Earl Wilson

Robert Earl Wilson
born Earl Lawrence Wilson

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 216 lb.
• High School Greenville Park High School
• Debut July 28, 1959
• Final Game September 22, 1970
• Born October 2, 1934 in Ponchatoula, LA USA
• Died April 23, 2005 in Southfield, MI USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Earl Wilson became the first black pitcher on the Boston Red Sox in 1959. On June 26, 1962, he threw a no-hitter against the Los Angeles Angels. An impressive looking strongman, he was one of the best power-hitting pitchers in baseball history, hitting 35 homers with 111 RBI in 740 at-bats. Occasionally used as a pinch-hitter, he was a definite home run threat any time he stepped into the batter's box. Wilson hit home runs for teams in each league in 1970 - it would be 38 years until another hurler, C.C. Sabathia, duplicated the feat. His 33 homers by a pitcher in the post-1960 expansion era stands as a record; as of 2014, Bob Gibson and Carlos Zambrano were tied for second at 24.

A skilled and formidable hurler, Wilson won 121 career games and led the American League in victories in 1967 with 22, and was a member of the 1968 Detroit Tigers who won the World Series.

Wilson missed the 1957-1958 seasons due to military service.

After his playing days ended, he was president of the Baseball Assistance Team, which provides financial assistance to former players and baseball personnel. Wilson died of a heart attack at age 70 and is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit, MI.

Notable Achievements

• AL Wins Leader (1967)
• 15 Wins Seasons: 2 (1966 & 1967)
• 20 Wins Seasons: 1 (1967)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 7 (1963-1969)
• 200 Strikeouts Seasons: 1 (1966)
• Won a World Series with the Detroit Tigers in 1968

Related Sites

• Earl Wilson at the SABR Bio Project