1918 baseball season.

Sixty-five days after being found not guilty in the Black Sox trial, Lefty purchased a pool hall and cigar store from his former roommate, Joe Jackson. The property, which was sold on October 6, 1921, was located at 1202 E. 55th Street in Chicago and cost Lefty the sum of one dollar.

Lefty played Semi-pro ball throughout the country in the 1920's. His stops included Minnesota, Arizona and New Mexico. Sadly, Lefty began drinking heavily during this period. On a number of occasions, his teammates were forced to track him down by canvassing the nearby bars. It was also reported that when Lefty did pitch, he would drink in between innings and by late in the game, he was one of the most intimidating pitchers around.

In 1937 Lefty moved to California and operated a nursery business until his death on November 4,1959.