 A 1978 graduate of Hueneme High School in Oxnard, California, Willard was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent in 1979, Willard would make his Major League Baseball debut with the Cleveland Indians on April 11, 1984, and appeared in his final game on May 19, 1994.Willard's career was spent mostly in obscurity, however he did experience one significant moment of fame.On October 23, 1991, playing for the Atlanta Braves in the 1991 World Series against the Minnesota Twins, Willard would make his only series plate appearance in the bottom of the 9th of a 2–2 game, having been sent up to pinch-hit for Francisco Cabrera after a Minnesota pitching change with Mark Lemke on 3rd Base.