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James Alger Wilson
Baltimore Orioles
Pitcher
Born: February 20, 1922, San Diego, CA
Signed: Signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent before 1943 season
Major League Teams: Boston Red Sox 1945-1946; St. Louis Browns 1948; Philadelphia Athletics 1949; Boston Braves 1951-1952; Milwaukee Braves 1953-1954; Baltimore Orioles 1955-1956; Chicago White Sox 1956-1958
Died: September 2, 1986, Newport Beach, CA (age 64)
After a few false starts in the majors beginning in 1945, Jim Wilson was finally given a chance to regularly pitch in a starting rotation, and was an All-Star for three seasons in a row between 1954 and 1956 with the Braves and Orioles. On June 12, 1954, Wilson threw the first no-hitter in Milwaukee baseball history, blanking the Phillies at Milwaukee County Stadium. He won at least 12 games for second division teams in three different seasons, but also led the league in losses with 18 in 1955. Although Wilson was named to three All-Star teams, he only pitched in one game, striking out Willie Mays (#130) in the 1956 contest to end the fifth inning. Wilson had been acquired by the White Sox in May 1956, and in 1957 he enjoyed a career year. He went 15-8 that season with a 3.48 ERA with 12 complete games and a league-leading five shutouts. Wilson would retire following the 1958 season and begin the next phase of his career as a long-time scout and front office executive. He owned a lifetime record of 86-89 with a 4.01 ERA and 692 strikeouts over 257 games pitched. Wilson was a solid fielder throughout his career, and he recorded a perfect fielding percentage (1.000) in three straight seasons (1956, 1957, 1958).
He worked as a scout first for the Orioles (1959-1963) and then for the Houston Colt .45s/Astros (1964-1971). Wilson shared credit for signing Jim Palmer and Andy Etchebarren for the Orioles and Larry Dierker for the Colt .45s. He came back to Milwaukee to work for the Brewers in 1971 and was named the club's general manager in 1972. Wilson pulled off a seven-player deal with the Phillies in October 1972 that brought Don Money to the Brewers and he selected Robin Yount with the club's first pick in the June 1973 amateur player draft.
Building the Set
February 7, 2007 from Dad's eBay purchases - Card #288
Our first son Doug was born in December 2006, and this happy event led directly to my Dad visiting us on a more regular basis. Dad was living by himself at this point in Mays Landing, New Jersey and he detested the 40 minute ride north to our house. Among all the very positive memories I have of my Dad, one of my few negative memories is the fact he absolutely seemed to loathe driving and that loathing increased exponentially if there was traffic or if it were dark. But he made the trips anyway, sometimes staying no more than an hour, because he was so incredibly anxious and excited to spend time with his grandson.
By the time his second grandson (Ben) was born in April 2010, my Dad's health had begun failing and whatever visits we had were pre-arranged or consisted of us visiting him. Which is why these visits during Doug's infancy and first few years are so special to me. My Dad would show up, ecstatic to see Doug, there would be some small talk and we'd complain about the Phillies, and then he'd leave. But on his way out, he'd always say he'd see us again in a few days and I'd look forward to these visits.
This background is needed to better explain how this Wilson card came into our set. In 2007, My Dad's days mostly consisted of an occasional round of golf, calls and visits to his kids - my sister and me, watching cable news, an afternoon nap and scouring eBay. Most (but not all) of his eBay purchases benefitted me in the form of 1956 Topps cards we needed for our set. He'd show up at our house for a visit with Doug and nonchalantly hand me one of his recent purchases. He handed me a pair of Orioles cards on February 7, 2007 - this Wilson card and the Willie Miranda (#103) card.
Throughout 2007, I suspect he had a backlog of purchased 1956 Topps cards piled up on his desk at his house, and he'd grab one or two to deliver to me as he was heading out the door to make the 40 minute drive to visit Doug. Not to ruin the ending for this blog, but this is how we finished the 1956 Topps set. Not with one last glorious purchase at a baseball card show, but with my Dad systematically and methodically checking off cards from our checklist through eBay purchases.
Together with my Mom, he'd deliver the last 29 cards we needed to complete the set in 2007 as a Christmas present to me that year.
The Card / Orioles Team Set
I guess Topps went with an action shot of Wilson here given his strength as a fielder, but upon closer review I'm not sure if that's Wilson stretching at first base trying to corral a wild throw. Wilson wore #19 with the Braves in 1953 and 1954 and #36 with the Orioles in 1955. The fielder looks like he has a uniform number starting with a 2. If the fielder is the pitcher here, I'd think he'd be facing the other way as he simultaneously ran towards first and turned to catch a throw. So maybe the runner is Wilson? I'm starting to think Wilson isn't actually in this action photo at all.
