Walt Wilmot

Walter Robert Wilmot

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 165 lb.

• Debut April 20, 1888
• Final Game June 14, 1898
• Born October 18, 1863 in Plover, WI USA
• Died February 1, 1929 in Chicago, IL USA

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Biographical Information

Walt Wilmot, who played ten years in the majors, led the National League in triples in 1889 and in home runs in 1890.

After playing amateur ball in Minnesota, Wilmot was 24 when he broke in with the Washington Nationals in 1888, a last-place team. He played left field alongside centerfielder Dummy Hoy, who was two years older. The following year Wilmot and Hoy continued at their positions, and while the Nationals continued to be in last place, Wilmot became perhaps the strongest hitter on the team, leading the league in triples and the team in home runs.

After the 1889 season he was purchased by the Chicago White Stockings, and was a regular in left and center field for them from 1890 to 1895. His hitting, base-stealing and fielding, which were good when Wilmot was a young player, gradually declined as he aged. Nevertheless, in 1894 he was fourth in the league in RBI with 130. His teammates Bill Dahlen and Jimmy Ryan, who scored numerous runs that year, presumably were frequently driven home by Wilmot.

He finished his major league career in 1897 and 1898 with the New York Giants. In 1897, he was a fill-in umpire for one game.

Wilmot accomplished a number of unusual feats in the majors. First, he walked six times in a nine-inning game in 1891. Second, he stole four bases in a game and then stole four more in the next game in 1894. Third, it is said he was hit by a batted ball (presumably while running on the basepaths) twice in one game. Source: Stevens Point Journal article.

On August 5, 1894, a fire broke out in the stands in Chicago. The fans stampeded and hundreds were injured. Wilmot and Ryan were given credit for saving hundreds of lives by using bats to break down barbed wire fencing to allow fans to come onto the field.

Notable Achievements

• NL Triples Leader (1889)
• NL Home Runs Leader (1890)
• 100 RBI Seasons: 1 (1894)
• 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 3 (1890, 1891 & 1894)
• 50 Stolen Bases Seasons: 2 (1890 & 1894)

Related Sites

• Walt Wilmot at the SABR Bio Project