Mookie Wilson

Mookie Wilson
Wilson in 2010.
Center fielder/First base Coach
Born: February 9, 1956 (1956-02-09) (age 55) Bamberg, South Carolina
Batted: Switch	Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 2, 1980 for the New York Mets
Last MLB appearance
October 6, 1991 for the Toronto Blue Jays
Career statistics
Batting average	.274
Home runs	67
Runs batted in	438
Stolen bases	327
Teams
New York Mets (1980–1989) Toronto Blue Jays (1989–1991) As coach New York Mets (1996-2002),(2011)
Career highlights and awards
World Series champion (1986) New York Mets Hall of Fame (1996)

William Hayward "Mookie" Wilson (born February 9, 1956) is an American former Major League Baseball center fielder and current coach for the New York Mets. He played 12 years in baseball for the New York Mets (1980–89) and Toronto Blue Jays (1989–91). He was a switch hitter primarily known for his impressive speed and positive attitude. He was named New York Mets first base coach for the 2011 season.^[1]

Biography

Early life

Born in Bamberg, South Carolina, Wilson played college baseball at Spartanburg Methodist College and then the University of South Carolina.

Playing career

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.

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 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 is now housed in the Seth Swirsky baseball collection.

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.

Post-playing career

Wilson was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame in 1996.

In 1996, Wilson earned a bachelor's degree from Mercy College in New York.^[2]

In 2005, Wilson managed the single A team Brooklyn Cyclones. Previously, he managed the Rookie League Kingsport Mets team and was a coach for the New York Mets from 1997 to 2002. He was named first base coach for the Mets 2011 season.^[1]

Wilson and Buckner have 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.^{[citation needed]}

From 1996-2002 and again in 2011 Mookie served as the First base coach for the Mets. He was later replaced by Tom Goodwin.

Personal life

Wilson is both the stepfather and uncle of former major league outfielder Preston Wilson.^[3] Mookie introduced Preston to baseball.

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.^[4]

Wilson has been a resident of Lakewood Township, New Jersey.^[5]

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. ^[6]

See also

• List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Wilson, Oberkfell among new Mets coaches
2. ^ Berkow, Ira (May 29, 1996). "BASEBALL;Graduation Day for Wilson: Pomp and Studious Stance". The New York Times. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0D15FF355D0C7A8EDDAC0894DE494D81&n=Top%2fNews%2fSports%2fBaseball%2fMajor%20League%2fNew%20York%20Mets. Retrieved May 13, 2010. 
3. ^ "Wilson agrees to $4M, one-year deal with Astros". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 3, 2006. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2279370. Retrieved May 23, 2010. 
4. ^ Quinn, T.J. (March 21, 2002). "Mookie keeps on truckin'". Daily News (New York). 
5. ^ Vecsey, George (May 29, 1988). "SPORT OF THE TIMES; Building Toward the Days of October". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DEFDA123BF93AA15756C0A96E948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all. Retrieved March 22, 2008. "Shortly after his classic time at bat in the sixth game of the 1986 World Series, Wilson and his wife, Rosa, started an educational center for girls, Mookie's Roses, near their home in Lakewood, N.J." 
6. ^ Mogg, Larry. "Wedding Bells Ring At Home Plate For Mookie Wilson". The News and Courier, July 2, 1978, Page 1-B.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
• Baseball Almanac: Mookie Wilson
• BaseballLibrary
• The Ultimate Mets Database: Mookie Wilson
• Mookie Wilson at the Internet Movie Database
• Thinkexist.com: Mookie Wilson quotes

Preceded by Razor Shines

New York Mets first base coach 2011-present

Succeeded by incumbent

Persondata
Name	Wilson, Mookie
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	February 9, 1956
Place of birth	Bamberg, South Carolina
Date of death
Place of death