Hall of Famer Wilhelm Dies

Knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm, the first reliever elected to the Hall of Fame and the last pitcher to throw a no-hitter against the New York Yankees, has died.

Wilhelm died Friday of heart failure, said his widow, Peggy. Baseball records listed him at 79 years old, though the funeral home handling the arrangements said he was 80.

Wilhelm played from 1952 to 1972 and when he retired, at 49, he held the major league record for games pitched at 1,070. Jesse Orosco and Dennis Eckersley have since passed that mark.

“He had the best knuckleball you’d ever want to see,” recalled former Baltimore teammate Brooks Robinson, a fellow Hall of Famer. “He knew where it was going when he threw it. But when he got two strikes on you, he’d break out one that even he didn’t know where it was going.”

While known for his fluttering pitch--it was because of him that catchers began using an oversized mitt--Wilhelm had a smashing debut as a big leaguer.

On April 23, 1952, Wilhelm hit a home run in his first major league at-bat, connecting for the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds. That turned out to be Wilhelm’s only career homer.

Wilhelm was 143-122 with 227 saves and a 2.52 ERA for nine teams, including the Dodgers and Angels. A five-time All-Star, he played mostly for the Giants, Baltimore and the Chicago White Sox.

Wilhelm was elected to the Hall in 1985. Rollie Fingers is the only other reliever in the Hall.

The White Sox held a moment of silence for Wilhelm at Comiskey Park before Saturday night’s game against Tampa Bay.

Wilhelm is the third Hall of Famer to die in the last two months. Ted Williams and Enos Slaughter also died.

Wilhelm, who won a Purple Heart at the Battle of the Bulge, got a late start to his major league career. He was in his late 20s when the Giants decided to give him a chance in their bullpen in 1952.

The Giants were glad they did, as the rookie went 15-3 with 11 saves and a league-leading 2.43 ERA in 71 relief appearances.

In 1959, a year after his no-hitter against the Yankees, the Orioles kept Wilhelm in the starting rotation. He went 15-11 and led the AL with a 2.19 ERA--it was the last year in which Wilhelm did not record a save.

Wilhelm is survived by a son, two daughters, two brothers and six sisters.

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At a Glance

Teams Hoyt Wilhelm

played for (nine):

New York Giants...1952-56

Cleveland...1957-58

St. Louis Cardinals...1957

Baltimore...1958-62

Chicago White Sox...1963-68

Angels...1969

Atlanta...1969-1971

Chicago Cubs...1970

Dodgers...1971-72

Key career statistics:

Seasons...21

Games...1,070

Starts...52

W-L...143-122, .540

Saves...227

Innings...2,254 1/3

Hits...1,757

Hits Per 9 Inn....7.01

Home Runs Allowed...150

Walks...778

Walks Per 9 Inn....3.11

Strikeouts...1,610

Strikeouts Per 9 Inn....6.43

ERA...2.52

Where Wilhelm ranks:

* Third in games pitched -- 1,070 (behind Jesse Orosco, 1,173, and Dennis Eckersley, 1,071)

* First in relief innings pitched -- 1,871 (second is Lindy McDaniel, 1,694)

* First in relief wins -- 124 (second is Lindy McDaniel at 119)

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Double Players

Hoyt Wilhelm is one of 32 players who pitched for the Angels and Dodgers:

*--* Don Aase Angels 1978-84, Dodgers 1990 Tim Belcher Dodgers 1987-91, Ang. 1999-2000 Ken Brett Angels 1977-78, Dodgers 1979 Jim Brewer Dodgers 1964-75, Angels 1975-76 John Candelaria Angels 1985-87, Dodgers 1991-92 Bobby Darwin Angels 1962, Dodgers 1969 Dick Egan Angels 1966, Dodgers 1967 Mike Fetters Ang. 1989-91, 1998, Dod. 2000-01 Terry Forster Dodgers 1978-82, Angels 1986 Alan Foster Dodgers 1967-70, Angels 1972 Art Fowler Dodgers 1959, Angels 1961-64 Dave Goltz Dodgers 1980-82, Angels 1982-83 Kevin Gross Dodgers 1991-94, Angels 1997 Mike Harkey Angels 1995, Dodgers 1997 Tommy John Dodgers 1972-78, Angels 1982-85 Bob Lee Angels 1964-66, Dodgers 1967 Andy Messersmith Angels 1968-72, Dodgers 1973-79 Phil Ortega Dodgers 1960-64, Angels 1969 Ron Perranoski Dodgers 1961-72, Angels 1973 Doug Rau Dodgers 1972-79, Angels 1981 Jerry Reuss Dodgers 1979-87, Angels 1987 Dave Sells Angels 1972-75, Dodgers 1975 Larry Sherry Dodgers 1958-63, Angels 1968 Bill Singer Dodgers 1964-72, Angels 1973-75 Dennis Springer Angels 1996-97, Dodgers 2001 Don Sutton Dod. 1966-80, 1988, Ang. 1985-87 Ismael Valdes Dodgers 1994-2000, Angels 2001 F. Valenzuela Dodgers 1980-90, Angels 1991 Eric Weaver Dodgers 1998, Angels 2000 Hoyt Wilhelm Angels 1969, Dodgers 1971-72 Nick Willhite Dodgers 1963-66, Angels 1967 Geoff Zahn Dodgers 1973-75, Angels 1981-85

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