Where are they now? Frank Wills

Wills started at quarterback for the Cavaliers football team under Coach Tom Grube. "We were ranked as high as 10th in the state at one time," Frank recalls.

His right arm was a weapon in baseball as a pitcher, cranking out fastballs in the 89-91 mph range.

In 1977, the Cavs baseball squad was 27-3 with Wills named an All State performer. Enroute to the state finals, Frank struck out 10 Glen Oaks batters in 7 innings. De La Salle would next face the Chalmette Owls for the state baseball crown.

Wills wound up striking out 20 hitters in 12 innings, pitching through the semifinals and state title game, which De La Salle won. He helped his own cause in the state championship game with a homerun to left field in the old Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge. Wills was named game MVP.

Frank's right arm was a weapon, but he was a raw talent at that time. "There was only one scout at the championship game (Walker Cress from the St. Louis Cardinals) and he was in our dugout. He shook my hand and said ‘you've got a shotgun for an arm, but don't know which way to point it.'"

Frank switched to a pitching style that was similar to one of his favorite pitchers. "I liked Tom Seaver," Wills said. "I adopted his style. He wore knee pads because he dragged his knee." Both were low to the ground upon delivery and drove off the rubber.

The two-sport star had attracted some attention from colleges, affording him the opportunity to play football and baseball. Tulane, Ole Miss, Vandy, Kansas, Kansas State and Southern Miss were among his suitors.

Tragedy struck and convinced Frank to stay closer to his family. "I had a paper route to help pay my way to De La Salle," he said. He earned extra money to help his family. In April 1977, it was just weeks prior to graduation. His older sister, Rebecca, was suffering through depression and took her own life.

Larry Smith was Tulane's football coach, Joe Brockhoff ran the Green Wave baseball squad. "Coach Smith offered me a scholarship and said ‘I understand that you're a helluva baseball player. I will allow you to play baseball after your sophomore season.'" Frank couldn't pass up the offer.

Frank's 1st football camp with the Wave was an eye opening experience. "We were training at St. Paul's in Covington. I was with the quarterbacks and centers. There were 13 quarterbacks in line to take snaps. Roch Hontas was the starter."

Standing around waiting his turn under center, the young freshman stepped away from the pack, grabbed a football lying on the ground and punted it, innocently, he thought.

Larry Smith's interpretation was a little different. He screamed at Wills, "Who told you to kick the ball?" Smith told a stunned freshman to hang around after practice that he wanted to talk to him.

"Coach Smith later told me that he was impressed with how I had kicked the ball," Wills said. "I had never punted before. (Assistant coach) Howard McNeil worked with me on my punting. It all came naturally."

Frank had an impressive record as a punter for the Green wave over his 3 year career. He punted the ball 197 times for a 39.2 average, with only one blocked and 3 run back for touchdowns. He was consistent with the height of his kicks and got his punts off quickly.

He shared the locker room with a few future NFL players, Lionel Washington, Rodney Holman, Marty Wetzel and kicker Eddie Murray. "I was scouted by the NFL," Wills said. "Eddie (Murray) and I worked out together. I had a good time."

Frank spent some time as a safety on defense early in his career. The Green Wave finished the '77 season with a 3-8 record. Smith beckoned Wills into his office following his freshman season. "We understand what happened to your family (sister). I will allow you to play baseball now and allow you to stay at home."

After that season, Frank became a punter on the football team and a pitcher in baseball.

The Tulane baseball squad was in Tallahassee, Florida to play the nation's #2 team, the Florida State Seminoles, in the spring of 1977. Young Wills was green on experience but brimming with confidence.

"The Seminoles were in the Metro Conference with us. I was named the first game starter. Dick Howser was their manager. My teammates were telling me to lighten up. I was confident. I took a lot of ribbing (from teammates), but I wasn't afraid."

When the team arrived at the ballpark, Frank witnessed a breathtaking sight. "It was like a field of dreams," he recalls. His first start was one to remember. "I got out on the mound. I was pumped. I started throwing fastballs. I struck out 2 in the 1st inning. By the 3rd inning I was so cocky, I would step to the edge of the mound and would talk to the Florida State hitters. 'I'm going to throw you a fastball' and then throw it past them. Barney Patterson (FSU outfielder) was swinging and fouling off pitches. I threw him a changeup. He swung so hard, he fell down." The Wave beat the ‘Noles 4-3.

That game built confidence for the young hurler. He realized that he possessed something special. He had raw talent but developed other pitches in his repertoire. "Kenny Francingues (fellow pitcher) showed my how to throw the 12 to 6 curve ball that dropped off. That worked for me." His slider came along nicely as well.

Under head coach Joe Brockhoff, the Wave won 64 percent of their games from 1978-'80. Wills was named 1st-team Sporting News Collegiate All-American in 1980.

The Kansas City Royals had seen enough in the All-Metro Conference performer to select Frank Wills in the 1st round, the 16th player overall and the first collegiate RHP selected in the 1980 Major League Draft.

Future Major Leaguers Terry Francona and Joe Carter were chosen in the '80 draft. Darryl Strawberry was the top player taken and signed a $200,000 bonus.

"I signed for a $75,000 bonus," Frank said. "In today's market I would have signed for $4.5 million in the same spot. I was born too soon." The minimum salary in the majors was $28,000 in those days. Today's minimum is slightly over $400,000 per player.

