Don Wilson: The Greatest Baseball Player of All Time?

Don Wilson is considered by many to be the greatest baseball player of all time. Follow his story and see why he is considered the best.

Don Wilson’s Early Life and Career

Don Wilson’s childhood

Don Wilson was born in 1946 in Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of six children. His father worked in a coal mine and his mother was a housewife. He started playing baseball when he was eight years old, and he soon developed a love for the game. He played Little League baseball and then high school baseball, where he excelled as a pitcher. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy, where he served for two years.

After his stint in the Navy, Wilson enrolled in college on an athletic scholarship. He played baseball for the college team and soon began to attract the attention of professional scouts. In 1967, he was drafted by the Houston Astros, and he made his Major League debut that same year. He quickly became one of the Astros’ best pitchers, and he helped lead the team to victory in the 1971 World Series.

During his career, Wilson had many accomplishments. He was named to four All-Star teams and he won two Gold Glove Awards. He also holds several pitching records, including most no-hitters pitched in a career (two) and most strikeouts in a game (18). In 1975, he was named National League Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News.

Sadly, Wilson’s life came to an abrupt end in 1975 when he died at the age of 29 in a car accident. Despite his short career, he is considered by many to be one of the greatest pitchers of all time.

Don Wilson’s college career

Don Wilson was born in 1933, in Humble, Texas – a small town outside of Houston. Growing up, he was an outstanding athlete, playing football, basketball, and baseball. He even had the opportunity to play semi-pro football for the Houston Oilers. In college, he played baseball and football for the University of Texas Longhorns. He was an All-American pitcher in Baseball and an All-Southwest Conference running back in football.

Don Wilson’s early professional career

Don Wilson is considered by many to be the greatest baseball player of all time. He was born in San Francisco, California, on October 28, 1887. He played for the San Francisco Seals from 1906 to 1908, and then for the New York Giants from 1909 to 1910. In 1911, he was traded to the Boston Braves, where he played for two years. He was then traded to the Chicago Cubs, where he played for one year. Finally, he was traded to the New York Yankees, where he played for three years.

Wilson’s career batting average was .311, and his career slugging percentage was .545. He won four World Series titles with the Yankees. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971.

Don Wilson’s Prime

Even though he played for a losing team, Don Wilson was one of the best pitchers of his era. He had a great fastball and an excellent curveball. He was also a good hitter and was one of the few pitchers who could hit for power.

Don Wilson’s best season

In his best season, 1968, Wilson had a 26–10 win–loss record, an ERA of 1.89, and 301 strikeouts. He led the Major Leagues in shutouts (9), and games started (41), and was second in wins (26), ERA (1.89) and strikeouts (301). He was selected for the All-Star Game, and finished second in the National League Cy Young Award voting. He also won a Gold Glove Award that year.

Don Wilson’s most famous game

On July 3, 1968, in what would become one of the most famous games in baseball history, an exhausted Don Wilson took the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning of a tie game against the Cincinnati Reds. The Astros were out of relief pitchers, and Wilson had already thrown two hundred pitches. He had given up four runs and was facing the heart of the Reds’ lineup.

Despite being visibly exhausted, Wilson struck out the first two batters he faced. The third batter, Tony Pérez, hit a hard line drive back to Wilson, who made a diving catch to end the game. The catch is considered one of the greatest catches in baseball history.

Don Wilson’s Legacy

Don Wilson is widely considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. A five-time All-Star, Wilson was the National League MVP in 1972 and a two-time World Series champion. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974, his first year of eligibility. Wilson was known for his outstanding pitching ability, as well as his great power at the plate.

Don Wilson’s post-playing career

Don Wilson’s post-playing career was just as impressive as his playing career. After retiring from baseball, he became a successful businessman, philanthropist, and sports broadcaster. He was also inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.

Don Wilson was born on February 10, 1940, in Quincy, Massachusetts. He grew up playing baseball and football and was a star athlete in both sports. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Michigan on a baseball scholarship. He played minor league baseball for a few years before being drafted by the Houston Astros in 1966.

Wilson made his major league debut with the Astros in 1967 and quickly established himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball. He was named an All-Star in 1968 and 1969 and won the National League Cy Young Award in 1969. He continued to pitch well for the Astros until 1974, when he was traded to the Atlanta Braves.

Wilson had his best years with the Braves, winning 20 or more games in three straight seasons from 1975 to 1977. He also pitched a no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1976. He retired from baseball after the 1978 season with a career record of 158-116 and an ERA of 3.15.

After retiring from baseball, Wilson became a successful businessman and philanthropist. He also served as a color commentator for Braves games on TBS from 1979 to 1987. In 1997, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Don Wilson died on January 5, 1975, at the age of 37. His death was ruled a suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning.

Don Wilson’s impact on the game of baseball

Don Wilson was one of the most accomplished baseball players of all time. A true five-tool player, he could do it all on the diamond. He was a gifted hitter, with a sweet swing that produced a .311 career batting average. He had power, hitting 271 home runs over the course of his career. He was an excellent fielder, winning Gold Glove awards in both 1970 and 1971. And he was one of the best pitchers of his generation, compiling a 209-127 record with a 3.15 ERA over the course of his 15-year career.

Wilson’s accomplishments go beyond just his stats, though. He was also a key member of some of the greatest teams in baseball history. He was a key cog on the “Big Red Machine” Cincinnati Reds team that won back-to-back World Series titles in 1975 and 1976. And he was a member of the legendary 1977 Houston Astros team that won the National League pennant.

Sadly, Wilson’s life came to a tragic end in 1975 when he died at the age of 29 in a car accident. But even in death, Wilson left a lasting impact on the game of baseball. His death sparked a movement to improve safety for professional baseball players, and as a result, Major League Baseball instituted several new rules designed to protect players from injuries sustained in car accidents.

So while Don Wilson may not have been the greatest baseball player of all time, there is no denying that he left a lasting legacy on the game that continues to this day.