David Wilder
Encyclopedia
David Scott Wilder is a former minor-league baseball player and a former major-league baseball executive.
. He earned a bachelor's degree in management from St. Mary's College of California, completing his degree while in the minor leagues.
famously traded future Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley
and infielder Dan Rohn to the A's for Wilder and two other players. "Hey, I could have been traded for Joe Blow," Wilder told the San Francisco Chronicle
in an article that was published on July 26, 2004. "It's part of baseball history." Wilder's playing career ended in 1988. After his career ended, he worked as a baseball coach for two years for the University of California.
as a West Coast regional scouting supervisor, becoming a baseball operations assistant in September 1994. He was named an assistant scouting director for the Braves in August 1995, making him the highest-ranking African-American at that time in the Braves' organization, other than Hall of Famer Hank Aaron.
In January 1996, Wilder joined the Chicago Cubs
organization, becoming director of minor-league operations, and rising to become assistant general manager. In September 1999, the Milwaukee Brewers
hired Wilder as vice president for player personnel, and he became the team's assistant general manager in 2001. In 2000, Wilder was on the selection committee for the United States Olympic baseball team.
In 2004, Wilder joined the Chicago White Sox
. He became director of player development during the team's World Series-winning season in 2005, and he was credited with being largely responsible for the team's acquisition of closer Bobby Jenks
from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
In 2005, Wilder interviewed with the Boston Red Sox
for the general manager's job that became available with the departure of Theo Epstein
.
In February 2007, the White Sox promoted Wilder senior director of player personnel. He continued to oversee the team's Latin American operations, as he had while previously serving as director of player development.
On February 11, 2011, Wilder pled guilty to one count of mail fraud in federal court in Chicago. He was released on bond pending sentencing.
Early life and education
Wilder attended Berkeley High School in Berkeley, California and Contra Costa CollegeContra Costa College
Contra Costa College, in San Pablo, California, is the west campus of the Contra Costa Community College District. It is part of the California community colleges system, one of the three college systems in California.- History :...
. He earned a bachelor's degree in management from St. Mary's College of California, completing his degree while in the minor leagues.
Baseball career
An outfielder, Wilder played minor-league baseball in the Oakland A's and Chicago Cubs farm systems, but never advanced to the major leagues. He hit .267 in six seasons in the minors. On April 3, 1987, the Chicago CubsChicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
famously traded future Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley
Dennis Eckersley
Dennis Lee Eckersley , nicknamed "Eck", is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. Eckersley had success as a starter, but gained his greatest fame as a closer, becoming the first of only two pitchers in Major League history to have both a 20-win season and a 50-save season in a career .He...
and infielder Dan Rohn to the A's for Wilder and two other players. "Hey, I could have been traded for Joe Blow," Wilder told the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
in an article that was published on July 26, 2004. "It's part of baseball history." Wilder's playing career ended in 1988. After his career ended, he worked as a baseball coach for two years for the University of California.
Career as a baseball executive
Wilder began his management career with Oakland in 1990, working as a scout and as a coach at Class A Medford in the Northwest League. He later joined the Atlanta BravesAtlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
as a West Coast regional scouting supervisor, becoming a baseball operations assistant in September 1994. He was named an assistant scouting director for the Braves in August 1995, making him the highest-ranking African-American at that time in the Braves' organization, other than Hall of Famer Hank Aaron.
In January 1996, Wilder joined the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
organization, becoming director of minor-league operations, and rising to become assistant general manager. In September 1999, the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
hired Wilder as vice president for player personnel, and he became the team's assistant general manager in 2001. In 2000, Wilder was on the selection committee for the United States Olympic baseball team.
In 2004, Wilder joined the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. He became director of player development during the team's World Series-winning season in 2005, and he was credited with being largely responsible for the team's acquisition of closer Bobby Jenks
Bobby Jenks
Robert Scott "Bobby" Jenks is an American professional baseball relief pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball...
from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
In 2005, Wilder interviewed with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
for the general manager's job that became available with the departure of Theo Epstein
Theo Epstein
Theo Nathan Epstein is the President of Baseball Operations for the Chicago Cubs.On November 25, 2002, he became the youngest GM in the history of Major League Baseball when the Boston Red Sox hired him at the age of 28...
.
In February 2007, the White Sox promoted Wilder senior director of player personnel. He continued to oversee the team's Latin American operations, as he had while previously serving as director of player development.
Scandal
On May 16, 2008, the White Sox fired Wilder and two scouts after an investigation in Latin America. Federal authorities were called in as well, and the baseball commissioner's office was investigating the parents of several Latin players about bonuses that they may have received from major-league baseball teams. A major league baseball investigator confirmed to the Chicago Tribune that the investigation involved skimming and was limited only to the White Sox.On February 11, 2011, Wilder pled guilty to one count of mail fraud in federal court in Chicago. He was released on bond pending sentencing.