Parke Wilson

Parke Asel Wilson

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 166 lb.

• Debut July 19, 1893
• Final Game October 14, 1899
• Born October 26, 1867 in Keithsburg, IL USA
• Died December 20, 1934 in Hermosa Beach, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Parke Wilson played seven seasons for the New York Giants. Primarily a catcher, he appeared at all positions on the field except for pitcher.

The SABR biography of Bid McPhee indicates that McPhee moved as a child to Keithsburg, IL, and Bid worked for a while as a helper in Parke's father's store. Bid and Parke played on a local team called the Ictorias.

Prior to appearing in the majors Wilson was purchased from Augusta. Even earlier than that, in 1891, he had been on the pennant-winning Portland team. After his major league days he played several more years in the minors, mostly in the Pacific Coast League.

In the book Baseball: The Early Years, Wilson is said to have chosen not to use finger signals to indicate pitches but rather to wink his eyes or look intently in a particular direction.

He served as an umpire on August 14, 1899 in the game between Cleveland and New York because one of the umpires did not show up. It was not the first time he had done this: on four previous occasions, the first in 1894, he had had to fill in for a missing umpire.