Jimmie Wilson | |||
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Catcher / Manager | |||
Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
July 23, 1900|||
Died: May 31, 1947 Bradenton, Florida |
(aged 46)|||
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MLB debut | |||
April 17, 1923, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
Last MLB appearance | |||
September 29, 1940, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
MLB statistics | |||
Batting average | .284 | ||
Home runs | 32 | ||
Runs batted in | 621 | ||
Managerial record | 493–735 | ||
Winning % | .401 | ||
Teams | |||
As player
As manager |
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Career highlights and awards | |||
As player
As manager
James Wilson (July 23, 1900 – May 31, 1947), nicknamed "Ace," was an American professional athlete in soccer and baseball. He began his professional sports career as a soccer outside right in the National Association Football League and American Soccer League before becoming a catcher, manager and coach in Major League Baseball.
Wilson was the National League's starting catcher in baseball's first All-Star game.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Wilson threw and batted right-handed and was listed at 6 ft 1 1⁄2 in (187 cm) tall and 200 pounds (91 kg).
Wilson, the son of Scottish immigrants, grew up in northeast Philadelphia. He left school when he was fourteen to work in a local textile mill. In 1919, he left the mills when he began playing as an outside forward with Philadelphia Merchant Ship B in the National Association Football League. During his time with the team, he met Dick Spalding, another two sport athlete, whom he later hired as his first base coach when Wilson managed the Phillies and Cubs. After Merchant Ship folded following the 1919-1920 season, Wilson moved to Bethlehem Steel F.C., signing with the team in July 1920. During his time in Bethlehem, he also played catcher for the steel company's baseball team which competed in the Steel League. In 1921, Wilson signed with Harrison F.C. in the newly established American Soccer League. He played thirteen league and three National Challenge Cup games, scoring four goals. During the 1922-1923 season, he played four games for Philadelphia Field Club before leaving the sport to concentrate on his baseball career.