Netflix Set to Release Billy Williams Documentary, Spotlighting Legendary 8-for-8 Game at Wrigley
July 12, 2025 – Chicago, IL
Netflix has announced the upcoming release of a new sports documentary titled *“8-for-8: The Billy Williams Game”*, a deep dive into one of Major League Baseball’s most iconic performances.
The film focuses on Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Billy Williams and his historic day at Wrigley Field on July 12, 1972, when he accomplished the impossible: going 8-for-8 in a doubleheader.
The documentary, produced by Red Line Films in collaboration with MLB Studios, is set to premiere on August 30. Blending archival footage, rare interviews, and dramatized recreations, the film promises an intimate and energetic portrayal of the man affectionately known as “Sweet Swingin’ Billy from Whistler.”
“There are baseball records, and then there are baseball moments,” said executive producer Malik Johnson at a press event at Wrigley Field. “What Billy Williams did on that summer day in ’72 wasn’t just statistical excellence—it was poetry in motion. The kind of day kids dream of on sandlots.”
On that scorching July afternoon, the Cubs faced the Houston Astros in a doubleheader at the Friendly Confines. Williams, already having a solid season with a .310 batting average, exploded at the plate, notching four hits in each game.
Single after single, lined doubles, sharp drives into the gaps—Williams was flawless. By the end of the day, his batting average had soared to .328, and fans were left in awe.
Cubs teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins, interviewed in the film, called it “the greatest single-day hitting performance I’ve ever seen—bar none.” He added, “Billy wasn’t just hitting the ball. He was punishing it. He was in some kind of zone.”
The documentary also delves into Williams’ career, which included 2,711 hits, 426 home runs, and a reputation for being one of the most consistent and disciplined hitters in baseball history. But it’s that 8-for-8 day that lives on in Cubs lore, rarely matched and never forgotten.
Director Lena Arroyo, known for her Emmy-winning docuseries “Legends of the Game,” said she was drawn to the project not just because of the stats, but because of the man behind them.
“Billy Williams was a quiet warrior,” said Arroyo. “He played 1,117 consecutive games at one point, second only to Lou Gehrig at the time. That tells you about his heart. But July 12, 1972? That tells you about his genius.”
The film also features commentary from modern stars like Mookie Betts and Aaron Judge, who speak on the rarity and difficulty of such a feat in today’s game. “Going 4-for-4 is special,” Judge says in the trailer. “Doing it twice in one day? That’s legend status.”
In a rare new interview, the now 87-year-old Williams reflects on the day with characteristic humility. “I just remember seeing the ball real good,” he says with a smile. “Didn’t know I had eight hits ‘til someone told me after.”
For Cubs fans and baseball lovers alike, *“8-for-8: The Billy Williams Game”* offers not just nostalgia, but a reminder of why the sport continues to capture hearts across generations.
As Netflix’s teaser tagline puts it: *“Perfection at the plate. History at Wrigley.”
“8-for-8: The Billy Williams Game” will stream exclusively on Netflix starting August 30, 2025.