This was Willie Davis first year with Montreal after a long (1960-1973) career with the Dodgers. This 1973 Dodger Captain requested a change of venue following the 1973 season, so he was traded to Montreal for Mike Marshall who would end up winning the 1974 Cy Young Award. Willie told friends, and even Walter O’Malley, that he could no longer communicate with Dodger manager Walter Alston. Dodgers Bill Grabarkewitz and Bobby Valentine expressed same concerns once they were traded.
(Willie Davis with then Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley photo from LA Times)
Some teammates were happy to see their captain go. Willie Crawford of the Dodgers is quoted as saying “Last year we got no direction from the man who was supposed to be our leader. Davis reached the point where he stopped hustling. You’ve got to be honest. He was traded because he didn’t hustle.” (1)
(1974 team photo)
Davis was welcomed by his new Montreal team and manager Gene Mauch who was looking for defense in his outfield. Mauch predicted his new centerfielder would save more than 31 games because that is what Marshall was credited with saving during the prior 1973 season (2). It did not take long before the realization set in that this trade was not going to work. As early as July, there was concern about Davis’ fielding. In 1973 with the Dodgers, Davis made seven errors for the season, but on July 2nd 1974, he had already made seven errors with Montreal. Then there was conflict with the Montreal team and management. On August 25th, the team picture was taken without Davis who showed up late at Jarry Park which was reported not to have helped his strained relationship with manager Gene Mauch (3). By the end of the season, he had 12 errors, was at odds with the manager, was booed more than once by fans and was criticized by the club owner. He did lead the Montreal team in almost every offensive stat except HR’s, though.
The writing was on the wall that Willie was going to be traded. On October 4th after management did not give Willie the $15,000 advance on his 1975 season salary that he asked for to insure that he would not be traded, he held a press conference. He announced “If I’m not satisfied, what’s the good of having a player who’s not satisfied? In effect, I’ve quit the Expos. There’ll be no more playing for me for a year.”(4) That December, Montreal traded him to the Ranger’s for pitcher Dan Stanhouse and infielder Pete Mackanin.
Willie Davis would end up retiring after the 1979 season with the Angels. He finished his 18-year career with a BA: .279, G: 2,429, R: 1,217, H: 2,561, 2B: 395, 3B: 138, HR: 18, SB: 398, SLG: .41, 2 All Star Games, 2 World Series rings, and 3 Gold Gloves. His total games played at centerfield of 2,237 ranks puts him just behind Willie Mays (2,827) and Tris Speaker (2,690).
Maury Wills once said in an LA Times interview, “God really blessed him with some great tools for any sport, really speed, strength, agility everything an athlete needs in order to make the big time.” It was widely known that Davis had run ins with managers and other players in addition to off field problems with money and drugs. To Davis credit, after hitting rock bottom the Dodgers hired him to give motivational speeches to kids, urging them not to repeat his mistakes. Willie lived until March 9, 2010 when he was found by a neighbor in his Burbank, California home.
1. Sporting News March 30, 1974
2. Sporting News January 5, 1974
3. Sporting News Septemeber 14, 1974
4. Sporting News October 26, 1974
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