Hal Wiltse

Harold James Wiltse
(Whitey)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 9", Weight 168 lb.

• Debut April 13, 1926
• Final Game April 20, 1931
• Born August 6, 1903 in Clay City, IL USA
• Died November 2, 1983 in Bunkie, LA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Hal Wiltse pitched four seasons in the majors.

Wiltse gave up a couple of Babe Ruth's home runs in 1927. Baseball Digest in March 1969 related a story how Benny Bengough thought Wiltse had great potential and bet Ruth that Wiltse would win 15 games that year. When Ruth in one game hit a long home run off of Wiltse, Benny claimed Ruth laughed and said: "Hey, Googly, did you just see your 50-spot fly outta here?" Wiltse ended up winning 10 games that season, the second-highest win total on a 1927 Red Sox team that lost 103 games.

Hal was born in Clay City, IL, in farm country in southeastern Illinois. He is apparently not related to Hooks Wiltse or Snake Wiltse, who were from New York.

Hal pitched in the minors from 1923-25, winning 14 for Mobile in 1925. He came to the majors with the 1926 Red Sox, going 8-15 for a team which lost 107 games. His 4.22 ERA was much better than that team's overall 4.72 ERA. The young Red Ruffing, one year younger and another pitcher in the starting rotation, had a 4.39 ERA that year.

Wiltse was traded early in the 1928 season to the 1928 St. Louis Browns, for whom he pitched 26 games, mostly in relief. In 1931 he came back to the majors for one game with the 1931 Phillies.

Hal spent 1929-30 with Wichita Falls, winning 19 games each season. He continued to pitch in the minors through 1937, most notably winning 17 for San Antonio in 1934.

Related Sites

• Hal Wiltse at the SABR Bio Project