June Carter Cash
Musical Monikers
Madonna
Justin Bieber
My Ghost Story
I Survived
Babe Ruth
Johnny Cash
Georgia O'Keefe
I Survived
1 photo
Quick Facts
- NAME: Hoyt Wilhelm
- OCCUPATION: Baseball Player
- BIRTH DATE: July 26, 1923
- DEATH DATE: August 23, 2002
- PLACE OF BIRTH: Huntersville, North Carolina
- PLACE OF DEATH: Sarasota, Florida
- Full Name: James Hoyt Wilhelm
- AKA: Hoyt Wilhelm
Best Known For
Hoyt Wilhelm was a Major League Baseball relief pitcher known for his knuckleball and who set a pitching record.
Quiz
Think you know about Biography?
Answer questions and see how you rank against other players.
Play NowHoyt Wilhelm. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 01:20, May 22, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/hoyt-wilhelm-307392.
Hoyt Wilhelm. [Internet]. 2013. The Biography Channel website. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/hoyt-wilhelm-307392 [Accessed 22 May 2013].
"Hoyt Wilhelm." 2013. The Biography Channel website. May 22 2013, 01:20 http://www.biography.com/people/hoyt-wilhelm-307392.
"Hoyt Wilhelm," The Biography Channel website, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/hoyt-wilhelm-307392 [accessed May 22, 2013].
"Hoyt Wilhelm," The Biography Channel website, http://www.biography.com/people/hoyt-wilhelm-307392 (accessed May 22, 2013).
Hoyt Wilhelm [Internet]. The Biography Channel website; 2013 [cited 2013 May 22] Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/hoyt-wilhelm-307392.
Hoyt Wilhelm, http://www.biography.com/people/hoyt-wilhelm-307392 (last visited May 22, 2013).
Hoyt Wilhelm. The Biography Channel website. 2013. Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/hoyt-wilhelm-307392. Accessed May 22, 2013.
Synopsis
Born on July 26, 1923, in Huntersville, North Carolina, Hoyt Wilhelm began playing in the major leagues in his late 20s, becoming a famed relief pitcher known for his astounding knuckleball. He played for several teams, including the Chicago White Sox, and would set a record for pitching the most games by the time he retired. In 1985, Wilhelm joined the Baseball Hall of Fame. He died on August 23, 2002, in Sarasota, Florida.
Baseball Career
Athlete and Major League Baseball player James Hoyt Wilhelm was born on July 26, 1923, in Huntersville, North Carolina. Hoyt Wilhelm was already 28 years old when he played his first Major League game on April 18, 1952. It was an unforgettable debut: he scored a home run in his first at-bat. During his 20 year career, he would never repeat the feat, but instead made his mark as an extraordinary relief pitcher and is the first pitcher to have saved 200 games in his career.
Best known for his knuckleball, Wilhelm occasionally played starting pitcher but was mainly designated as a specialist relief man. In that capacity, he won a record 124 games out of the bullpen. Wilhelm pitched for the New York Giants (1952-'56), St. Louis Cardinals (1957), Cleveland Indians (1957-'58), Baltimore Orioles (1958-'62), Chicago White Sox (1963-'68), California Angels (1969), Atlanta Braves (1969-'70 and 1971), Chicago Cubs (1970) and Los Angeles Dodgers (1971-'72).
Baseball Highlights and Legacy
Wilhelm's lengthy career included many highlights. In 1954, he pitched for the World Series Champion New York Giants. In 1958, in a rare start for the Orioles, he no-hit the Yankees. In 1969, he was a member of the National League Western Division Champion Atlanta Braves. He was named to the National League All Star Team in 1953 and 1970 and the American League All Star Team in 1959, 1961 and 1962.
In 1985, Hoyt Wilhelm was the first relief pitcher to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Wilhelm died on August 23, 2002, in Sarasota, Florida.
© 2013 A+E Networks. All rights reserved.
profile name: Hoyt Wilhelm profile occupation:
Your Connections
Sign in with Facebook to see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons.
Profile Connections
Included In These Groups
-
Celebrity Enlistees
View groupHollywood stars often get flack for their extravagant lifestyles, and sometimes they seem to be far removed from the rest of us. Not so for all celebrities, though—a surprising number of stars have taken on the big responsibility of serving in the United States Armed Forces. We know them as actors, athletes, musicians, and comedians, but these brave individuals have actually put their lives on the line for their country. Here's a look at celebrity enlistees.
Celebrity Enlistees 84 people in this group
-
Famous Military Veterans
View groupAmerica wouldn't be what it is today without Hollywood, and it certainly wouldn't be the same without its armed forces. Military veterans make the ultimate contribution to society—they put their lives on the line for their country. Since the nation's founding, the dedication and bravery of soldiers has been the a key pillar on which the United States stands. From Revolutionary War heroes to Vietnam veterans, here's a look at famous military veterans.
Famous Military Veterans 211 people in this group
-
Famous Leos 522 people in this group
