The Pilots have finally broken their 30-plus year losing streak! On June 10, 2000, the Brewers wore the Pilots' spring training uniforms for Turn Back the Clock Night against the Twins in the Metrodome. Not even the mojo supplied by promotional Harmon Killebrew bobbing head dolls could hold back the Pilots, who took a 5-3 win behind the pitching of Jimmy Haynes.

I've checked out your Web site several times, and I must admit that it's awesome. About a month ago, I read in the sports transactions section of my local paper, that Billy Williams was signed as a hitting coach with the Sioux Falls Canaries of the Northern League. I checked the team's Web site and it confirmed that it was the same Billy Williams that played for the Pilots. I e-mailed the team and asked if it would be all right if I sent a ball to be signed. They said that it would be no problem and I sent the ball. A couple of weeks later, I got the ball back, signed with his name and "51-69". It's obvious what the "69" stands for and I would venture a guess that "51" would be his uniform number. The folks at the Canaries were great and I'm sure since Coach Williams signed my ball, he would answer your questions.
—granfam

I have a Seattle Pilots story for you. I live in the suburbs of Chicago. In 1980, I was eleven years old and in the sixth grade, when my teacher, Mrs. Miller, noticed I was a big baseball fan. She asked me and another student to do a report about Major League expansion teams. As we finished giving our report to the class, she said, "That was a good report, but there were no Major League Seattle Pilots. They were a minor league team." I tried to explain that I had heard of the Pilots before, (I even had a baseball card with a Pilots player on it at the time) but she would not believe me. I think her confusion could be because the Chicago White Sox played 10 games in Milwaukee in 1969 and maybe that is why she thought the Brewers had always played in Milwaukee. I wonder if you have any similar stories about people not believing in the Seattle Pilots?
—MRoss30

NOTE FROM MIKE: And these are the people we have teaching in our schools!?

First of all, I've only begun to go through your Web site, and I've already learned a ton! I consider myself a huge Pilots fan, but I had no idea about the player numbers or how they became Pilots. Is there a book about the Pilots? If so, do you know how I can get a copy?

I am in the process of collecting signatures of all those who appeared in a game or coached for the Pilots. I'm doing pretty well, but now I have a dilemma--do I include Spring Training players and coaches? I haven't decided yet, I guess. Anyway, one of my missing autographs is Billy Williams, who has had a bad address in the autograph collectors "Bible" for many years. Anyway, much to my surprise, I found out he is now a coach for the Sioux Falls Canaries in the Independent Northern League. This is the league that Darryl Strawberry played in during his comeback, and the one that JD Drew played in during his holdout. I live about an hour from St. Paul, one of the teams in the NL, and I will be attending a game in early August featuring the Saints and the Sioux Falls Canaries. So, now you know where he is, and hopefully I will be able to talk to him before the game and ask him what number he wore.
—jschris

NOTE FROM MIKE: Billy Williams Mania is running wild! There was a book called, The Seattle Pilots Story, by Carson Van Lindt, that was published in 1993. Unfortunately, it is out of print and Carson--a regular visitor to this site--doesn't have any extra copies for sale. You might check abebooks.com, as I have seen a copy turn up there from time to time.

This winter a job I applied for three years ago came through and now I am one of the batboys for the New York Yankees! Last week during the Boston series I was positioned behind first base to catch foul balls and I got to meet Tommy Harper! Imagine that! I told him about my love for the team and every time he came to first base we'd start to chat about his memories and my interest for the Pilots. He even invited me to the visitors clubhouse and he signed some cards I brought in and answered all of my questions! He told me how nice Joe Schultz was and that he was actually a great baseball man, we talked about the tiny locker rooms at Sicks' and about what he remembered, and even about his views on Jim Bouton. We exchanged adresses and I hope we keep in touch. How amazing is that?
—BRKL97

Send me an e-mail and I might post your letter.