Willie Wilson (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Willie Wilson |
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Wilson in 1978
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: July 9, 1955 Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 4, 1976, for the Kansas City Royals | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| May 16, 1994, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .285 | ||
| Hits | 2,207 | ||
| Home runs | 41 | ||
| Runs batted in | 585 | ||
| Stolen bases | 668 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Willie James Wilson (born July 9, 1955) is a former American professional baseball player. He played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, and Chicago Cubs.
Willie was an outfielder known for his amazing speed. He was also a great leadoff hitter. A leadoff hitter is the first player to bat in a game. Wilson's career total of 668 stolen bases ranks him 12th all-time in MLB history.
Contents
Early Life and High School Sports
Willie Wilson was born in Montgomery, Alabama. When he was seven years old, his family moved to Summit, New Jersey. He was a very talented athlete in high school. He played baseball, football, and basketball at Summit High School.
In his final year of high school, Willie was outstanding in baseball. He hit for a .436 average. This means he got a hit in almost half of his turns at bat. He also stole 28 bases out of 28 tries. This shows how incredibly fast he was.
Starting His Professional Baseball Career
Joining the Kansas City Royals
After high school, the Kansas City Royals picked Willie in the first round of the 1974 draft. He had planned to play college football at the University of Maryland. But he chose to start his professional baseball journey instead.
Willie began playing for minor league teams. He played for the Gulf Coast Royals and the Waterloo Royals. In 1975, he led the Waterloo team in RBIs and stolen bases. He then played for the Double-A Jacksonville Suns in 1976.
First Games in Major League Baseball
In September 1976, Willie got to play in the MLB for the first time. He played in 12 games for the Royals. He was often used as a pinch runner (someone who runs for another player) or to play defense late in a game. He got one hit and stole two bases in his first few games.
In 1977, Willie played more in the minor leagues for the Triple-A Omaha team. He hit .281 and stole 74 bases. Later that year, he was called up to the Royals again. He played more often and hit .324 with 6 stolen bases.
Willie's First Full MLB Season
The year 1978 was Willie Wilson's first full season in the major leagues. He shared the left field position with other players. He also helped out in center field. He played in 127 games. Even with limited playing time, he stole 46 bases. This was the fifth-highest in the American League.
Becoming a Star Player
1979: Leading the League
In 1979, Willie became the Royals' main left fielder. He had a great season, hitting .315. He led the league with 83 stolen bases. He also led the league in singles (148). He was one of the best defensive left fielders too.
1980: A Record-Breaking Year
Willie started 1980 as the starting center fielder. He played very well there. He made only one error all year in center field. He then moved back to left field. He led the league in many ways.
Willie set a major league record with 705 turns at bat in one season. He also led the league in hits, runs scored, triples, and singles. He stole 79 bases, which was second in the league. He won both the Gold Glove Award for best defense and the Silver Slugger Award for best hitting. He finished fourth in the voting for the American League MVP (Most Valuable Player) award.
During the 1980 ALCS, Willie made a key play. He helped the Royals win against the New York Yankees. The Royals then went to the 1980 World Series. They lost to the Philadelphia Phillies. Willie struggled in the World Series, striking out 12 times. This set a new record for strikeouts in a World Series.
1981-1983: Batting Champion
In 1981, Willie's batting average was .303 in a season shortened by a player strike. In 1982, Willie had an amazing comeback. He hit .332 and won the American League batting title. He was the first switch hitter to win a batting title since Mickey Mantle in 1956. Willie also made his first All-Star team and won his second Silver Slugger Award.
In 1983, Willie moved to center field. He still stole 59 bases, which was third in the league. He also made the All-Star team for the second time.
Later Years with the Royals
In 1985, Willie hit .278 and stole 43 bases. He led the league in triples for the third time with 21. He played a big part in the 1985 World Series. He hit .310 in the ALCS and .367 in the World Series. This helped the Royals win their first World Championship!
Willie continued to be a strong player for the Royals. He hit a career-high nine home runs in 1986. He led the league in triples two more times (1987-88). He also kept stealing many bases. He was still a great defensive player. In 1990, he played the whole year without making a single error.
Playing for Other Teams
Oakland Athletics
After the 1990 season, Willie joined the Oakland Athletics. He played in 113 games in 1991. He played all three outfield positions. He hit .238 and stole 20 bases.
In 1992, Willie became the starting center fielder for the Athletics. He played in 132 games, hitting .270 and stealing 28 bases. In the 1992 ALCS, he stole seven bases. This tied a record for most steals in a single postseason.
Chicago Cubs
In 1993, Willie signed with the Chicago Cubs. He played center field and shared time with other players. He hit .258 with one home run and 11 RBIs. He stole seven bases that year. Willie started the 1994 season on the bench. After playing only 17 games, he was released on May 16. This was the end of his major league career.
Willie Wilson finished his career with a .285 batting average. He had 668 stolen bases, which is 12th all-time. He hit 13 inside-the-park home runs, which is the most for any player after 1950. He also led the league in triples five times. He was an excellent outfielder, with a .987 fielding percentage.
After Baseball
After retiring as a player, Willie Wilson coached in the Toronto Blue Jays system. In 2000, he was honored by being elected to the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame.
In 2003, Willie became a manager for the London Monarchs. This was a team in a new league called the Canadian Baseball League. The league stopped playing halfway through the season. In 2009, Willie even played in one game for the Kansas City T-Bones, an independent team. Today, he runs the Willie Wilson Baseball Foundation in Kansas City, Missouri. This foundation helps young people through baseball.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball stolen base records
- List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career triples leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball batting champions
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual stolen base leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders
Images for kids
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Wilson in 1978
