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155. Wilbur Wood

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155. Wilbur Wood
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: October 22, 1941 in Cambridge, MA USA
  • Weight: 180 lbs.
  • Height: 6'0"
  • Bats: R
  • Throws: L
  • Debut: June 30, 1961
  • Final Game: August 22, 1978
  • TSN Fireman of the Year - 1968
  • TSN All-Star - 1972
  • TSN Pitcher of the Year - 1972
  • Cy Young - 1971
  • Cy Young - 1972
  • Cy Young - 1973
  • MVP - 1968
  • MVP - 1971
  • MVP - 1972
 
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Wilbur Wood began his first five seasons in the Majors with Boston and Pittsburgh, but he did not accomplish much of note.  He was traded to the Chicago White Sox in 1966, and after a year in the minors and developing the knuckleball, he would become one of the better Pitchers in ChiSox history.

Wood essentially had two careers in Chicago, where he began as a closer, leading the American League in Games Pitched annually from 1968 to 1970, and in the bookend years, he was first in Games Finished.  Wood moved the starting rotation, and from 1971 to 1974, he was a 20 Game winner, with three All-Star Games.  In this time period, he twice led the AL in Wins, twice in Innings, and from 1970 to 1972, he finished in the top five in Cy Young voting.

Wood’s career was derailed when a line drive cracked his kneecap in 1976, and while he managed to carve out two more years, he wasn’t the same.  Wood retired in 1978 with a record of 164-156 with 1,411 Strikeouts and 57 Saves.

The Bullet Points

  • Country of Origin: Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
  • Eligible In: Sunday, 01 January 1984
  • Position: Pitcher
  • Played For: Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    World Series Rings (None) 
    The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year (1) (AL) (1972)
    All-Star (3) (AL) (1971, 1972 & 1974)
    Highest bWAR for Pitchers (1) (AL) (1971)
    Most Games Pitched (3) (AL) (1968, 1969 & 1970)
    Most Innings Pitched (2) (AL) (1972 & 1973) 
    Most Games Started (4) (AL) (1972, 1973, 1974 & 1975)
    Most Games Finished (AL) (2) (1968 & 1970)
    Highest ERA+ (AL) (1) (1971) 
    Most Assists by a Pitcher (AL) (1) (1972)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a Pitcher (AL) (1) (1972)
    Highest Fielding Percentage by a Pitcher (AL) (1) (1978)
  • Other Points of Note:

    Top Ten MVP Finishes:
    (AL: 1971, 9th) & (AL: 1972, 7th)
    Top Ten Cy Young Finishes:
    (AL: 1971, 3rd), (AL: 1972, 2nd) & (AL: 1973, 5th)
    5 Top Ten Finishes (bWAR for Pitchers)
    1 Top Ten Finish (ERA)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (Wins)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (WHIP)
    1 Top Ten Finish (H/9)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (BB/9)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (Games Pitched)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (Saves)
    5 Top Ten Finishes (Innings Pitched)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (Strikeouts)
    5 Top Ten Finishes (Games Started)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (Complete Games)                 
    3 Top Ten Finishes (Shutouts) 
    3 Top Ten Finishes (SO/BB)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (Games Finished)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (ERA+)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (FIP)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (Win Probability Added)
  • Notable All Time Rankings:

    91. bWAR for Pitchers: 52.2
  • Vote Percentage Received for the Hall of Fame:

    1984: 3.5%
    1950: 4.1%
    1951: 5.4%
    1952: 6.3%
    1953: 7.0%
    1958: 3.1%
  • Should be Inducted As A: Chicago White Sox

Should Wilbur Wood be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 40%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 0%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 60%
No opinion. - 0%
No way! - 0%
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