Hoyt Wilhelm
From BR Bullpen
James Hoyt Wilhelm
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 195 lb.
- Debut April 19, 1952
- Final Game July 10, 1972
- Born July 26, 1922 in Huntersville, NC USA
- Died August 23, 2002 in Sarasota, FL USA
Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1985
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[edit] Biographical Information
Hoyt Wilhelm was the first relief pitcher to be inducted in the Hall of Fame and one of the greatest knuckleballers of all time. He led the league in ERA as a rookie, and later in 1959 in his only year as a starter, led the league again in ERA.
Although he never led the league in saves, he was second three times.
His date of birth is often given as July 26, 1923 but it has since been proven to be 1922. Wilhelm started in minor league ball in 1942, and then World War II interrupted for three years. He served in Army in World War II, fought and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. He then went back into the minors for years, not getting a major league chance until age 29 because he wasn't the kind of hard thrower that the teams were looking for.
He hit his only home run ever in his first at bat; he is one of three players to homer in his first at bat then win the game as a pitcher. He was converted briefly to starting in late 1958, and pitched a no-hitter, led the AL in Earned Run Average and made the All-Star team in 1959, before returning to the bullpen to stay early in 1960.
He pitched in 1070 games, which was a major league career record until Dennis Eckersley broke it in 1998. Jesse Orosco has since passed Eckersley. He retired at 50 years old.
He is one of the ten best relievers ever according to The Relief Pitcher for being the most dominant reliever of his era.
Wilhelm was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on January 7, 1985 by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
- First Baseball Card appearance 1952 Topps
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 5-time All-Star (1953, 1959, 1961, 1962 & 1970)
- 2-time League ERA Leader (1952/NL & 1959/AL)
- NL Winning Percentage Leader (1954)
- 2-time NL Games Pitched Leader (1952 & 1953)
- 15 Wins Seasons: 2 (1952 & 1959)
- 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1959)
- Won a World Series with the New York Giants in 1954
- Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 1985
[edit] Records Held
- Wins in relief, career, 124
- Innings pitched in relief, career, 1871
