Hack Wilson (1979)


Date of Birth: 4/26/1900
Date of Death: 11/23/1948
Birthplace: Ellwood City, Pennsylvania

Hack Wilson started his baseball career in the minor leagues in 1921. He started with the Blue Ridge League as a catcher but after breaking his leg, he was moved to the outfield. He continued to play in the minor leagues through 1923, joining the Virginia League for his last season in the minors. He was traded to the New York Giants in September, 1923.

New York Giants

Wilson played in only three games with the Giants in 1923. The following year, he played in 107 games with the Giants, batting .295 with 113 hits, 19 doubles, 12 triples, 10 home runs, and 57 RBIs. In August, 1925, after playing in 62 games, he was traded to a team in the American Association. The Chicago Cubs acquired him in October, 1925, in the Rule 5 Draft.

Chicago Cubs

In 1926, Wilson had a strong season with the Cubs. He led the National League in home runs and walks. He had 170 hits, 36 doubles, 21 home runs, 109 RBIs, and a batting average of .321 in 142 games. He walked 69 times and struck out 61 times.

Wilson had another good season in 1927, when he batted .318 in 146 games. He led the NL in home runs with 30. He had a good defensive season also, leading the league in putouts with 400. He finished the 1927 season with 175 hits, 30 doubles, 12 triples, and 129 RBIs. He walked 71 times and struck out 70 times.

Wilson again led the NL in home runs in 1928 with 31. He batted .313 with 163 hits, 32 doubles, and 120 RBIs in 145 games. In 1929, he led the league in RBIs with 159. He finished the season with 198 hits, 30 doubles, 39 home runs, and a .345 batting average in 150 games.

Wilson had his best season in 1930, with career highs in games played (155), hits (208), home runs (56), RBIs (190), walks (105), batting average (.356), and OPS (1.177). He led the NL in home runs, RBIs, walks, and OPS. The following season, his batting average dropped to .261, and he had just 13 home runs and 103 hits in 112 games.

Brooklyn Dodgers

Wilson left the Cubs after the 1931 season and he played for two and a half seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers. In his first season with the Dodgers, he batted .297 with 143 hits, a career high 37 doubles, 23 home runs, and 123 RBIs in 135 games. He didn't have a good season in 1932, batting just .267 in 117 games.

In 1934, his last season in the major leagues, Wilson played in 67 games with the Dodgers and he ended his career with a final seven games with the Philadelphia Phillies.

MLB Records

  • Led the NL in home runs (4 times)
  • Led the NL in RBIs (2 times)
  • Led the NL in walks (2 times)

Career Statistics

Wilson played in over 100 games in each of 9 seasons (1924, 1926-1933). His statistics for those nine seasons include:

  • 5 seasons with over 150 hits, with a high of 208 in 1930
  • 6 seasons with 30 or more doubles, with a high of 37 in 1932
  • 6 seasons with over 20 home runs, with a high of 56 in 1930
  • 6 seasons with over 100 RBIs, with a high of 190 in 1930
  • 5 seasons with a batting average over .300, with a high of .356 in 1930

Career batting statistics for Wilson include:

  • 1,348 games played
  • 1,461 hits
  • 266 doubles
  • 244 home runs
  • 1,062 RBIs
  • .307 batting average
  • .395 on-base percentage
  • .940 OPS

Career fielding statistics for Wilson as a center fielder include:

  • 914 games played
  • 2,174 putouts
  • 84 errors
  • .964 fielding percentage

Post Playing Career

In 1935, Wilson played in the minors in the International League.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Hack Wilson
ESPN - Hack Wilson
Baseball Reference - Hack Wilson

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