Longtime MLB pitcher Wilbur Wood passed away at 84. He was a talented left-handed starter with a fascinating career, spending 17 seasons in baseball. He played primarily for the Chicago White Sox but also had stints with the Boston Red Sox and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Wood’s journey in baseball wasn’t easy. After debuting with the Red Sox in 1961, he struggled to find his footing, throwing only 159 2/3 innings from 1961 to 1965. A pivotal moment came with a trade to the Pirates, where he began getting steady bullpen work. However, it was his move to the White Sox that really changed everything.
Under the guidance of Hall-of-Famer Hoyt Wilhelm, Wood learned the knuckleball. This pitch became his signature weapon. From 1967 to 1970, he thrived as a relief pitcher, posting an impressive 2.49 ERA with 492 innings of work.
By 1971, Wood became a fixture in the starting rotation. Over the next five seasons, he had an incredible run, boasting a 3.08 ERA across 227 games. He consistently led the majors in starts and innings pitched. In fact, his 376 2/3 innings in 1972 remains the highest single-season total for any pitcher since 1918. To put that in perspective, the top two pitchers for innings in 2025 combined for only 412 1/3 innings.
Despite his personal success, the White Sox struggled as a team. Wood famously became one of the few pitchers to both win and lose 20 games in a season, finishing 24-20 in 1973. He consistently won at least 20 games from 1971 to 1974, yet the team’s performance rarely matched his effort.
Sadly, Wood’s career took a hit when he suffered a knee injury from a line drive in May 1976. After that, he never regained his previous form, retiring with a respectable 164-156 record and a 3.24 ERA over his career.
Wilbur Wood’s story reminds us of the unpredictable nature of sports and the dedication it takes to succeed at such high levels. His legacy is not just in statistics but in the love and respect he garnered from fans and fellow players alike.
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