Hoyt Wilhelm
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James Hoyt Wilhelm (July 26, 1923 in Huntersville, North Carolina - August 23, 2002 in Sarasota, Florida) was an American relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. Born in Huntersville, North Carolina, he was best known for his knuckleball, which enabled him to have great longevity – occasionally as a starting pitcher, but mainly as a specialist relief man (in which role he won 124 games). He is recognized as the first pitcher to have saved 200 games in his career.
Much travelled, his clubs included the New York Giants (1952-56), Baltimore Orioles ('58-'62) – for whom he threw he threw a no-hitter against the New York Yankees in 1958, Chicago White Sox ('63-'68), and spells with the St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, California Angels, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom he was playing when he eventually retired after the 1972 season.
His success as a reliever helped the gradual change in usage patterns of pitchers, and the popularity of the concept of a "relief ace". Along with Phil Niekro, Wilhelm is considered by many one of the greatest knuckleballers to have played the game, and he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985.
Career statistics
| W | L | PCT | ERA | G | GS | CG | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO |
| 143 | 122 | .540 | 2.52 | 1,070 | 52 | 20 | 227 | 2254.1 | 1,757 | 632 | 150 | 778 | 1,610 |
External links
- Baseball Hall of Fame (http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/wilhelm_hoyt.htm)
- Template:Baseball-reference
- Baseball Library (http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/W/Wilhelm_Hoyt.stm)ja:ホイト・ウィルヘルム
Categories: 1923 births | 2002 deaths | Baseball Hall of Fame | Major league pitchers | 1953 National League All-Stars | 1959 American League All-Stars | 1961 American League All-Stars | 1962 American League All-Stars | 1970 National League All-Stars | Atlanta Braves players | Baltimore Orioles players | California Angels players | Chicago Cubs players | Chicago White Sox players | Cleveland Indians players | Los Angeles Dodgers players | New York Giants baseball players | St. Louis Cardinals players | People from North Carolina | North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame