Jud Wilson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jud Wilson |
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Wilson in 1931
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| First baseman / Third baseman / Manager | |||
| Born: February 28, 1894 Remington, Virginia, U.S. |
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| Died: June 24, 1963 (aged 69) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| 1922, for the Baltimore Black Sox | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1945, for the Homestead Grays | |||
| Negro leagues statistics | |||
| Batting average | .350 | ||
| Hits | 1,080 | ||
| Home runs | 77 | ||
| Runs batted in | 728 | ||
| Stolen bases | 104 | ||
| Managerial record | 105–102–6 | ||
| Winning percentage | .507 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2006 | ||
| Election Method | Committee on African-American Baseball | ||
Ernest Judson Wilson (born February 28, 1894 – died June 24, 1963) was a famous American baseball player. He was nicknamed "Boojum". Wilson played as a third baseman and first baseman. He also worked as a manager in Negro league baseball.
He played for several teams, including the Baltimore Black Sox, the Homestead Grays, and the Philadelphia Stars. His career lasted from 1922 to 1945. Jud Wilson was known for his strong hitting skills. Many people thought he was one of the best hitters in the Negro leagues. His career batting average was .351, which is one of the highest ever.
In 2006, Jud Wilson was chosen to be in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was one of 17 players from the Negro leagues to be honored that year.
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Early Life of Jud Wilson
Wilson was born in Remington, Virginia. When he was a teenager, he moved to Foggy Bottom in Washington, D.C.. In 1918, he joined the United States Army. He served as a corporal in World War I.
Baseball Career Highlights
Jud Wilson started his baseball career with the Baltimore Black Sox in 1922. People in the media sometimes called him "Babe Ruth Wilson." However, his teammates gave him the nickname "Boojum." This name came from the loud sound his hard-hit line drives made when they hit the outfield fences.
After Wilson joined the Black Sox, the team won 12 games in a row. In his first season, he had a .390 batting average. He also hit the most home runs for his team. In 1923, the Black Sox joined the Eastern Colored League. Wilson led the league with a .373 batting average that season.
During the 1920s, Wilson also played winter baseball in the Cuban League. He had the highest career batting average in that league's history.
Playing for Different Teams
In 1931, Wilson moved to the Homestead Grays. He played there for part of 1932. He then finished that season with the Pittsburgh Crawfords. In 1933, he joined the Philadelphia Stars.
Wilson returned to the Homestead Grays in 1940. He continued to play with them until 1945. By then, he was 49 years old.
Unique Skills and Style
Wilson had a unique way of fielding. He sometimes blocked or knocked down batted balls instead of catching them. But because he had a very strong arm, he could still throw runners out.
He also had an unusual body shape. He was 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 195 pounds. He had a large upper body, a small waist, and bowed legs.
Many famous players praised Wilson's hitting. Pitcher Satchel Paige said that Wilson was one of the toughest batters he ever faced. Catcher Josh Gibson believed Wilson was the best hitter in all of baseball.
Wilson was known for his fierce competitive spirit on the field. His friends said he was very kind off the field. Later in his career, Wilson faced some health challenges.
Life After Baseball
After he stopped playing baseball, Jud Wilson worked on a road construction team in Washington, D.C. He passed away at the age of 69 in Washington, D.C. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Jud Wilson's Legacy
In 2006, Jud Wilson was chosen for the Baseball Hall of Fame. This was done by the Negro Leagues Committee. He was part of a group of 17 Negro league players inducted that year. This was the largest group of Black players to be inducted at one time.
Hall of Fame officials thought Wilson did not have any living family. But his great-niece heard about his induction. She was able to attend the ceremony for him. In 2010, the Washington Nationals baseball team honored Wilson. They included him and five other Homestead Grays players in their Hall of Fame Ring of Honor at Nationals Park.
See also
- List of Negro league baseball players
