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Carl Willey
Ultimate Mets Database popularity ranking: 312 of 1252 players
Carlton Francis Willey
Born: June 6, 1931 at Cherryfield, Maine
Died: July 21, 2009 at Ellsworth, Maine Obituary
Throws: Right Bats: Right
Height: 6.00 Weight: 175

First Mets game: April 11, 1963
Last Mets game: September 25, 1965

Share your memories of Carl Willey HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY: David Mo The only pre-Seaver Met to finish in top-15 in ERA (1963), with 4 shutouts and a .391 PCT to team’s .315 (.302 without him). And he hit a Grand Slam too! Alas, Tigers’ Gates Brown hit a liner of Willey’s jaw in March ’64 and he was never the same. JoeT March 10, 2001 Carlton (Carl) Willey was one of the better players on the early Mets teams. Winning 9 games with the '63 Mets was actually some accomplishment. He definitely had good stuff. Coach HoJo 20 June 15, 2001 Pitched in the first ever meeting between the Mets and the Yankees....... and yes we did win the encounter! rich edwards March 14, 2002 I remember Willey having a fantastic spring training in 1964, when Gates Brown hit a line drive that broke his jaw. Bob Murphy made it sound like he was dead. Unfortunately he never showed the same form again. Carlton Fan April 19, 2003 I am a close and personal friend of Carlton. He is doing well, and living a good life. My wife and I visit him every few weeks, and always have a wonderful time. He is one of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet, and his stories are a pleasure to listen to. I feel safe is saying that he appreciates your comments and thoughts, and all the fan mail he receives. Harry Kalish February 21, 2004 Yes, Carl did hit a grand slam...at the Polo Grounds...in the first game of a twi-nighter. It barely made it into the first row of the stands and was maybe a foot or two to the fair side of the foul pole. That happened 40 years ago...and I still have that ball. Shaynna Moore April 13, 2004 I grew up down the road from where Carlton lived in Cherryfield. I also used to go to his house. Long time ago! He is a down to earth kind of man! Very nice guy! Ken K. May 18, 2005 I remember going to Carl Willey's first game back after being hit with the line drive. I think it was in late June, it was the first game of a twi-night doubleheader, and I was allowed to go because school was out. As I recall, he pitched pretty well that night, maybe 5 innings and maybe 1 run, but alas, he was never the same after the injury. Glad to read here that he's doing well. jamey bumbalo November 17, 2005 Carl still lives in Cherryfield, Maine. A year or so ago, the Bangor Daily News, the leading newspaper in most of Maine, did a cover story on Carl, who came across as a decent and humble man. He said that barely a day goes by that he doesn't receive autograph requests and fan mail. He was proud of being a teammate of Henry Aaron and Warren Spahn back when he played on the Braves. johnh April 15, 2007 I remember when he was trying to make a comeback in 1965 and pitched a great game against the Phillies. He was the senior man on the field with the kids then of Hunt, Kranepool, Collins, Harrelson and Goosen. I thought he was a class act and glad he is doing okay. James Van Der Wall May 10, 2007 Carlton Willey was one of my favorite Mets. After his jaw was broken, Bob Murphy used to give updates about his condition. He would mention that his jaw was wired and he was eating applesauce. To this day my family refers to him as "Applesauce" Willey. Peter July 21, 2007 I loved Carlton's double windup. I used to imitate it in my living room all the time. Still do. Mets fan in Maine September 24, 2007 A few days ago the Bangor (Maine) Daily News ran a story on Carlton's ex-wife (they were "high school sweethearts" but divorced "recently," noted the article). She got their house in Cherryfield, Maine, apparently, which has a railing made of bats, one of which was Stan Musial's, and autographed baseballs, including ones from Eddie Mathews and Red Schoendienst. She also has one of Henry Aaron's Milwaukee Braves jerseys and said the Willey children played with Aaron's kids. She said that Fidel Castro was a fan of Carlton's and "wanted to know why [the Braves] didn't pitch Willey in the third game of the [1958] series." She did mention the grand slam and said that their son got the ball. Finally, describing when Carlton's jaw was broken by a line drive, she said, "[T]hat just ruined his career." Hope Carlton's OK after this late-in-life divorce. E. Smith February 7, 2010 I arrived early to a day game at the Polo Grounds. I was watching the Mets warm up from the first row of the left field seats just past the ground level seats. Carl Willey and Tom Sturdivant were tossing a baseball against the wall right below where I was sitting. I leaned over to ask them for autographs. Carl Willey graciously signed a piece of scrap paper I handed him, but Sturdivant refused. He was quite abrupt at stating his refusal. MetsfaninMaine May 16, 2010 When Carl Willey passed away last year, the major newspaper for northern Maine, the Bangor Daily News, had a good story about him. It described his post-MLB career; Willey worked as a probation officer, at his family's hardware store, as a scout for the Phillies, at a blueberry plant, and with his son painting houses. The best part was that the story quoted numerous people, including his ex-wife, as saying what a humble, down to earth, and nice man Carlton Willey was. Ed Gormanly December 6, 2010 Carl's aunt (Mrs.Campbell) was my 5th grade teacher. She taught us so many different studies, but she also taught us her love of baseball and her pride in Carl. When he joined the Mets it was very special to us who had been taught by her. Sacred Heart School was so lucky to have her, as the Mets were in having Carl. Tullio Nieman May 8, 2017 Warren Spahn thought that Willey would be a big winner in the NL, but was always unlucky with small injuries If you look at his first two years with the Mets his record is amazing . We all remember how bad those teams were yet his ERA was incredible. And Willie Mays could not figure him out. Greg Potter October 6, 2022 Carl was guest of honor in 04 at the 11YO state tourney in Eastport Maine. He signed magazines for both of my boys which I still have. It was great that he gave back and supported youth baseball as he did. A very kind and gracious man! RIP, Carl!

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