Glenn Wilson (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Glenn Dwight Wilson is a former Major League Baseball
outfielder. He was selected in the 1st round (18th pick) of the 1980 amateur draft
by the Detroit Tigers
, and made his Major League debut in a Tigers uniform on April 15, 1982. He played two seasons for the Tigers, and then was traded on March 24, 1984 along with C-1B John Wockenfuss to the Philadelphia Phillies
for P Willie Hernandez and 1b Dave Bergman. Subsequent years saw him playing for the Seattle Mariners
, the Pittsburgh Pirates
, and the Houston Astros
. Wilson retired from Major League baseball in 1993, having played ten seasons.
Wilson was best known for his tremendous throwing arm, and led all National League
outfielders for assists in 1985 and 1986, throwing out 18 and 20 base-runners from right field, respectively. In 1987, Wilson twice threw out base runners who attempted to reach first base after apparent singles into right field. http://www.broadandpattison.com/almanac.html His most successful season as a batter was in 1985, when he drove in 102 runs, and recorded 167 base hits with 14 home runs in 608 at-bats for a .275 batting average. He was selected as a National League All-Star
in 1985. On August 5, 1987 he pitched in the bottom on the 8th inning in a game against the New York Mets
when the Phillies ran out of relief pitchers and manager Lee Elia
put him on the mound. In what would turn out to be the only pitching appearance of his career, he struck out Howard Johnson.
Wilson's nickname was Glennbo, a reference to Rambo. Wilson also appeared in a Phillies promotional ad dressed as Rambo.
Wilson owned and operated a gas station in Conroe, Texas north of Houston. He was once famously told that he needed to improve his mechanics (meaning baseball skills) and replied by saying, "Why, I just gave all mechanics a raise."
On September 15, 1988, Wilson hit two home runs off Randy Johnson, the first two homers ever surrendered by Johnson. At the start of the following season (1989), Wilson again tagged Johnson for a homer. Of the first five home runs ever given up by Johnson, three came off the bat of Glenn Wilson.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder. He was selected in the 1st round (18th pick) of the 1980 amateur draft
1980 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1980 Major League Baseball draft.- Compensation Picks :*William Erickson, was drafted in the second round by the San Francisco Giants, 31st pick overall. *Jeff Horne was drafted in the second round by the Pittsburgh Pirates,...
by the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, and made his Major League debut in a Tigers uniform on April 15, 1982. He played two seasons for the Tigers, and then was traded on March 24, 1984 along with C-1B John Wockenfuss to the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for P Willie Hernandez and 1b Dave Bergman. Subsequent years saw him playing for the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
, the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, and the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. Wilson retired from Major League baseball in 1993, having played ten seasons.
Wilson was best known for his tremendous throwing arm, and led all National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
outfielders for assists in 1985 and 1986, throwing out 18 and 20 base-runners from right field, respectively. In 1987, Wilson twice threw out base runners who attempted to reach first base after apparent singles into right field. http://www.broadandpattison.com/almanac.html His most successful season as a batter was in 1985, when he drove in 102 runs, and recorded 167 base hits with 14 home runs in 608 at-bats for a .275 batting average. He was selected as a National League All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
in 1985. On August 5, 1987 he pitched in the bottom on the 8th inning in a game against the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
when the Phillies ran out of relief pitchers and manager Lee Elia
Lee Elia
Lee Constantine Elia is a former professional baseball player and manager in Major League Baseball. He was a manager of the Chicago Cubs and the Philadelphia Phillies . Additionally, he has served as a coach for the Phillies, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Baltimore...
put him on the mound. In what would turn out to be the only pitching appearance of his career, he struck out Howard Johnson.
Wilson's nickname was Glennbo, a reference to Rambo. Wilson also appeared in a Phillies promotional ad dressed as Rambo.
Wilson owned and operated a gas station in Conroe, Texas north of Houston. He was once famously told that he needed to improve his mechanics (meaning baseball skills) and replied by saying, "Why, I just gave all mechanics a raise."
On September 15, 1988, Wilson hit two home runs off Randy Johnson, the first two homers ever surrendered by Johnson. At the start of the following season (1989), Wilson again tagged Johnson for a homer. Of the first five home runs ever given up by Johnson, three came off the bat of Glenn Wilson.