Print this page

187. Willie Wilson

  •  
  • Published in Baseball
  • Read 1289 times
  • Rate this item
    (3 votes)
187. Willie Wilson
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: July 9, 1955 in Montgomery, AL USA
  • Weight: 190 lbs.
  • Height: 6'3"
  • Bats: B
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: September 04, 1976
  • Final Game: May 16, 1994
  • Gold Glove - 1980
  • Silver Slugger - 1980
  • Silver Slugger - 1982
  • MVP - 1979
  • MVP - 1980
  • MVP - 1982
  • MVP - 1984
 
ABRHHRRBISBAVG
15462233844148211701336 0.285
 

Historically speaking, we don’t think that we are going out on a limb by stating that Willie Wilson was one of the best leadoff hitters in the game.

Wilson spent most of his career with the Kansas City Royals, a team that the Alabama native first debuted for in 1976.  Wilson entered the 1979 season as the Royals starting Centerfielder, and he batted .315 with a league-leading 83 Stolen Bases.  That was the best he ever did in terms of base-stealing, but there was so much more that the speedster had left to offer.

In the following season, Wilson led the American League in Runs Scored (133), Hits (230), Triples (15), and he won the Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, and was fourth in MVP voting.  The Royals won the pennant that year, but the Royals lost to Philadelphia.  Wilson had solace in that he was fourth in MVP voting, which would be a career-high.

That was the best year of Wilson’s career, but far from the end of his productive ways.  Despite his drug arrest and jail time in 1984, Wilson was one of the best baserunners of the 1980s and batted over .300 three times in the 1980s, including winning the Batting Title in 1982 (.331).  Wilson had five AL leads in Triples, and was a two-time All-Star for Kansas City.  

Wilson finished his career with stints in Oakland and Chicago (NL), and he retired in 1994 with 668 Stolen Bases and 2,207 Hits.

The Bullet Points

  • Country of Origin: Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.A.
  • Eligible In: Saturday, 01 January 2000
  • Position: Outfield
  • Games Played: 2154
  • Notable Statistics: 1,169 Runs Scored
    2,207 Hits
    281 Doubles
    147 Triples
    41 Home Runs
    585 Runs Batted In
    668 Stolen Bases
    .285/.326/.376 Slash Line
    46.2 bWAR

    38 Playoff Games
    12 Runs Scored
    40 Hits
    4 Doubles
    2 Triples
    1 Home Run
    10 Runs Batted In
    13 Stolen Bases
  • Played For: Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    World Series Rings (1) (Kansas City Royals, 1985) 
    All-Star (2) (1982 & 1983)
    Silver Slugger (2) (AL) (1980 & 1982)
    Gold Glove (1) (AL) (1980)
    Highest Batting Average (1) (AL) (1982)
    Most At Bats (1) (AL) (1980)
    Most Plate Appearances (1) (AL) (1980)
    Most Runs Scored (1) (AL) (1980)
    Most Hits (1) (AL) (1980)
    Most Triples (5) (AL) (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 & 1988)
    Most Stolen Bases (1) (AL) (1979)
    Most Singles (4) (AL) (1979, 1980, 1981 & 1982)
    Highest Stolen Base Percentage (2) (AL) (1979 & 1984)
    Most Total Zone Runs (2) (AL) (1980 & 1982)
    Most Putouts by a Leftfielder (1) (AL) (1979)
    Most Assists by a Leftfielder (1) (AL) (1981)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a Leftfielder (1) (AL) (1981)
    Most Assists by an Outfielder (1) (AL) (1981)
    Most Total Zone Runs by a Leftfielder (2) (AL) (1979 & 1982)
    Highest Range Factpr per Game by a Leftfielder (2) (AL) (1979 & 1982)
    Highest Fielding Percentage by a Centerfielder (1) (AL) (1987)
    Most Total Zone Runs by an Outfielder (3) (AL) (1979, 1980 & 1982)
    Highest Fielding Percentage by an Outfielder (1) (AL) (1987)
  • Other Points of Note:

    Top Ten MVP Finishes:
    (AL: 1980, 4th) & (AL: 1984, 10th)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (bWAR for Position Players)
    1 Top Ten Finish (Offensive bWAR)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (Defensive bWAR)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (Batting Average)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (Runs Scored)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (Hits)
    1 Top Ten Finish (Total Bases)
    11 Top Ten Finishes (Triples)
    11 Top Ten Finishes (Stolen Bases)
    7 Top Ten Finshes (Singles)
    5 Top Ten Finishes (Total Zone Runs)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (Championship Win Probability Added)
  • Notable All Time Rankings:

    3.   Range Factor per Game by a Leftfielder: 2.36
    6.   Total Zone Runs by a Leftfielder: 78
    12. Stolen Bases: 668
    17. Total Zone Runs by an Outfielder: 108
    18. Putouts by an Outfielder: 5,060
    30. Stolen Base Percentage: 83.29
    40. Putouts by a Leftfielder: 3,465
    47. Total Zone Runs: 108
    56. Triples: 147
    57. Range Factor per Game by a Centerfielder: 2.58
    65. Fielding Percentage by a Leftfielder: .983
    66. Range Factor per Game by an Outfielder: 2.53
    67. Total Zone Runs by a Centerfielder: 29
    79. Fielding Percentage by a Centerfielder: .988
    98. Putouts by a Leftfielder: 1,552
  • Vote Percentage Received for the Hall of Fame:

    2000: 2.0%
  • Should be Inducted As A: Kansas City Royals

Should Willie Wilson be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 20%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 60%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 0%
No opinion. - 0%
No way! - 20%
Tagged under

Related items

Comments powered by CComment