Chicago Cubs make gaffe on Billy Williams bobblehead

Chicago Cubs make gaffe on Billy Williams bobblehead

The Chicago Cubs gave 10,000 Billy Williams bobbleheads to fans at their National League game against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday night at Wrigley Field.

But there was problem: The replica of “Sweet Swinging Billy Williams from Whistler” had No. 1 on its jersey, not the No. 26 retired by the Cubs in Williams’ honor in 1987.

Williams played the first 16 of his 18 Major League seasons with Chicago, mainly as the Cubs’ left fielder.

The website bleedcubbieblue.com posted a statement from Julian Green, the Cubs’ senior vice president of communication, after the gaffe. The statement read:

“Tonight, we made a regrettable error by distributing Hall of Famer Billy Williams bobbleheads to fans with the incorrect number. This should have never happened, and we know many fans will be disappointed. We are in the process of having new bobbleheads made so fans will have an opportunity to exchange the item. Fans who purchased tickets to tonight’s game will be contacted when we receive the new bobbleheads. Due to manufacturing and shipping times, it is very likely we will have these items available next season.”

Although Williams played his final two Major League seasons with the Oakland Athletics, he has been a spring-training fixture for the Cubs since retirement, and even at age 84, remains a resource for the team and its players. Williams attended Saturday night’s game.

A graduate of Mobile County Training School, Williams was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987. The six-time All-Star was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1961 and The Sporting News MLB Player of the Year in 1972.

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A bobblehead of Chicago Cubs left fielder Billy Williams was given to fans at a National League game against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at Wrigley Field in Chicago.(AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.