James Hoyt Wilhelm Bio/Wiki, Net Worth, Married 2018
James Hoyt Wilhelm (July 26, 1922 – August 23, 2002) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. During his career, he pitched for the New York Giants (1952–1956), St. Louis Cardinals (1957), Cleveland Indians (1957–1958), Baltimore Orioles (1958–1962), Chicago White Sox (1963–1968), California Angels (1969), Atlanta Braves (1969–1970; 1971), Chicago Cubs (1970), and Los Angeles Dodgers (1971–1972). He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985.Wilhelm 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, still the record for relief pitchers). He is recognized as the first pitcher to have saved 200 games in his career, and the first pitcher to appear in 1,000 games. He is also one of the oldest players to have pitched in the major leagues; his final appearance was 16 days short of his 50th birthday. Wilhelm retired with the lowest career earned run average of any major league hurler after 1927 (Walter Johnson) who pitched more than 2,000 innings.
Served in the U.S. Army during World War II, seeing action in the Battle of the Bulge. He rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant, thereby, acquiring his nickname, "Ol' Sarge".
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Made major league debut on 18 April 1952.
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On 23 April 1952 he hit a home run in his first plate appearance. It was the only home run of his career.
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As of the start of the 2007 season, his 124 wins as a relief pitcher was still the major league record.
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Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985; was the first relief pitcher to be accorded this honor.
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Inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame in 2002.
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Named to 2 National League All Star Teams (1953 and 1970) and 3 American League All Star Teams (1959 and 1961-1962).
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Member of 1954 World Series Champion New York Ginats team. Member of 1969 National League Western Division Champion Atlanta Braves team.
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Pitcher for the New York Giants (1952-1956), St. Louis Cardinals (1957), Cleveland Indians (1957-1958), Baltimore Orioles (1958-1962), Chicago White Sox (1963-1968), California Angels (1969), Atlanta Braves (1969-1970 and 1971), Chicago Cubs (1970) and Los Angeles Dodgers (1971-1972).
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Greats of the Game
1985
TV Series
1961 MLB All-Star Game
1961
TV Special
Himself - AL pitcher
1954 World Series
1954
TV Mini-Series
Himself - New York Giants Pitcher
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Knuckleball!
2012
Documentary
Himself - Knuckleball Pitcher, 1952-72 (uncredited)
Prime 9
2009
TV Series
Himself
Known for movies
Greats of the Game (1985) as Actor
1961 MLB All-Star Game (1961) as Himself - AL pitcher
1954 World Series (1954) as Himself - New York Giants Pitcher
$250,000