| Jud Wilson | |
|---|---|
 Wilson in 1931 | |
| First baseman /Third baseman /Manager | |
| Born:(1894-02-28)February 28, 1894 Remington, Virginia, U.S. | |
| Died: June 24, 1963(1963-06-24) (aged 69) Washington, D.C., U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| Negro leagues debut | |
| 1922, for the Baltimore Black Sox | |
| Last Negro leagues appearance | |
| 1945, for the Homestead Grays | |
| Negro leagues[a] statistics | |
| Batting average | .350 |
| Hits | 1,080 |
| Home runs | 77 |
| Runs batted in | 728 |
| Stolen bases | 104 |
| Managerial record | 105–102–6 |
| Winning percentage | .507 |
Managerial record atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Member of the National | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 2006 |
| Election method | Committee on African-American Baseball |
Ernest Judson Wilson (February 28, 1894 – June 24, 1963), nicknamed "Boojum", was an Americanthird baseman,first baseman, andmanager inNegro league baseball. He played for theBaltimore Black Sox, theHomestead Grays, and thePhiladelphia Stars between 1922 and 1945. Wilson was known for possessing a unique physique, a quick temper, and outstanding hitting skills. One of the Negro leagues' most powerful hitters, his careerbatting average of .351 ranks him among the top five players.
Wilson was posthumously elected to theBaseball Hall of Fame in 2006, one of 17 black Negro league or pre-Negro league players inducted that year.
Wilson was born inRemington, Virginia.
As a teenager, he moved toFoggy Bottom inWashington, D.C.[2]
The first mention of Wilson's early life was his induction into the United States Army on June 29, 1918, where he served in World War I as a corporal in Company D, 417th Service Battalion.
Wilson debuted for theBaltimore Black Sox in 1922. Though Wilson was referred to as "Babe Ruth Wilson" by the media, his teammates nicknamed him "Boojum" after the noise his line drives made after striking the outfield fences. The team went on a 12-game winning streak after Wilson joined the club. He finished his first season with a .390batting average and a team high in home runs. The Black Sox joined theEastern Colored League in 1923.[3] Wilson hit .373 that season, leading the league.[4] However, the team finished in last place, prompting the hiring ofPete Hill as the team's manager.[3]
During the 1920s, Wilson was also enjoying remarkable success playing winter baseball in theCuban League. His career batting average there was the highest in league history.[5]
Wilson moved to theHomestead Grays for 1931 and part of 1932, finishing that season with thePittsburgh Crawfords. He joined thePhiladelphia Stars in 1933.[6] In the 1934Negro National League playoffs, Wilson struck an umpire but was not removed from the game. The incident raised questions about the league's ability to enforce rules against the top players and the most influential teams.[7] In 1940, Wilson returned to the Homestead Grays. He played with the team through 1945, when he was 49 years old.[6]
Struggling with his fielding skills, Wilson often blocked or knocked down batted balls rather than catching them with his glove. Because of his strong arm, he was still able to throw runners out on such plays. He had an unusual physique, standing 5'8" and weighing 195 pounds with a large torso, a small waist, bowed legs andpigeon toe.[8]PitcherSatchel Paige claimed that Wilson andChino Smith were the two toughest outs he ever faced (Wilson hit .375 against Paige).CatcherJosh Gibson said that Wilson was the best hitter in baseball.[9]
Wilson was known for a bad temper and a willingness to get into physical altercations. His friendJake Stephens said, "The minute he saw an umpire, he became a maniac."[10] A well-circulated story involved Wilson holding Stephens out of a 16th story window by one leg after Stephens came in late and woke him. Others, includingJudy Johnson andTed Page, described him as different off the field. "He'd do anything in the world for you," Johnson said.[2] Late in his career, Wilson developed epilepsy. During aNegro World Series game, Wilson began to draw circles in the dirt and was said to be unaware of his surroundings.
After retiring, he worked on a road construction crew in Washington, D.C.[11] He had to be institutionalized late in life.[2] Wilson died at age 69 in Washington, D.C., and was buried inArlington National Cemetery.[12]
Wilson was elected to theBaseball Hall of Fame by the Negro Leagues Committee in2006.[9] Wilson was elected in a class of 17 Negro league and black pre-Negro league inductees, the largest such group inducted in Hall of Fame history.[13] Hall of Fame officials did not think that Wilson had any living relatives, but a great-niece heard about his scheduled induction and was able to attend the ceremony on his behalf.[14] In 2010, theWashington Nationals honored Wilson and five other Homestead Grays in the Hall of Fame by including them in a Hall of Fame Ring of Honor atNationals Park.[15]
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