Hall of Fame Major League Baseball Player. Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee in 1979. Lewis "Hack" Wilson was born in Ellwood City, a Pennsylvania steel mill town. Although just 5'6" in height, Wilson had an 18" neck and was described by one sportswriter as being "shaped like a beer barrel and not wholly unfamiliar with its contents." During his major league baseball career, Wilson played for the New York Giants (1923-25), Chicago Cubs (1926-31), Brooklyn Dodgers (1932-34) and Philadelphia Phillies (1934). Wilson was an outfielder who batted and threw righthanded. In 1930, Wilson had one of the greatest offensive seasons in baseball history, batting .356 with 56 home runs and 191 RBIs whike. The 56 home runs stood as the National League record for 68 years (surpassed by Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa in 1998). The 191 RBIs today stands as one of the longest-standing offensive major league records. For many years, Wilson was officially credited with 190 runs batted in during the 1930 season but in 1999 research proved that his actual total was 191. In the five-year period from 1926-1930, Wilson led the National League in home runs four times. Wilson's heavy drinking is believed to have been the primary cause for his rapid decline in baseball, resulting in his retirement following the 1934 season. Wilson moved to Baltimore and during World War II, worked in a defense plant. When his health began to fail, Wilson made appearance on radio programs, using himself as an example of the results of alcoholism. On October 4, 1948, Wilson was discovered unconscious after a fall in his home. At first the accident did not appear to be serious. Unfortunatly, pneumonia and other complications developed and he died of internal hemorrhaging on November 23, 1948, at the age of 48.
Hall of Fame Major League Baseball Player. Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee in 1979. Lewis "Hack" Wilson was born in Ellwood City, a Pennsylvania steel mill town. Although just 5'6" in height, Wilson had an 18" neck and was described by one sportswriter as being "shaped like a beer barrel and not wholly unfamiliar with its contents." During his major league baseball career, Wilson played for the New York Giants (1923-25), Chicago Cubs (1926-31), Brooklyn Dodgers (1932-34) and Philadelphia Phillies (1934). Wilson was an outfielder who batted and threw righthanded. In 1930, Wilson had one of the greatest offensive seasons in baseball history, batting .356 with 56 home runs and 191 RBIs whike. The 56 home runs stood as the National League record for 68 years (surpassed by Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa in 1998). The 191 RBIs today stands as one of the longest-standing offensive major league records. For many years, Wilson was officially credited with 190 runs batted in during the 1930 season but in 1999 research proved that his actual total was 191. In the five-year period from 1926-1930, Wilson led the National League in home runs four times. Wilson's heavy drinking is believed to have been the primary cause for his rapid decline in baseball, resulting in his retirement following the 1934 season. Wilson moved to Baltimore and during World War II, worked in a defense plant. When his health began to fail, Wilson made appearance on radio programs, using himself as an example of the results of alcoholism. On October 4, 1948, Wilson was discovered unconscious after a fall in his home. At first the accident did not appear to be serious. Unfortunatly, pneumonia and other complications developed and he died of internal hemorrhaging on November 23, 1948, at the age of 48.
Bio by: D. D. Thompson
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