2003 Hall of Fame Inductee

VICTOR G. "VIC" WILLIS

(1876-1947)
Baseball (1897, 1902)
Head Baseball Coach (1907-08)
Inducted 2003

The University of Delaware's lone member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., Vic Willis played one season of baseball with the Blue Hens and later served as head coach. He was the captain of the 1897 University of Delaware baseball team and later returned to serve as head coach in 1907, leading the team to a then-record eight wins, and part of the 1908 campaign. The Cecil County, Md. native gained fame as a standout major league pitcher, hurling for the Boston Beaneaters, Pittsburgh Pirates, and St. Louis Cardinals in 1898-1910, compiling 249 career wins, 50 shutouts, a 2.63 ERA, and 388 complete games. The righthander won 20 or more games eight times and set a league record with 45 complete games in 1902. Known as one of the top pitchers of his time, Vic was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 1977. In addition, a local youth baseball league in Delaware is named in his honor. He passed away in 1947.