gold star for USAHOF

48. Hoyt Wilhelm

48. Hoyt Wilhelm
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: July 26, 1922 in Huntersville, NC USA
  • Weight: 190 lbs.
  • Height: 6'0"
  • Bats: R
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: April 18, 1952
  • Final Game: July 10, 1972
  • MVP - 1952
  • MVP - 1954
  • MVP - 1961
  • MVP - 1964
  • Rookie of the Year - 1952
 
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Hoyt Wilhelm was only with the Baltimore Orioles for four and half seasons, but he was an All-Star in three of them, and it was his stint there that would later propel him into Cooperstown.

At age 35, Wilhlem was waived by the rebuilding Cleveland Indians, though it was more due to the frustration of Indians' Catchers to catch Wilhelm's knuckleball.  The Orioles would pick him up, and in the following season, he would have his best year in baseball leading the American League in ERA (2.19), while starting 27 of 32 Games.  He went back to his more traditional relief role in his remaining three years in Maryland, with two of his seasons seeing him post an ERA under 2.00.

He was traded to the Chicago White Sox in 1963, and he played until he was 49.  With the Orioles, the knuckleballer would post a record of 43-39 with 40 Saves and a 2.42 ERA.

Wilhelm would enter the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Orioles Hall of Fame in 2002.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Pitcher
  • Acquired: Selected off of Waivers from the Cleveland Indians 8/23/58.
  • Departed: Traded to the Chicago White Sox with Ron Hansen, Dave Nicholson and Pete Ward for Luis Aparicio and Al Smith 1/14/63.
  • Games Played: 185
  • Notable Statistics: 43 Wins
    39 Losses
    2.42 ERA
    43 Games Started
    19 Complete Games
    5 Shutouts
    114 Games Finished
    40 Saves
    616.1 Innings Pitched
    201 Strikeouts
    2.94 FIP
    1.107 WHIP
    2.28 SO/BB
    13.9 bWAR

    No Playoff Games
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    All-Star (1959, 1961 & 1962)
    Lowest ERA (1959)
    Highest ERA+ (1959)
    Highest Win Probability Added (1959)
    Highest Fielding Percentage by a Pitcher (1959)

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