Artie Wilson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Artie Wilson |
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| Infielder | |||
| Born: October 28, 1920 Springville, Alabama |
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| Died: October 31, 2010 (aged 90) Portland, Oregon |
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| Professional debut | |||
| NgL: 1942, for the Birmingham Black Barons | |||
| MLB: April 18, 1951, for the New York Giants | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| May 23, 1951, for the New York Giants | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .367 | ||
| Hits | 157 | ||
| Home runs | 0 | ||
| Runs batted in | 48 | ||
| Stolen bases | 15 | ||
| Teams | |||
Negro leagues
Major League Baseball
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Arthur Lee Wilson (October 28, 1920 – October 31, 2010) was a talented professional baseball player. He was a star in the Negro Leagues for the Birmingham Black Barons. Later, he played a short time in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Giants in 1951. Artie Wilson was born in Springville, Alabama. He is famous for being the last player in the Negro Leagues to hit over .400. In 1948, he batted an amazing .435 (some records say .437).
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Playing in the Negro Leagues and Puerto Rico
Artie Wilson played for the Birmingham Black Barons in the Negro American League from 1942 to 1948. Many people thought he was the best shortstop in the league. He was chosen as the starting shortstop for the league's All-Star team seven times between 1944 and 1948. The only year he missed was 1945, when Jackie Robinson was picked instead. Jackie Robinson would later break the baseball color line in 1947, allowing Black players into Major League Baseball.
During Artie's time, the Black Barons won the league championship in 1943, 1944, and 1948. They made it to the Negro League World Series but never won it.
In the 1948 season, Artie Wilson was known for hitting the ball to the opposite side of the field. He had an incredible batting average of .437. This made him the batting champion of the Negro American League that year. It was the last time a batting champion was officially recognized in that league. This also meant Artie was the ninth and final player in the Negro Leagues to win multiple batting titles. In 1948, Artie also helped a young player named Willie Mays, who was just starting his baseball career.
After the 1948 Negro World Series, Artie played in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League. He joined the Mayagüez Indians and helped them win their first championship in 1949. Artie is also remembered for giving the future Puerto Rican actor Shorty Castro his nickname while they were in Mayagüez.
Playing in the Pacific Coast League
In 1948, the New York Yankees bought Artie Wilson's contract. They wanted him to play for their minor league team, the Newark Bears. But Artie would have earned less money there than he did with the Birmingham Black Barons. So, he made a different deal with the San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League (PCL).
The Yankees complained to the baseball commissioner, Happy Chandler, who then canceled Artie's contract with the Padres. The Yankees then sold Artie to the Oakland Oaks, another team in the Pacific Coast League. Artie became the first Black player for the Oakland Oaks. He was also roommates with future baseball manager Billy Martin.
With the Oakland Oaks, Artie continued to shine. He won the PCL batting title with a .348 average. He also led the league in stolen bases with 47. In 1950, he led the PCL in runs scored with 168 and hits with 264. His great play helped the Oaks win the 1950 PCL championship.
Playing in the Major Leagues
The New York Giants noticed Artie Wilson's amazing skills. They called him up to play in Major League Baseball for the 1951 season. He was used as a utility infielder (meaning he could play different positions in the infield). He also came into games as a pinch runner (running for another player) or a pinch hitter (batting for another player).
However, Artie found it tough in the big leagues. He only hit .182 in 22 at bats. When the Giants called up Artie's former mentee, Willie Mays, they sent Artie back to the Oakland Oaks. This ended his Major League Baseball career.
Back in the PCL, Artie finished the 1951 season with the Oaks. In 1952, he was sold to the Seattle Rainiers. Artie also played for the Portland Beavers and Sacramento Solons in the PCL. He won three more PCL batting titles before leaving baseball in 1957. He made a short comeback for the Beavers in 1962, which was the very end of his career.
Later Life
Artie Wilson settled in Portland, Oregon, in 1955. He and his wife, Dorothy, raised two children there. After he stopped playing baseball, he worked at a car dealership in Portland for over 30 years. He continued greeting customers there until 2008, when he was 88 years old.
Artie was honored for his great career. He was named to the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1989. He was also inducted into the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame in 2003.
Artie Wilson passed away in Portland, Oregon, on October 31, 2010. This was just three days after his 90th birthday. He had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
