New Ulm HALL OF FAME Member

Earle (Tiger) Willis

Infielder

Selected 1991

Lifetime Baseball Batting Stats Page

          Earle Willis was always a tough out for opposing pitchers and a real crowd-pleaser with his enthusiasm and the spirit of "Mr. Hustle." A versatile player anywhere in the infield, he came to New Ulm from the Sioux City pro team and made his home here before returning to his native Canada with Kraft Foods.

          Willis joined New Ulm in 1954 to play with the New Ulm Brewers and hit .304 in 44 games that year with eight homeruns and 26 runs batted in. Two of those homeruns came in the same game on July 20 at Litchfield. 

          In 1959 Earle batted .368, and it was the sixth consecutive year in which he had 20 or more hits. He had five hits in one game against St. James on June 6, 1960.

          In seven seasons, Earle played in 150 games and posted a .294 lifetime batting average, including 33 doubles and 98 runs batted in.

          While he played with New Ulm, Willis was also offered a contract to play with Eddie Feigner, the King of Softball, after an exhibition at Johnson Park.    

          As a full-time resident of the community, Willis helped initiate the New Ulm hockey program.