Williams Named Top Rookie JIlL NL NEW YORK UPI EarlEarl Williams home runs and 99 youre my catcher who wound up the season as the Williams a residentrunsbattedof Montclair NN.N- Atlanta vice-president PaulPaui Richards regular catcher of the Atlanta Braves JJ. became the first Atlanta player a former vicemajor league catcher was today became the second at that posi- selected and only the third Brave in the delighted at the speed with which tion to be named the National League year history of the award Alvin Williams adapted to the position Rookie of the Year by the Baseball 25Dark in 1948 and Sam Jethroe in 1950 Richards went on to reveal later in the Writers Association of America were chosen while the Braves were season that the possibility of sending based in Boston Williams to the Braves'Braves Savannah farm Johnny Bench of the Cincinnati RedsR ds Williams overcame a slow start and team for further catching experience in 1968 was the first catcher toLo behe early-season statistical ad- had arisen But that possibility was honored as the circuitscircuit's top rookie season ad vantage to capture top rookie honors made unnecessary by the rookiesrookie's apap- Williams spanked 33 23 home runs A versatile player Williams unun- and drove in 87 runs on a average derstudied both Clete Boyer at third He polled 18 of 24 votes cast by the base and Orlando Cepeda at first durdur- what got me into the lineup selection committee WillieW ing the opening weeks He began to hit said Williams of his catching duties the of the Philadelphia his stride after Braves Manager like it back there all right IiIt keeps youI Phillies attracted the remaining six Luman Harris handed him a mitt and a mentally alert But I play where theyy with 330 votes batted catcherscatcher's mask with the remark put me I1 just want to play