George Wilson (pitcher)

George H. Wilson (July 1875 – November 26, 1915) was an American baseball pitcher in the Negro leagues. He played for major teams from 1895 to 1905 and pitched for Havana in the Cuban winter league of 1907.

George Wilson
Wilson in 1907
Pitcher
Born: (1875-07-01)July 1, 1875
Lenawee County, Palmyra Township, Michigan
Died: November 26, 1915(1915-11-26) (aged 40)
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Batted: Unknown
Threw: Left
Teams

Baseball career

Wilson lived in Palmyra Township, Michigan when the Page Fence Giants were founded in Adrian, the Lenawee County seat, for the 1895 season. At age 19 he pitched one game for the 1895 Giants but spent that season with Adrian's Adrian Demons club in the Michigan State League. There he was one of the last black players in organized baseball before 1946. He batted .327 and posted a 29–4 record as a pitcher, but the number of racially mixed leagues was already very low, the Michigan State League did not return, and none of Adrian's black players were rehired for 1896.

With Page Fence in 1898, the Columbia Giants in 1899–1900,[4] and during his first two seasons with the Chicago Union Giants in 1901–1905, Wilson worked with catcher Chappie Johnson.

Wilson spent some years playing ball in Minnesota and Wisconsin. In 1907 he pitched for the Manitowoc, Wisconsin club and remained there that winter. An article at that time indicated Wilson had seen better days on the mound. "In his palmy days he was considered the swiftest pitcher in the country, but illness has reduced his speed and he has joined the minor leagues."[5]

Wilson played at least one winter season in Cuba, and during one of those seasons it appears his professional baseball career came to an end. He returned to his farm near Palmyra Township, Michigan and continued to pitch Sunday games for local teams until he was nearly 40 years old.[6]

Death

According to news reports, Wilson died at the age of 40 while living in an asylum at the Kalamazoo State Hospital in 1915. Reports say his body was shipped to his hometown of Palmyra Township, Michigan, where he is buried.[6][7]

While research still needs to be done regarding why and when he was admitted to the hospital, the report says Wilson was admitted to the hospital "following a trip to Cuba several years ago." It also says "his mind became clouded."[7]

Wilson's body was returned to his family's home in Palmyra Township, Michigan, and is buried on the family plot with his parents, Jerry and Mary (Lambert) Wilson; and sister, Mary.[6]

References
  1. "Giants Win" Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette, Cedar Rapids, IA, April 23, 1897, Page 5, Column 1
  2. "Great Ball Games Scheduled Here" Janesville Daily Gazette, Janesville, WI, Thursday, May 10, 1900, Page 5, Column 3
  3. "Baseball Notes" The Upper Des Moines Republican, Algona, IA, Wednesday, August 27, 1902, Page 1, Column 3
  4. "Colored Champions" Muskegon Daily Chronicle, Muskegon, MI, Tuesday, May 15, 1900, Page 7, Columns 3 and 4
  5. The LaCrossse (Wisc.) Tribune, November 26, 1907, Page 2.
  6. "George Wilson, Noted as Ball Player, is Dead" Adrian Daily Telegram, Adrian, MI, Saturday, November 27, 1915, Page 1, Column 7
  7. "Former Athlete Dies in Asylum" Kalamazoo Gazette, Kalamazoo, MI, November 28, 1915, Page 8, Column 5
  • Riley, James A. (1994). "Wilson, George H.". The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues. Carroll & Graf. pp. 872–73. ISBN 0-7867-0959-6.
  • (Riley.) George H. Wilson, Personal profiles at Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. – identical to Riley (confirmed 2010-04-13)
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