Ed Willett

Ed Willett, described as “big and powerful” by a sportswriter, was born in Norfolk, Virginia but was raised in Caldwell.  Nicknamed “Farmer,” he made his professional debut with the Wichita Jobbers in 1905. That season, he was 10-5 with a 2.69 ERA.  

Despite a 12-17 record the next season, his contract was purchased by the Detroit Tigers for $1000 in August and he made his major league debut in September.

By 1908, Willett was in the Tigers rotation, winning 15 games.  The following season was Willett’s best in the majors, as he was 21-10 with a 2.34 ERA.  In 1910 he was 16-11.  The Tigers won the American League pennant in each of those years but fell short in the World Series.

After the 1913 season, Willett jumped to the newly established Federal League, pitching two seasons for Mordecai Brown’s St. Louis Terriers.  His final major league season was 1915. His overall win-loss mark was 102-100, with 145 complete games and an ERA of 3.08.  Willett was also regarded as a good hitter.

Following several minor league seasons after his major league career, Willett turned to managing.  He lived in Wellington in his later years and was managing an amateur team there in 1934 when he had a heart attack and died at the age of 50.

Willett is buried in the Caldwell cemetery.

For more, read Ed Willett’s Society for American Baseball Research bio.