Bill Wilson (wilsobi02)

William Donald Wilson

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 200 lb.

• Debut September 24, 1950
• Final Game September 13, 1955
• Born November 6, 1928 in Central City, NE USA
• Died July 16, 2017 in Roseville, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Bill Wilson was a power-hitting outfielder from Central City, NE. He put up some big numbers in the Southern Association before and after serving in the Army from 1951-1953 during the Korean War. He hit 36 home runs and drove in 125 for the Memphis Chickasaws, leading the league in both departments, in 1951 and also led the Southern Association in homers with 34 for Memphis in 1953 despite playing in just 112 games after being discharged from the service a couple of months into the season.

Wilson, who was traded from the Chicago White Sox to the Philadelphia Athletics early in 1954, hit 17 homers that year and 15 for the Athletics in 1955, in his final big league campaign. Wilson ended his four-year big league run as a .222 hitter in 224 games with 32 home runs and 77 RBI. Wilson dropped back into the high minors in 1956 and at the age of 27 hit 14 homers with a .272 batting average for the Toronto Maple Leafs that season.

He played with three different AAA clubs in 1957, combining to hit 11 homers with a .261 hitting average. He then spent next four seasons (1958-1961) with the Phoenix Giants, Portland Beavers and the Tacoma Giants, ending his 11-year minor league odyssey with a .283 hitting average and 228 home runs while appearing in 1,315 games.

During his professional career, Wilson made a one brief pitching appearance with Kansas City in 1955, with no decision. In 1956 with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he appeared in three games with no decisions and in 1958, while with the Phoenix Giants, he won his only decision, giving him an overall 1-0 career record. He concluded his pro career in 1960-1961, having served as a player-coach his last two seasons. Wilson was later in sales for the Wonder Bread Company and is last known residence was in Bellflower, CA. He died in 2017 but his death was not reported in baseball circles until 2023.

Sources

Baseball Players of the 1950s

Related Sites

• BR Minors page