Wills headed to the rookie league in Sarasota, Florida after signing on June 16, 1980. He quickly moved over to low Class A ball in Charleston, South Carolina, finishing with a 6-2 record throughout July and August.

His first real taste of big league baseball came in 1981 when he found himself in camp with baseball legends Hal McRae, George Brett, Willie Wilson, Amos Otis, Lee May and Vida Blue.

"I wasn't intimidated by my teammates. I bragged a lot." His mouth got him the wrong kind of attention. "Luis Silverado (outfielder) told me ‘you don't need to talk about how good you are, let your pitching talk for you.' He made his point. I shut up."

Frank found himself amidst some legendary sluggers early in his career. "I faced Dave Kingman, Willie Stargell, Pete Rose and Dave Parker. I was around Pirates pitcher Kent Tekulve and (Royals closer) Dan Quisenberry, a pair of unorthodox hurlers. I walked next to Tug McGraw when he was with the Phillies. I was in awe among those legends."

Frank found himself on the cusp of his dream in 1983 when he was called up to the parent club. He wondered if he could perform on that level. "I told myself that if you're here, you have the talent. Now you have to perform. When you get on the field, your talent escalates. You're striking guys out, you gain respect and you rise to that level."

Wills made his debut in 1983 against the Detroit Tigers in Tiger Stadium. "When I came in, we were getting blown out 11-2. There was no pressure on me. I relieved Paul Splithoff. I faced Larry Herndon and struck him out on 3 straight pitches. I walked the next 2 batters. Kirk Gibson was up next, I jam him. He shatters his bat. He blooped over the shortstop's head. I gave up my first run."

Next stop for the Crescent City native and his teammates was Fenway Park.

Frank, once again, made an appearance out of the bullpen. "We were way behind (trailing 10-0). I got my first hitter out that I faced. Then I heard the public address announcer say 'Right fielder, number 8 - Carl Yastrzemski.' My knees almost buckled."

Wills composed himself enough to get Yastrzemski to a full count. "I struck him out on a high fastball. I was feeling good. I'm thinking 'sit down, Carl.'"

The celebration was short-lived. Frank was about to give up his first homerun. ‘Jim Rice took the next pitch out of the yard. The announcer said ‘Rice hit it 14 miles and it's still going.'"

His first start came against the Minnesota Twins. "I pitched 7 innings." Teammates Jamie Quirk and George Brett took Wills to TGI Friday's for post game celebration. "They had shots lined up on the bar."

For the '84 campaign, Frank tossed 34 innings with 23 K's. He finished with a 2-1 record and a 4.15 ERA.

The 1984 season saw the Royals with a new skipper, former Florida State coach, Dick Howser. Current Atlanta Braves general manager John Schuerholtz was the Royals GM. It wouldn't be long before Wills would wind up in a new location. He was traded to the New York Mets for pitcher Tim Leary in 1985.

Wills only spent spring training with the Mets before he was sent to Seattle. He was immediately sent to the Mariners AAA affiliate, Calgary, where he threw a no hitter. He returned to the parent club in May.

In '85 with the Mariners, he had a no hitter for 6 innings, giving up a double in the 7th. He was 4-1 in 18 starts. "I threw everything hard," he said. Despite the success, in 1986 he was released by Seattle and picked up by the Indians.

Frank moved onto Toronto in 1988. The Blue Jays won the division in 1989, and he played a major role in the team's success. Toronto had a reputation for choking in big games. It came down to a match up with Baltimore. Whoever wins would take the division.

"We were one game up and were losing 4-1. Cal Ripken is the first hitter that I faced. I struck him out. I faced 12 hitters in 4 innings and only gave up one hit." A double play got them out of the 7th inning. "In the bottom of the 8th I was relieved. We won 5-4. I was the winning pitcher." In spite of his showing, Frank was on the playoff roster.

In 1990, Wills stayed with Toronto for the entire season going 6-2 with a 3.48 ERA. In 1991 he suffered a shoulder injury in spring training, Then blew out his knee. Wills would be sent to AAA for a rehab assignment. It wasn't long after that he left the mound for the final time.

Frank has a lot of fond memories. "I did my job. I kept focused and representing my hometown was important. Scouts were concerned when I first came up about prospects coming out of New Orleans. They said that many had a tendency to get homesick. I played 12 years (in professional baseball)."

The team that he helped earn their first division crown didn't forget his contribution. "In April 1996 (Toronto) brought back one player from each year. They put my name on the Wall of Fame representing the 1989 team. That was special."

Following retirement in 1991, Frank Wills returned to Tulane where he earned a B.A. in Social Science.

Frank is a member of the Tulane Hall of Fame and Diamond Club Hall of Fame. He also has been recognized as one of the top ten athletes in De La Salle history. He resides in Midcity New Orleans and has two daughters, Dorian (age 28) and Olivia (18).

Comments (2)

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written by Brian Bibby, July 17, 2009

I have never had the pleasure of meeting Frank, but regard his sister Katie as a close friend whom I have met on trips from here in England to visit my cousin who lives in New Orleans--in fact I have adopted her as an 'honourary cousin'
Stephen Drinkwater [who left an earlier comment] is also my cousin

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written by Steve Drinkwater, July 05, 2009

I once had the privilege of spending an afternoon with Frank at his home during Mardi gras. For me and my daughter it was a memorable occasion that will remain with us forever. As an aside - his daughter Dorian was the fastest crawfish eater I have ever seen!!!!

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