Robert Wilson (February 22, 1925 – April 23, 1985) was an American
professional baseball player who played in three games over two consecutive days in
Major League Baseball for the
Los Angeles Dodgers, two as a
pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute Batting (baseball), batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the dead ball (baseball), ball is dead (not in active play); the manager (baseball), manager may use any player who has not yet ...
and one as a
right fielder. Wilson was born in
Dallas, Texas; he threw and batted
right-handed, stood tall and weighed .
Wilson was 33 years old when he received his audition with Los Angeles. He began his career with the
Newark Eagles of the
Negro leagues in 1947; after three seasons with the Eagles, he joined the
Brooklyn Dodgers
The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association (19th century), American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the ...
' organization in 1950, spending eight full years in their
farm system
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team, feeder club, or nursery club is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher ...
.
His three MLB games in 1958 came against the
St. Louis Cardinals at
Busch Stadium. In his debut on Saturday, May 17, he pinch hit for
Stan Williams in the eighth
inning
In baseball, softball, and similar games, an inning is the basic unit of play, consisting of two halves or frames, the "top" (first half) and the "bottom" (second half). In each half, one team bats until three outs are made, with the other team ...
and
singled off Cardinal pitcher
Larry Jackson; he was then erased on a
force play
In baseball, a force is a situation when a baserunner is compelled (or ''forced'') to vacate their starting base (time-of-pitch base) and try to advance to the next base.
When a runner is forced to advance to a base, they are forced out if an o ...
. In the
doubleheader on Sunday, May 18, Wilson pinch hit for
Clem Labine in the ninth inning of the first game and
struck out against
Billy Muffett
Billy Arnold Muffett (September 21, 1930 – June 15, 2008) was an American professional baseball player and coach. He pitched in the Major Leagues for all or parts of six seasons (1957–1962) for the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants ...
. Then, in the nightcap, Wilson started in right field against
Vinegar Bend Mizell
Wilmer David "Vinegar Bend" Mizell, Sr. (August 13, 1930 – February 21, 1999), was an American athlete and politician. From 1952 to 1962, he was a left-handed pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets of Major Le ...
and went
hitless in three
at bats.
Wilson played a total of eleven seasons in
minor league baseball, retiring following the 1960 season. He enjoyed several productive seasons at the
Triple-A level, leading the
International League
The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball ...
in hits with 199 in 1955, and being named a first-team all-star in both the
American Association (1952) and International circuit (1956). He died in Dallas at age 60 on April 23, 1985.
See also
*
List of Negro league baseball players who played in Major League Baseball
External links
an
SeamheadsVenezuelan Professional Baseball League statistics
1925 births
1985 deaths
African-American baseball players
Baseball players from Dallas
Dallas Rangers players
Elmira Pioneers players
Houston Eagles players
Leones del Caracas players
American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela
Los Angeles Dodgers players
Major League Baseball outfielders
Montreal Royals players
Newark Eagles players
Oakland Oaks (baseball) players
St. Paul Saints (AA) players
Toronto Maple Leafs (International League) players
20th-century African-American sportspeople
{{US-baseball-outfielder-1920s-stub