After Smokey Joe Williams struck out 27 Kansas City Monarchs in a 12-inning one-hit shutout in Kansas City in August of 1930, Paul A.R. Kurtz of The Pittsburgh Press wrote about meeting Williams in the Grays dugout when the two teams played at Forbes Field two weeks earlier:
Smokey Joe Williams
“Personal experience recently revealed to me the superstition existing in baseball.
“I know big league players want bats scattered when they’re not hitting; others touch bases or gloves on the way to the bench during innings and do numerous other unusual things. But my own failing for peanuts brought me an interesting interview.”
Kurtz said he bought peanuts from a vendor when he arrived at Forbes Field:
“While a few Grays were practicing, I wandered to the Homestead bench to be greeted by Smokey Joe Williams, the veteran Gray twirler, who noticed the hard-shelled peanuts.”
Williams asked:
“’Do you know peanuts are barred from our bench?’ Joe asked. I inquired, ‘how come?’
“’I don’t like them around and have made my mates understand that. They try to tease me by eating some once in awhile. I always feel I’m losing when I hear the cracking of shells.”
Williams said:
“That’s my only superstitious feeling in baseball.”
Kurtz said he was concerned he contributed to Williams losing for the first time that season:
“Joe didn’t like peanuts. I had them in my hands. Joe was starting pitcher. He had won 23 games without a defeat until the Monarchs beat him with a rally that particular night.”
Williams, with the help of Grays shortstop Jake Stephens–who made three errors in the game, two of them in the ninth–blew a 4 to 3 lead in the ninth when the Monarchs scored five runs to beat the Grays 8 to 4 in the second night game ever played in Forbes Field:
“Was I the cause of Joe’s downfall? Those peanuts may have preyed on his mind and by mental telepathy Stephens foozled a few swats to help the monarchs halt Williams’ winning streak.”
Generally listed at 6’ 3” or 6’ 4” and 190 pounds, Williams told the the reporter he was 6’2” and weighed 224 pounds, but said he loses “nearly 30 pounds during a summer.”
Williams said:
“’I have no trouble keeping in shape. I take good care of myself, sleep long and eat carefully. I tried to throw a spitball once, but it jerked my arm and so I cut it. Control and plenty of motion are my bets. I have practiced hard to master control to place the ball just where I want it on a batter. Low knee fast pitches, inside and outside, are my favorites. But, no freakish balls. I am better with control than those who try an assortment of twisters.”
Williams told Kurtz about the biggest regrets of his career:
“Although Joe has marvelous control of his fast pitches, he talked regretfully of three boys who he hurt badly. One lad in Texas became demented after being hit and another had all his teeth knocked out. In Coal City (Pennsylvania) Joe dented a player’s skull, leaving the imprint of the ball on his forehead.”
Williams told Kurtz that he had, for years, kept “a big scrapbook…It contained all accounts of his baseball life.” The book, “which Williams prized highly,” was stolen:
“Since it disappeared Joe has not been as interested in recording his accomplishments. ‘How I’d like to get that book back,’ he said.”
He then went out and took his first loss of the 1930 season.
Baseball History Daily 
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