Fred Wilson
Fred Wilson
(Sardo)
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 6' 1", Weight 192 lb.
- Debut 1939
- Final Game 1945
- Born August 31, 1908 in Palatka, FL USA
- Died September 7, 1948 in Miami, FL USA
Biographical Information[edit]
Fred Wilson was a Negro League outfielder. He was noted for his strong arm, speed and tendency to get hit by pitches.
Wilson spent most of his career with the Clowns team, starting with them when they were an independent operation out of Miami, FL in 1934. He remained with them during their time as the Miami Clowns (1934-1937) then split 1938 between the Ethiopian Clowns and New York Black Yankees. A violent man, he was signed out of jail by the Newark Eagles and hit .340 for them in 1939. After another year with Newark, he returned to the Clowns.
Fred was player-manager for the Cincinnati Clowns for part of 1943. He appeared for the West in their 2-1 victory in the 1943 East-West Game, pinch-hitting for Neil Robinson in the 8th and being retired by Leon Day. He did not stay in the game as Lester Lockett came in to man left field. Wilson stabbed teammate Dave Barnhill in 1944, causing Barnhill to miss much of the season. Fred also served in the US Army in 1944. He ended his career back with the Clowns in 1945.
Wilson's violent life eventually was the end of him as he wound up being stabbed to death.
Notable Achievements[edit]
- NAL All-Star (1943)
Year-By-Year Managerial Record[edit]
| Year | Team | League | Record | Finish | Organization | Playoffs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | 1943 Cincinnati Clowns | Negro American League | 17-33 | 6th | Indianapolis Clowns | Replaced Bunny Downs (25-29) |
Sources[edit]
- The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues by John Holway
- The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues by James Riley
- Black Baseball's National Showcase by Larry Lester
Further Reading[edit]
- Merritt Clifton: "Quebec Loop Broke Color Line in 1935", in Sean Forman and Cecilia M. Tan, eds.: The Negro Leagues Are Major Leagues: Essays and Research for Overdue Recognition, Baseball-Reference and SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2021, pp. 147-151. ISBN ISBN 978-1-970159-63-9
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