Building the Set
February 7, 2007 from Dad's eBay purchases - Card #288
Our first son Doug was born in December 2006, and this happy event led directly to my Dad visiting us on a more regular basis. Dad was living by himself at this point in Mays Landing, New Jersey and he detested the 40 minute ride north to our house. Among all the very positive memories I have of my Dad, one of my few negative memories is the fact he absolutely seemed to loathe driving and that loathing increased exponentially if there was traffic or if it were dark. But he made the trips anyway, sometimes staying no more than an hour, because he was so incredibly anxious and excited to spend time with his grandson.
By the time his second grandson (Ben) was born in April 2010, my Dad's health had begun failing and whatever visits we had were pre-arranged or consisted of us visiting him. Which is why these visits during Doug's infancy and first few years are so special to me. My Dad would show up, ecstatic to see Doug, there would be some small talk and we'd complain about the Phillies, and then he'd leave. But on his way out, he'd always say he'd see us again in a few days and I'd look forward to these visits.
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| August 9, 2007 - Dad with Jenna, Doug and me riding a merry-go-round in Ocean City |
Throughout 2007, I suspect he had a backlog of purchased 1956 Topps cards piled up on his desk at his house, and he'd grab one or two to deliver to me as he was heading out the door to make the 40 minute drive to visit Doug. Not to ruin the ending for this blog, but this is how we finished the 1956 Topps set. Not with one last glorious purchase at a baseball card show, but with my Dad systematically and methodically checking off cards from our checklist through eBay purchases.
Together with my Mom, he'd deliver the last 29 cards we needed to complete the set in 2007 as a Christmas present to me that year.
The Card / Orioles Team Set
I guess Topps went with an action shot of Wilson here given his strength as a fielder, but upon closer review I'm not sure if that's Wilson stretching at first base trying to corral a wild throw. Wilson wore #19 with the Braves in 1953 and 1954 and #36 with the Orioles in 1955. The fielder looks like he has a uniform number starting with a 2. If the fielder is the pitcher here, I'd think he'd be facing the other way as he simultaneously ran towards first and turned to catch a throw. So maybe the runner is Wilson? I'm starting to think Wilson isn't actually in this action photo at all.
This is his return to Topps baseball cards after an exclusive two-year run with Bowman in 1954 and 1955. On the back of the card, his team-leading 12 wins in 1955 are highlighted, as is his 1954 no-hitter. The middle panel piqued my curiosity. On August 8, 1945, Wilson was on the mound for the Red Sox in a game against the Tigers. He started and pitched 9 1/3 innings and was struck in the head by a live drive off the bat of Hank Greenberg in the 10th. The ball fractured Wilson's skull, knocking him unconscious and leaving a half-inch dent in his head over his right ear. He amazingly made a full recovery from the life-threatening injury and was discharged from the hospital on August 24th. At the time, it was thought Wilson would never pitch again but he was ready to go for spring training in 1946.
1956 Season
Wilson began the year in the Orioles' starting pitching rotation, making seven starts and going 4-2 with a 5.03 ERA. On May 21st, Wilson and Dave Philley (#222) were dealt to the White Sox for Mike Fornieles, Connie Johnson (#326), George Kell (#195) and Bob Nieman (#267). The White Sox were in desperate need of another starting pitcher, and despite struggling in his first season in Chicago, Wilson was named to his third and final All-Star team. He went 9-12 with a 4.06 ERA with the White Sox over 28 games pitched, serving as the fourth starter in a rotation that also consisted of Billy Pierce (#160), Dick Donovan (#18) and Jack Harshman (#29).
Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card: 1952 Topps #276
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (5): 1952-1953, 1956-1958
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1991 Topps Archives 1953 #208
27 - Wilson non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 10/8/21.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database
1956 Season
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First Mainstream Card: 1952 Topps #276
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (5): 1952-1953, 1956-1958
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1991 Topps Archives 1953 #208
27 - Wilson non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 10/8/21.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database
-He ended up with a get baseball career even after the line drive to head from Hank Greenberg that nearly killed him...this has been always amazing to me....he is a legend in Milwaukee...
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this Alan. I always enjoy learning new things about these players, and hearing from others with their personal recollections.
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