Hoyt Wilhelm

[jingram058]

I always liked Hoyt Wilhelm as a kid. Before Phil Niekro, he was the knuckleball king. I remember my dad, who basically loved baseball as much as his wife and kids, really liked him.

My dad was in the Army during World War II. I did not know until I was grown that he was in the 99th Infantry Division, 395th Infantry Regiment, and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge.

Imagine my surprise just yesterday when, after looking up on Google, all the players in the 1954 Topps thread, I came across Hoyt Wilhelm. His Wikipedia page said he served in the Army during World War II, and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. Then, backing out of Wikipedia, I found his page on the Baseball During Wartime web site. He was in the 99th Infantry Division, 395th Infantry Regiment! Same as my dad! And they were both wounded in the Battle of the Bulge!

I know there are a lot of soldiers in a regiment. Did my dad know Hoyt Wilhelm? He never said so to me. I just find it an amazing coincidence.

[G1911]

He debuted at 29. And then pitched 21 seasons. They let him start only one season, 1959, and he responded by leading the league in ERA. Unlike a lot of the great relievers, he proved he could start at a very high performance level.

Wilhelm was the first HOFer I had a really old card of, bought at a show for $2 or $3:

[raulus]

My only Hoyt. (Don’t hate me because it’s graded).

Cost me a little more than $2 or $3.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Truly absurd fact. He made an all star team at age 47.

[Exhibitman]

As a little kid collector in 1972, I never even saw a trace of the last series that year. A few years later my aunt found a shoebox of 1972 high #s at an antique store and sent it to me. Had a stack of Wilhelm cards.

Ironic that Wilhelm came in and went out as a high number.

[h2oya311]

[wpeters]

He hit a home run in his first at bat and never hit another in his career. Amazingly he started in pro ball in 1942 and debuted in the Big Leagues in 1952 and pitched until 1972.

He was my favorite player when I was a kid.

[vthobby]

Originally Posted by raulus

My only Hoyt. (Don’t hate me because it’s graded).

Cost me a little more than $2 or $3.

I'd bet money that this card was from the "1952 Rosen Find".

Amazing! Thanks for sharing!

[stlcardsfan]

A thread like this is why I love this website. Learned so much more about Hoyt than I knew in 2 minutes. Cool story about your dad.

[Gr8Beldini]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Truly absurd fact. He made an all star team at age 47.

Truely absurd fact - Part 2... Hoyt's last 5 Topps cards (1968-1972) he was with 5 different teams. 68 - ChiSx; 69 Angels; 70 Braves; 71 Cubs; 72 Dodgers.

[G1911]

My 2nd favorite Wilhelm card.

[JollyElm]

761. Close Horse
How cards of Hall of Fame relief pitcher, Hoyt Wilhem, always seemed to have him sporting yet another new team’s uniform each season.

[cjedmonton]

Love this one.

A tough high series of Old Sarge flashing his legendary floater.

[Gr8Beldini]

Read in a book - probably a Rob Neyer or Bill James book - that Hoyt's nickname was "Old Tilt." Old... because he was old; and Tilt because his head was always tilted to one side or the other. Check out how many times his head is tilted on his cards.

[commishbob]

Originally Posted by cjedmonton

Love this one.

A tough high series of Old Sarge flashing his legendary floater.

My favorite of his cards. I sold my set but I had to go pick up a nice copy of it just because.

[G1911]

For some reason, Wilhelm is card #545 in both the 1961 and 1962 sets.

[akleinb611]

The reason for Hoyt's perpetual head tilt is that he suffered cervical damage due to his WWII injury. He couldn't straighten his head.

Crazy to think that a WWII vet was still pitching long enough to be included in Topps' most psychedelic set, the 1972 issue. I haven't done the research, but I'll bet he was older than several managers at that point.

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by cjedmonton

Love this one.

A tough high series of Old Sarge flashing his legendary floater.

That is a great card. I have a lot but not all 1961 Topps. I don't have that one. That has to change.