Don Wilson (baseball) facts for kids
Donald Edward Wilson (February 12, 1945 – January 5, 1975) was a talented pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played his entire nine-season career with the Houston Astros. Wilson was known for his powerful pitching and achieved several impressive feats during his time in the big leagues, including pitching two no-hitters. His legacy continues to be honored by the Astros.
Quick facts for kids Don Wilson |
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Wilson with the Houston Astros during the 1971 MLB All-Star Game
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: February 12, 1945 Monroe, Louisiana |
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| Died: January 5, 1975 (aged 29) Houston, Texas |
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| debut | |||
| September 29, 1966, for the Houston Astros | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 28, 1974, for the Houston Astros | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 104–92 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.15 | ||
| Strikeouts | 1,283 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Starting in Baseball
Don Wilson grew up in Compton, California. After finishing college, the Houston Astros recruited him in 1966. He was known for throwing the ball very fast. He made his first Major League Baseball appearance on September 29, 1966. He helped the Astros win that game against the Cincinnati Reds.
First Full Season and No-Hitter
In 1967, Wilson played his first full season with the Astros. He won 10 games and had a good ERA of 2.79. On June 18, 1967, Wilson achieved something amazing. He pitched a no-hitter against the Atlanta Braves at the Astrodome. This meant no Braves player got a hit off him during the entire game. It was the first no-hitter ever pitched in a domed stadium. He struck out 15 batters, including the famous player Hank Aaron for the final out.
The next year, in 1968, Wilson continued to pitch well. On July 14, he set an Astros record. He struck out 18 batters in a single game against the Cincinnati Reds. This was a huge achievement for a pitcher.
Career Highs and Another No-Hitter
The 1969 season was a strong one for Don Wilson. He was the Astros' Opening Day pitcher. He won 16 games that year. He also set a career high with 235 strikeouts.
On May 1, 1969, Wilson pitched his second career no-hitter. This time, it was against the Cincinnati Reds. What made this even more special was that it happened right after another pitcher, Jim Maloney, had no-hit the Astros the day before. This was only the second time in baseball history that back-to-back no-hitters happened. Wilson, along with two other Astros pitchers, helped the team set a record for strikeouts in a season.
All-Star Season
The year 1971 was Don Wilson's best season. He had a career-best ERA of 2.45 and won 16 games. He pitched 18 complete games, meaning he finished the entire game without another pitcher taking over. He was chosen to play in the 1971 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. This was his only All-Star selection. He was also named the Astros' Most Valuable Player that year.
In 1972, Wilson continued his strong pitching. He won 15 games and had another excellent ERA of 2.68. He reached 1,000 career strikeouts on September 11, 1972.
Final Season and Legacy
Don Wilson played his last season in 1974. He won his 100th career game on July 30 against the Cincinnati Reds. His final game was a shutout against the Atlanta Braves on September 28, 1974. He allowed only two hits in that game.
A Tragic Loss
On January 5, 1975, Don Wilson passed away in an accident at his home in Houston. Tragically, his young son, Alex, also died in the accident. His daughter, Denise, was found unconscious but recovered after being hospitalized. The accident was caused by carbon monoxide gas.
After his death, the Houston Astros honored Don Wilson by retiring his uniform number, 40. This means no other Astros player will ever wear that number again. A special patch with his number 40 was worn on the team's jerseys the following season. This shows how much he meant to the team and its fans.
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See also
- Houston Astros award winners and league leaders
- List of Houston Astros no-hitters
- List of baseball players who died during their careers
- List of Major League Baseball single-game strikeout leaders
- List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
- List of people from Monroe, Louisiana
