Willie Wilson
Born: 7/9/1955 in Montgomery, AL, USA
MLB Debut: 1976-09-04 | Final Game: 1994-05-16
Bats: B | Throws: R | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: Willie James Wilson
Biography
Willie Wilson was a prominent Major League Baseball player whose career spanned from 1976 to 1994. Born in 1955, Wilson became well-known for his speed and versatility as a position player. Over the course of his career, he played in 2,154 games and compiled a remarkable 2,207 hits, demonstrating consistent offensive production with a career batting average of .285. Wilson was an exceptional base stealer, finishing his career with 668 stolen bases, which showcased his ability to change the dynamics of a game with his speed on the bases. He contributed significantly to his teams, driving in 585 runs and hitting 41 home runs.
An All-Star selection twice during his career, Wilson was a key figure for the Kansas City Royals, where he played the majority of his career. He was integral to the team's success in the 1980s, including their run to the World Series title in 1985. Known for his electrifying playing style and clutch performances, Wilson's contributions extended beyond statistics; he became a beloved figure in the game. His achievements reflect the era of baseball characterized by a heightened focus on speed and athleticism, and he left a lasting legacy as one of the premier leadoff hitters of his time.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2154 | 7731 | 1169 | 2207 | 281 | 147 | 41 | 585 | 668 | 425 | 1144 | 0.285 | 0.326 | 0.376 | 0.702 | -3008.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | KCR | AL | 12 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0.167 | 0.0 |
| 1977 | KCR | AL | 13 | 34 | 10 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 0.324 | 0.0 |
| 1978 | KCR | AL | 127 | 198 | 43 | 43 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 46 | 16 | 33 | 0.217 | -785.8 |
| 1979 | KCR | AL | 154 | 588 | 113 | 185 | 18 | 13 | 6 | 49 | 83 | 28 | 92 | 0.315 | 648.1 |
| 1980 | KCR | AL | 161 | 705 | 133 | 230 | 28 | 15 | 3 | 49 | 79 | 28 | 81 | 0.326 | 1188.0 |
| 1981 | KCR | AL | 102 | 439 | 54 | 133 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 32 | 34 | 18 | 42 | 0.303 | 104.8 |
| 1982 | KCR | AL | 136 | 585 | 87 | 194 | 19 | 15 | 3 | 46 | 37 | 26 | 81 | 0.332 | 1266.6 |
| 1983 | KCR | AL | 137 | 576 | 90 | 159 | 22 | 8 | 2 | 33 | 59 | 33 | 75 | 0.276 | -739.0 |
| 1984 | KCR | AL | 128 | 541 | 81 | 163 | 24 | 9 | 2 | 44 | 47 | 39 | 56 | 0.301 | 481.5 |
| 1985 | KCR | AL | 141 | 605 | 87 | 168 | 25 | 21 | 4 | 43 | 43 | 29 | 94 | 0.278 | -54.0 |
| 1986 | KCR | AL | 156 | 631 | 77 | 170 | 20 | 7 | 9 | 44 | 34 | 31 | 97 | 0.269 | -784.3 |
| 1987 | KCR | AL | 146 | 610 | 97 | 170 | 18 | 15 | 4 | 30 | 59 | 32 | 88 | 0.279 | -891.2 |
| 1988 | KCR | AL | 147 | 591 | 81 | 155 | 17 | 11 | 1 | 37 | 35 | 22 | 106 | 0.262 | -1376.5 |
| 1989 | KCR | AL | 112 | 383 | 58 | 97 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 43 | 24 | 27 | 78 | 0.253 | -498.6 |
| 1990 | KCR | AL | 115 | 307 | 49 | 89 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 42 | 24 | 30 | 57 | 0.290 | 178.7 |
| 1991 | OAK | AL | 113 | 294 | 38 | 70 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 28 | 20 | 18 | 43 | 0.238 | -841.7 |
| 1992 | OAK | AL | 132 | 396 | 38 | 107 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 37 | 28 | 35 | 65 | 0.270 | -376.1 |
| 1993 | CHC | NL | 105 | 221 | 29 | 57 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 40 | 0.258 | -529.1 |
| 1994 | CHC | NL | 17 | 21 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0.238 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | 150 | 12 | 40 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 32 | 0.267 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | ALCS | OAK | 6 | 22 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0.227 |
| 1985 | ALCS | KCA | 7 | 29 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0.310 |
| 1985 | WS | KCA | 7 | 30 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0.367 |
| 1984 | ALCS | KCA | 3 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.154 |
| 1981 | AWDIV | KCA | 3 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.308 |
| 1980 | WS | KCA | 6 | 26 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 0.154 |
| 1980 | ALCS | KCA | 3 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0.308 |
| 1978 | ALCS | KCA | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.250 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 2031 | 1792 | 5060 | 76 | 67 | 15 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | KCA | OF | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 | KCA | OF | 9 | 6 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | KCA | OF | 112 | 45 | 171 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| 1979 | KCA | OF | 152 | 135 | 384 | 12 | 6 | 0 |
| 1980 | KCA | OF | 159 | 157 | 482 | 9 | 6 | 1 |
| 1981 | KCA | OF | 101 | 100 | 299 | 14 | 4 | 3 |
| 1982 | KCA | OF | 135 | 135 | 376 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| 1983 | KCA | OF | 136 | 132 | 354 | 3 | 9 | 0 |
| 1984 | KCA | OF | 128 | 128 | 383 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| 1985 | KCA | OF | 140 | 140 | 378 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 1986 | KCA | OF | 155 | 149 | 408 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 1987 | KCA | OF | 143 | 142 | 342 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 1988 | KCA | OF | 142 | 141 | 365 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 1989 | KCA | OF | 108 | 95 | 252 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| 1990 | KCA | OF | 106 | 81 | 187 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1991 | OAK | OF | 87 | 63 | 176 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 1992 | OAK | OF | 120 | 100 | 355 | 2 | 7 | 2 |
| 1993 | CHN | OF | 82 | 39 | 109 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1994 | CHN | OF | 10 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 676 |
| Center Field | 1357 |
| Right Field | 31 |
| Designated Hitter | 28 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Silver Slugger | OF |
| 1981 | Player of the Month | September |
| 1980 | Gold Glove | OF |
| 1980 | Silver Slugger | OF |
| 1979 | Player of the Week | Week of 1979-08-24 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | CHN | NL | $700,000 |
| 1993 | CHN | NL | $700,000 |
| 1992 | OAK | AL | $1,100,000 |
| 1991 | OAK | AL | $1,000,000 |
| 1990 | KCA | AL | $800,000 |
| 1989 | KCA | AL | $2,112,205 |
| 1988 | KCA | AL | $1,383,712 |
| 1987 | KCA | AL | $1,389,706 |
| 1986 | KCA | AL | $1,175,000 |
| 1985 | KCA | AL | $843,750 |
| Total Career Earnings | $11,204,373 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 10th | 61.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1982 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 15th | 16.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1980 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 4th | 169.0 | 392 | 1 |
| 1979 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 17th | 15.0 | 392 | 0 |