Chief Wilson - Definition and Overview

Chief Wilson of the Pittsburgh Pirates at West Side Grounds in 1908.

John Owen "Chief" Wilson (August 21, 1883 - February 22, 1954) was a Major League Baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1908-1913) and the St. Louis Cardinals (1914-1916).

Born in Austin, Texas, Wilson was an outfielder with a strong throwing arm. In 1912, he hit 36 triples, which still stands as the single-season record. Not fleet of foot, most of the triples (24 of 36) were obtained by hitting them over the heads of opposing outfielders at his cavernous home park of Forbes Field.

He also hit for the cycle on July 3, 1910.

Wilson died at age 70 in Bertram, Texas.

External links

• Career Statistics (http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/wilsoch01.shtml)
• SABR's Baseball Biography Project (http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&bid=903&pid=0)
• Bio at BaseballLibrary.com (http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/W/Wilson_Owen.stm)
• Chief Wilson's 36 Triples (http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/submit/Ripp_Bart3.stm)