Red Wilson
Encyclopedia
Robert James "Red" Wilson (born March 7, 1929) was a college football player and Major League Baseball
catcher
who played 10 seasons in the Major Leagues for the Chicago White Sox
(1951-1954), Detroit Tigers
(1954-1960), and Cleveland Indians
(1960).
, Wilson attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison
where he was a star football player for the Badgers. Wilson won Most Valuable Player honor as the center for the Badgers in 1947 and 1948. He was also an all-conference center in 1947. In his senior year, 1949, Wilson was the team captain and won the Big Ten Most Valuable Player award as an end. Wilson also led the Badgers baseball team in batting with batting averages of .342 and .426 in 1948 and 1949. He led the Badgers to a 17-7 record and a spot in the 1950 College World Series
. Wilson graduated from Wisconsin in 1951 as an insurance major.
under Paul Brown
, but opted for a baseball career after leaving Wisconsin. He was signed by the Chicago White Sox
as an amateur free ageint in 1950, playing 85 games for the White Sox from 1951-1953. In May 1954, Wilson was traded by the White Sox to the Tigers for Matt Batts
. Wilson played for the Tigers for 7 years from 1954-1960. Wilson ended his career with the Cleveland Indians
in 1960.
Wilson was the primary catcher for Tigers pitcher Frank Lary
, who was known as "The Yankee
Killer" because of his 16-3 record against the Yankees with Wilson catching. Wilson batted .354 in the 21 games where he was paired with Lary against the Yankees - 96 points above Wilson's career average.
Wilson's best season was 1958 when he played in career-high 103 games, hit for a .299 batting average and a .373 on base percentage. He also stole 10 bases, 8th best in the American League. Wilson also had an excellent year as a catcher in 1958, with a Range factor
of 5.93 -- 0.59 points ahead of the league average for catchers. On July 20 of that year, he caught Jim Bunning
's no-hitter
. The following year (1959), Wilson had a career-high Range factor
of 6.23 -- 0.92 points above the league average.
In 602 Major League Baseball games (580 as a catcher), Wilson hit for a .258 batting average and a .338 on base percentage. On December 14, 1960, Wilson was selected by the Los Angeles Angels
in the 1960 Major League Baseball expansion draft, but he retired rather than continue his playing career. (Pitcher Ted Bowsfield
was sent by Cleveland to the Angels in Wilson's stead.)
After his playing career, Wilson was a founder and President of the Westgate Bank in Madison, Wisconsin
. He was also President of the Wisconsin Alumni Association from 1971-1972. Wilson was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame
in 1990.
Wilson's 1958 baseball card, Topps
No. 213, showed him in a truly bizarre pose. The company painted out the natural background of the pictures that year and, in a photo showing Wilson swinging his bat, painted the bat out of the picture too--showing Wilson looking as if his right arm were amputated a few inches below the shoulder.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
who played 10 seasons in the Major Leagues for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1951-1954), Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1954-1960), and Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(1960).
University of Wisconsin
Born in Milwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, Wilson attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
where he was a star football player for the Badgers. Wilson won Most Valuable Player honor as the center for the Badgers in 1947 and 1948. He was also an all-conference center in 1947. In his senior year, 1949, Wilson was the team captain and won the Big Ten Most Valuable Player award as an end. Wilson also led the Badgers baseball team in batting with batting averages of .342 and .426 in 1948 and 1949. He led the Badgers to a 17-7 record and a spot in the 1950 College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
. Wilson graduated from Wisconsin in 1951 as an insurance major.
Major League Baseball
Wilson was drafted in the 4th round of the 1950 NFL draft (52nd pick overall) by the Cleveland BrownsCleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
under Paul Brown
Paul Brown
Paul Eugene Brown was a coach in American football and a major figure in the development of the National Football League...
, but opted for a baseball career after leaving Wisconsin. He was signed by the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
as an amateur free ageint in 1950, playing 85 games for the White Sox from 1951-1953. In May 1954, Wilson was traded by the White Sox to the Tigers for Matt Batts
Matt Batts
Matthew Daniel Batts was a Major League Baseball catcher who played from through for the Boston Red Sox , St. Louis Browns , Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds . Batts batted and threw right-handed...
. Wilson played for the Tigers for 7 years from 1954-1960. Wilson ended his career with the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
in 1960.
Wilson was the primary catcher for Tigers pitcher Frank Lary
Frank Lary
Frank Strong Lary is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers , New York Mets , Milwaukee Braves , and Chicago White Sox . He led the American League with 21 wins in 1956 and ranked second in the same category with 23 wins in 1961...
, who was known as "The Yankee
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
Killer" because of his 16-3 record against the Yankees with Wilson catching. Wilson batted .354 in the 21 games where he was paired with Lary against the Yankees - 96 points above Wilson's career average.
Wilson's best season was 1958 when he played in career-high 103 games, hit for a .299 batting average and a .373 on base percentage. He also stole 10 bases, 8th best in the American League. Wilson also had an excellent year as a catcher in 1958, with a Range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
of 5.93 -- 0.59 points ahead of the league average for catchers. On July 20 of that year, he caught Jim Bunning
Jim Bunning
James Paul David "Jim" Bunning is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and politician.During a 17-year baseball career, he pitched from 1955 to 1971, most notably with the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies. When he retired, he had the second-highest total of career...
's no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
. The following year (1959), Wilson had a career-high Range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
of 6.23 -- 0.92 points above the league average.
In 602 Major League Baseball games (580 as a catcher), Wilson hit for a .258 batting average and a .338 on base percentage. On December 14, 1960, Wilson was selected by the Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
in the 1960 Major League Baseball expansion draft, but he retired rather than continue his playing career. (Pitcher Ted Bowsfield
Ted Bowsfield
Edward Oliver Bowsfield is a former major league pitcher.He pitched a total of 7 seasons going 37-39 W-L Record with a 4.35 ERA. He played for the Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Angels, and the Kansas City Athletics.-Boston Red Sox:Ted Bowsfield debuted with the Boston Red Sox on...
was sent by Cleveland to the Angels in Wilson's stead.)
After his playing career, Wilson was a founder and President of the Westgate Bank in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
. He was also President of the Wisconsin Alumni Association from 1971-1972. Wilson was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame
Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame
The Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame is a promenade in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, dedicated to honoring distinguished members of Wisconsin's sports history. New members are honored at a biennial banquet.-History:...
in 1990.
Wilson's 1958 baseball card, Topps
Topps
The Topps Company, Inc., manufactures chewing gum, candy and collectibles. Based in New York, New York, Topps is best known as a leading producer of baseball cards, football cards, basketball cards, hockey cards and other sports and non-sports themed trading cards.-Company history:Topps itself was...
No. 213, showed him in a truly bizarre pose. The company painted out the natural background of the pictures that year and, in a photo showing Wilson swinging his bat, painted the bat out of the picture too--showing Wilson looking as if his right arm were amputated a few inches below the shoulder.