Walter Wilson

Walter Wood Wilson

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 4", Weight 190 lb.
• Debut April 17, 1945
• Final Game September 10, 1945
• Born November 24, 1913 in Glenn, GA USA
• Died April 17, 1994 in Bremen, GA USA

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BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Georgia native Walter Wilson began his eight-year baseball career pitching for the Concord Weavers of the class D North Carolina State League in 1939. The 25-year-old right-hander got off to a rough start with a 7-10 record in 25 appearances. After this slow beginning he started a string of six consectutive double-digit winning seasons, putting up a 21-4 record for the Goldsboro Goldbugs of the class D Coastal Plains League in his second year on the mound. Walt's 21 victories topped the league.

Wilson put together a 10-10 number for the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the class B Interstate League in 1941 and followed that up with a 16-9 record and a 2.32 ERA for the fourth-place Hagerstown Owls of the same league in 1942. The now 29-year-old Wilson was drafted into the United States Army and spent the 1943 season in the Military Services during World War II.

Walt was now affiliated with the Detroit Tigers organization and pitched for the Buffalo Bisons of the International League in 1944. He came up with an 18-14 year with a 3.66 ERA for the fourth-place Bisons and this insured Walt a 1945 showing at Briggs Stadium. The Tigers that year, who were destined to win the American League pennant and the following World Series, used Wilson sparingly, and he ended up with a 1-3 record in 25 appearances and did not play in the World Series. This was his only chance in the Show.

The cold shoulder he received in Detroit didn't seem to bother Wilson and he threw a 16-11 number and a 3.14 ERA at the 1946 AA Texas League for the Dallas Rebels, who finished second in the league and won the play-off championship. 1947 arrived and so did Walt's 33rd birthday. He found himself finishing out his eight-year career with the LaGrange Troupers of the class D Georgia-Alabama League and the Miami Tourists of the class C Florida International League with a combined 17-12 record and a 3.24 ERA while pitching 233 innings.

Wilson wrapped things up after the 1947 season, finishing his minor league run with a 105-70 record and a 3.32 ERA, while pitching 1,485 innings in 223 games. After baseball Wilson became a dairy farmer until his retirement. He died on April 17, 1994 at Meadowbrook Manor in Bremen, GA. Walter Wood Wilson was eighty years of age.

Notable Achievements

• Won a World Series with the Detroit Tigers in 1945 (he did not play in the World Series)