Mookie Wilson is now part of the Mint Pros Team!
William Hayward “Mookie” Wilson (born February 9, 1956) is an American former professional baseball player. He played all or part of twelve seasons in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets (1980–89) and Toronto Blue Jays (1989–91), primarily as a center fielder, and was also a coach for the Mets. He was a switch hitter primarily known for his impressive speed and positive attitude.
Early life Born in Bamberg, South Carolina, Wilson played college baseball at Spartanburg Methodist College and then the University of South Carolina.
Mets
Wilson was drafted by the Mets in the 2nd round of the 1977 Major League Baseball draft. He made his major league debut as a September call-up in 1980. He was immediately placed in the starting lineup, and started 26 of the Mets’ last 31 games in center field, pushing veteran Mike Jorgensen to the bench. He remained a fixture in center field and as the Mets’ leadoff hitter during his Mets career.
During Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, Wilson avoided being hit by a wild pitch, allowing the tying run to score in the bottom of the 10th. His ground ball later in the same at bat went through the legs of Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner, allowing the winning run to score. The play is often known as the “Buckner play” and is blamed on the first baseman, but Wilson’s smart at bat, speed, and determination also affected the course of events. The Mets went on to win that 1986 World Series. The ball that rolled through Buckner’s legs was long housed in the Seth Swirsky baseball collection and on May 3, 2012, was sold through Heritage Auctions for $418,250.
Blue Jays
When the Mets decided to rebuild, Wilson requested a trade. The Mets accommodated him by trading him to the Blue Jays in exchange for Jeff Musselman and Mike Brady on August 1, 1989.
Overview
In twelve seasons, Wilson was a .274 hitter with 67 home runs, 438 RBI, and 327 stolen bases in 1403 games. Wilson held the Mets record for career stolen bases (281) and career triples (62) until José Reyes broke both marks during the 2008 season.
Wilson was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame in 1996.
Post-playing career
From 1996-2002, Wilson served as the Mets’ first base coach. In 2003, he managed the Rookie League Kingsport Mets team, and in 2005, Wilson managed the single-A Brooklyn Cyclones.
In 2011, Wilson returned to serve as the Mets’ first base coach. He was later replaced by Tom Goodwin.
Personal life
On the evening of June 22, 1978, Wilson married Rosa Gilbert at home plate of Smith-Wills Stadium in Jackson, Mississippi. Wilson played in the outfield for the Texas League Class AA Jackson Mets at the time. The ceremony was conducted before a hometown crowd of 1200 and included an archway of bats held aloft by Wilson’s Mets teammates for the bride and groom’s procession. The public was invited to the wedding reception that was held on the field after that night’s game. Cake was cut and passed around; fans and teammates chipped in for a bridal suite at a local hotel.
Wilson is both the stepfather and uncle of former major league outfielder Preston Wilson. Mookie introduced Preston to baseball.
In 1996, Wilson earned a bachelor’s degree from Mercy College in New York.
Wilson has been a resident of Lakewood Township, New Jersey.
Business dealings
In 1999, Wilson obtained a Commercial driver’s license and began hauling freight in the offseason, a job he stated his intention to keep if and when he left professional baseball. Wilson and Buckner have also become business partners to some extent, attending autograph shows together and signing copies of a photo of the 1986 play that linked the two players.
