 | This article includes a list ofgeneral references, butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations. Please help toimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(October 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Earl Wilson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1934-10-02)October 2, 1934 Ponchatoula, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| Died: April 23, 2005(2005-04-23) (aged 70) Southfield, Michigan, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 28, 1959, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 22, 1970, for the San Diego Padres | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 121–109 |
| Earned run average | 3.69 |
| Strikeouts | 1,452 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Robert Earl Wilson (bornEarl Lawrence Wilson) (October 2, 1934 – April 23, 2005) was an American professionalbaseballpitcher. He played all or part of eleven seasons inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theBoston Red Sox (1959–1960, 1962–1966),Detroit Tigers (1966–1970) andSan Diego Padres (1970), primarily as astarting pitcher. Wilson batted and threw right-handed; he was born inPonchatoula, Louisiana, and graduated from Greenville Park High School inTangipahoa Parish.
In his eleven-season MLB career, Wilson posted a 121–109 record with 1,452 strikeouts and a 3.69 earned run average in2051+2⁄3 innings pitched.
Wilson began his professional career as acatcher in 1953, although converted to become a pitcher the following year. As a 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m), 216 lb (98 kg)-pound pitcher, who relied onsliders andfastballs, Wilson made his Major League Baseball debut with the Red Sox on July 28, 1959, as their firstblack pitcher.
On June 26, 1962, atFenway Park, Wilsonno-hit theLos Angeles Angels 2–0 and helped his own cause with ahome run offBo Belinsky—himself a no-hit pitcher earlier that year, on May 5. (Wes Ferrell in 1931,Jim Tobin in 1944 andRick Wise in 1971 are the only three other no-hit pitchers to homer in the same game; the latter of the three hittwo home runs in pitching his no-hitter.)
Earl Wilson also became the first African American black major leaguer to pitch anAmerican League no-hitter.
In five-plus seasons, Wilson won 45 games for Boston with a high of 13 victories in 1963. He was traded to the Detroit Tigers in midseason of the 1966, and finished with a combined 18–11 record, a career-high in strikeouts with 200, and a 3.07 ERA.
His most productive season came in 1967, with a career-high 22 wins, tyingJim Lonborg for theAmerican League lead.
In the1968 World Series, when the Tigers defeated theSt. Louis Cardinals in seven games, Wilson was part of a starting rotation which included 31-game winnerDenny McLain, andMickey Lolich, who won three games in the Series. Wilson started (and lost) Game 3 for the Tigers.
Wilson was known as much for his home run power as he was for his pitching. Originally acatcher, Wilson switched to pitching in 1953. According to theElias Sports Bureau, Wilson hit 35 home runs in his career: 33 as a pitcher, two as apinch hitter, two in one game (1965), and seven in a season twice, in 740at-bats, he collected 144 hits for a .195batting average with 95runs, 111RBI and drew 67bases on balls. OnlyWes Ferrell (37 HRs),Bob Lemon andWarren Spahn (35 each) andRed Ruffing (34) hit more home runs as pitchers, according to " ESB."
Wilson was purchased by the San Diego Padres in 1970 where he finished his career at the end of that season.
After retiring, Wilson founded an automotive parts company. In the 1980s, possibly into the early 1990s, he also was a high school physical education teacher and basketball coach atCoral Springs High School inCoral Springs, Florida.[citation needed]
Wilson died suddenly at age 70 as a result of a massive heart attack at his home inSouthfield, Michigan, on April 23, 2005.[1]
He was interred inWoodlawn Cemetery in Detroit.
· Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet · Baseball Almanac| Preceded by | No-hitter pitcher June 26, 1962 | Succeeded by |