Willie Royster

Willie Royster
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
	Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
	Baltimore Orioles (1981);

Willie Arthur Royster (April 11, 1954 – November 23, 2015) was an American former 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).

Royster was chosen by the Orioles in the 22nd round of the 1972 Major League Baseball Draft. He played in the minors from 1972–1976 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 home in Ocean View, New Jersey on November 23, 2015 at the age of 61.^[3]

References

External links

Career statistics from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Pura Pelota (VPBL stats)

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[1] Minor league record from Baseball Reference

[2] Retrosheet

[3] Willie Royster-obituary

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