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Earl Lawrence Wilson
Boston Red Sox
Pitcher
Born: October 2, 1934, Ponchatoula, LA
Signed: Signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent, May 11, 1953
Major League Teams: Boston Red Sox 1959-1960, 1962-1966; Detroit Tigers 1966-1970; San Diego Padres 1970
Died: April 23, 2005, Southfield, MI (age 70)
An above average starting pitcher in the mid to late-1960s, Earl Wilson won 22 games with the Tigers in 1967 and helped that club win a World Series title in 1968. Wilson began his career with the Red Sox and was their first black pitcher when he debuted in 1959. On June 26, 1962, Wilson threw a no-hitter against the Angels and hit a home run in the winning effort. He struggled somewhat with occasional wildness, leading the league in both walks and wild pitches in 1963. Wilson was dealt to the Tigers on June 14, 1966, after a racist incident occurred that he was told by Boston management to "forget about."
With the Tigers, he found his greatest success, including his 1967 season when he led the league in wins. In 1968, he supported a pitching rotation that also included Denny McLain (#236) and Mickey Lolich (#335) on the way to winning the World Series. Wilson finished his career with a 121-109 record and a 3.69 ERA over 338 games pitched. Originally a catcher, he was also an accomplished hitter, batting .195 for his career with 35 home runs - 33 as a pitcher and 2 as a pinch-hitter. Only Wes Ferrell (38), Bob Lemon (37), Warren Spahn (#205) (35) and Red Ruffing (34) have hit more home runs as a pitcher.
Building the Set
December 25, 2020 from Marco Island, FL - Card #190
This is one of 32 cards (mostly commons) I received from Jenna and our sons on Christmas morning, as I was asked to do some surrogate shopping on their behalf and I gladly obliged. Hunting specifically for first series cards, this is one of 11 cards I added from eBay seller njlionsfan from Clinton, New Jersey. This Wilson card was only $2.
The Card / Red Sox Team Set
If the player in the dugout behind Wilson had just turned his back a little more, we'd be able to identify him by his uniform number. I'll take a wild guess and say that's pitcher Dave Morehead (#434), who wore #23 with the Red Sox beginning in 1963. I'm noticing more and more with the write-ups on the backs of these cards that Topps really focuses on the player's minor league highlights and especially their early minor league highlights. Wilson had won at least 11 games for the Red Sox in 1962, 1963 and 1964, but it's his 10 wins with the 1959 Minneapolis Millers that gets the attention. At least the cartoon highlights his no-hitter from 1962.
1965 Season
As the most used starting pitcher for the Red Sox, Wilson went 13-14 in 36 starts with a 3.98 ERA. He threw 8 complete games, including one shutout. He led the Red Sox staff in wins, innings pitched (230 2/3) and strikeouts (164). Only Bill Monbouquette (#142), who started 35 games, had a better ERA at 3.70. Wilson hit two home runs in his start on August 16th against the White Sox, but still lost the game 5-4. He struck out a season high 13 Senators on August 25th.
Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card: 1960 Topps #249
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (11): 1960-1961, 1963-1971
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2001 Fleer Boston Red Sox 100th Anniversary #50
74 - Wilson non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 1/1/21.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database
Previous Card: #41 White Sox Rookie Stars
Building the Set
December 25, 2020 from Marco Island, FL - Card #190
This is one of 32 cards (mostly commons) I received from Jenna and our sons on Christmas morning, as I was asked to do some surrogate shopping on their behalf and I gladly obliged. Hunting specifically for first series cards, this is one of 11 cards I added from eBay seller njlionsfan from Clinton, New Jersey. This Wilson card was only $2.
The Card / Red Sox Team Set
If the player in the dugout behind Wilson had just turned his back a little more, we'd be able to identify him by his uniform number. I'll take a wild guess and say that's pitcher Dave Morehead (#434), who wore #23 with the Red Sox beginning in 1963. I'm noticing more and more with the write-ups on the backs of these cards that Topps really focuses on the player's minor league highlights and especially their early minor league highlights. Wilson had won at least 11 games for the Red Sox in 1962, 1963 and 1964, but it's his 10 wins with the 1959 Minneapolis Millers that gets the attention. At least the cartoon highlights his no-hitter from 1962.
1965 Season
As the most used starting pitcher for the Red Sox, Wilson went 13-14 in 36 starts with a 3.98 ERA. He threw 8 complete games, including one shutout. He led the Red Sox staff in wins, innings pitched (230 2/3) and strikeouts (164). Only Bill Monbouquette (#142), who started 35 games, had a better ERA at 3.70. Wilson hit two home runs in his start on August 16th against the White Sox, but still lost the game 5-4. He struck out a season high 13 Senators on August 25th.
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First Mainstream Card: 1960 Topps #249
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (11): 1960-1961, 1963-1971
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2001 Fleer Boston Red Sox 100th Anniversary #50
74 - Wilson non-parallel baseball cards in the Beckett online database as of 1/1/21.
Sources:
Baseball Reference
Beckett Database
SABR
The Trading Card Database
Previous Card: #41 White Sox Rookie Stars
Next Card: #43 Mike Shannon - St. Louis Cardinals
Wilson and Jim Lonborg both had 22 wins in 1967. Had they not traded him to the Tigers in mid-1966, he could have made the difference for the Sox in the '67 World Series.
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