[FatJack]

Willie James was signed by the Expos as an undrafted free agent in 1969. Though every team, including the Expos, had passed on him in the draft, GM Jim Fanning boldly proclaimed Willie was "probably one of the three or four best hitters of the whole 1969 crop." Don't give up your day job, Jim. Oh. That is your day job. Never mind.

Anyway, praise for Willie James just flowed from the Expos in the spring of 1970 as he crushed in batting practice. Manager Gene Mauch declared, "When I first saw him, I knew he really had something." And Rusty Staub compared Willie to Roberto Clemente. He even got a write up in the team's 1970 yearbook (the only other "prospects" so featured were pitchers Balor Moore and John Strohmayer).

The young outfielder played three seasons in the Expos chain and one more with a Cardinals affiliate, closing out his career with 3 years in Mexico (for which no stats are available). His career batting average was .231. He hit 13 home runs with 81 RBIs in his 4 minor league seasons.

This image is from the 1970 Expos yearbook.