Newark in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Vic Willis
Photographed by Bill Pfingsten, January 9, 2016
1. Vic Willis Marker
Inscription.
Vic Willis. . Victor Gazaway Willis was born April 12, 1876 and spent his youth and much of his life in Newark, Delaware. He attended and played baseball for Delaware College (now the University of Delaware) in 1897. The Delaware Peach," as he was known, became famous for his Major League Baseball career which began in 1898 and ended in 1910. During this time, Willis played for the Boston Beaneaters (1898-1905), Pittsburgh Pirates (1906-1909), and the St. Louis Cardinals (1910). Gaining a reputation for his sweeping curveball and his durability, Willis would complete 388 of his 471 starts, record 50 shutouts, and attain a 2.63 ERA during his 12 year professional career. Notably, he completed 45 games during the 1902 season, the most in National League history, since 1900. After Willis retired from Major League Baseball in 1910 he purchased the Washington House Hotel on Main Street in his hometown, Newark, Delaware, for $44,000, and remained the sole proprietor of the hotel until his death on August 3, 1947. He is buried close to this location in Saint John's Cemetery. In 1977 Willis was inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame and in 1995 he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Victor Gazaway Willis was born April 12, 1876 and spent his youth and much of his life in Newark, Delaware. He attended and played baseball for Delaware College (now the University of Delaware) in 1897. The Delaware Peach," as he was known, became famous for his Major League Baseball career which began in 1898 and ended in 1910. During this time, Willis played for the Boston Beaneaters (1898-1905), Pittsburgh Pirates (1906-1909), and the St. Louis Cardinals (1910). Gaining a reputation for his sweeping curveball and his durability, Willis would complete 388 of his 471 starts, record 50 shutouts, and attain a 2.63 ERA during his 12 year professional career. Notably, he completed 45 games during the 1902 season, the most in National League history, since 1900. After Willis retired from Major League Baseball in 1910 he purchased the Washington House Hotel on Main Street in his hometown, Newark, Delaware, for $44,000, and remained the sole proprietor of the hotel until his death on August 3, 1947. He is buried close to this location in Saint John's Cemetery. In 1977 Willis was inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame and in 1995 he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Erected 2013 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number NC-195.)
Topics and series. This historical
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marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 12, 1876.
Location. 39° 40.478′ N, 75° 45.933′ W. Marker is in Newark, Delaware, in New Castle County. It is at the intersection of Elkton Road and West Park Place, on the right on Elkton Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Newark DE 19711, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Wilmington and in Greater Philadelphia. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic and on the Delmarva Peninsula. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
The graves of Vic and Mary Willis, located near the historical marker in St. John's Cemetery. The Washington House, which Vic Willis operated for decades, is a short walk from the marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 9, 2016, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 890 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 9, 2016, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 3. submitted on March 17, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York.
