1. Overview
Donald Edward Wilson (February 12, 1945 - January 5, 1975) was an American professional baseball pitcher who played his entire nine-season Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the Houston Astros. Known for his powerful pitching and two no-hitters, Wilson achieved significant milestones, including setting an Astros record for single-game strikeouts and being selected to the MLB All-Star Game. His promising career was tragically cut short when he died at the age of 29 from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning at his home, an incident that also claimed the life of his young son. Following his death, the Astros honored his memory by retiring his jersey number 40, a testament to his lasting impact on the team and the sport.
2. Early life and amateur career
Don Wilson's journey into professional baseball began in his formative years, establishing a foundation that would lead him to a notable Major League career.
2.1. Education and early baseball
Born in Monroe, Louisiana, Wilson attended Centennial High School before continuing his education and baseball pursuits at Compton Community College in Compton, California. His talent on the mound during his amateur years attracted the attention of professional scouts, leading to his recruitment by the Houston Astros in 1966.
2.2. Professional debut and early career highlights
Wilson made his Major League Baseball debut as a September call-up on September 29, 1966, against the Cincinnati Reds. He pitched six innings, recording seven strikeouts and allowing two runs in a 3-2 victory for the Astros. The 1967 season marked his first full year in the majors. He pitched in 31 games, starting 28, and finished with a 10-9 record and a 2.79 ERA over 184 innings pitched. During this season, he recorded 159 strikeouts but also struggled with control, issuing 69 walks and throwing ten wild pitches. A significant highlight of his rookie year occurred on June 18, 1967, when he pitched his first career no-hitter against the Atlanta Braves in a 2-0 victory at the Astrodome. This historic game marked the first no-hitter ever pitched in a domed stadium or on artificial turf, during which he struck out 15 batters, including Hank Aaron for the final out.
3. Major League career
Don Wilson's nine-season career with the Houston Astros was characterized by powerful pitching, notable achievements, and consistent contributions to the team's rotation.
3.1. Notable achievements and records
Wilson's career was highlighted by several significant accomplishments. He pitched two no-hitters during his career, the first on June 18, 1967, against the Atlanta Braves, and his second on May 1, 1969, against the Cincinnati Reds. This second no-hitter was particularly notable as it occurred just one day after Jim Maloney of the Reds had no-hit the Astros, marking only the second time in MLB history that back-to-back no-hitters were thrown by opposing teams. Earlier in his career, on July 14, 1968, in the second game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds, Wilson set a club record for single-game strikeouts with 18, leading the Astros to a 6-1 victory. His exceptional performance in 1971, where he achieved a career-best 2.45 ERA and a 16-10 record, earned him his sole selection to the 1971 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. He pitched two innings in the game, walking one and striking out two batters.
3.2. Seasonal performance analysis
After his strong 1967 season, Wilson continued to develop. In 1968, he posted a 13-16 record with a 3.28 ERA in 33 games. The 1969 season saw him take an upswing, as he started on Opening Day, a distinction given to eight different Astros pitchers in the team's first eight seasons. That year, he finished with 16 wins and 12 losses, a 4.00 ERA, and a career-high 235 strikeouts in 225 innings. He led the league in wild pitches with 16 and ranked second in strikeouts per nine innings at 9.400. Notably, the 1969 Astros pitching staff, which included Wilson, Larry Dierker (232 strikeouts), and Tom Griffin (200 strikeouts), set a big-league record for team strikeouts in a season, marking only the second time in MLB history that a team had three pitchers with 200 or more strikeouts.
In 1970, Wilson recorded an 11-6 record with a 3.91 ERA in 29 games. His best statistical season came in 1971, where he achieved a career-best 2.45 ERA and a 16-10 record. He also pitched a career-high 18 complete games and 268 innings, striking out 180 batters. For his performance, he earned Astros MVP honors. He was the Opening Day starter again in 1972, making him only the second Astros pitcher after Dierker to have multiple Opening Day starts. He went 15-10 with a 2.68 ERA, his third and final season with an ERA below 3.00. He completed 13 games in 228.1 innings and struck out 172 batters, while his 66 walks tied his lowest mark in a full season. On September 11, he reached 1,000 career strikeouts, achieving the milestone against Willie Crawford of the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 1973, his performance saw a decline, with an 11-16 record and a 3.20 ERA over 37 games.
His final season in 1974 was middling, as he recorded an 11-13 record with a 3.08 ERA in 33 games. On July 30, 1974, he earned his 100th career win against the Cincinnati Reds at Riverfront Stadium, pitching eight innings in an 8-4 Astros victory. Don Wilson's last game was a dominant two-hit, 5-0 shutout against the Atlanta Braves on September 28, 1974.
3.3. Pitching style
Don Wilson was widely known for being one of the hardest throwers in the National League. While early in his career he was prone to wildness, he developed a diverse repertoire of pitches. His primary pitches included a hard slider, a curveball, and a changeup. This combination of velocity and varied pitches made him a formidable opponent on the mound.
4. Statistics
Don Wilson's Major League Baseball career statistics demonstrate his consistent performance as a pitcher for the Houston Astros.
4.1. Annual pitching statistics
| Year | Team | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | W | L | HLD | ERA | W% | BFP | IP | H | HR | BB | IBB | HBP | SO | WP | BK | R | ER | WHIP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | HOU | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 1.000 | 22 | 6.0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3.00 | 1.00 |
| 1967 | HOU | 31 | 28 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 0 | - | .526 | 757 | 184.0 | 141 | 10 | 69 | 2 | 7 | 159 | 10 | 3 | 67 | 57 | 2.79 | 1.14 |
| 1968 | HOU | 33 | 30 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 16 | 0 | - | .448 | 884 | 208.2 | 187 | 9 | 70 | 5 | 4 | 175 | 9 | 1 | 85 | 76 | 3.28 | 1.23 |
| 1969 | HOU | 34 | 34 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 12 | 0 | - | .571 | 979 | 225.0 | 210 | 16 | 97 | 8 | 9 | 235 | 16 | 3 | 119 | 100 | 4.00 | 1.36 |
| 1970 | HOU | 29 | 27 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 0 | - | .647 | 806 | 184.1 | 188 | 15 | 66 | 4 | 7 | 94 | 15 | 1 | 92 | 80 | 3.91 | 1.38 |
| 1971 | HOU | 35 | 34 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 10 | 0 | - | .615 | 1067 | 268.0 | 195 | 15 | 79 | 3 | 7 | 180 | 5 | 0 | 80 | 73 | 2.45 | 1.02 |
| 1972 | HOU | 33 | 33 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 10 | 0 | - | .600 | 927 | 228.1 | 196 | 16 | 66 | 2 | 2 | 172 | 11 | 0 | 79 | 68 | 2.68 | 1.15 |
| 1973 | HOU | 37 | 32 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 16 | 2 | - | .407 | 988 | 239.1 | 187 | 21 | 92 | 6 | 7 | 149 | 7 | 1 | 94 | 85 | 3.20 | 1.17 |
| 1974 | HOU | 33 | 27 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 13 | 0 | - | .458 | 875 | 204.2 | 170 | 16 | 100 | 2 | 4 | 112 | 4 | 1 | 80 | 70 | 3.08 | 1.32 |
| Career (9 years) | 266 | 245 | 78 | 20 | 5 | 104 | 92 | 2 | - | .531 | 7305 | 1748.1 | 1479 | 119 | 640 | 32 | 47 | 1283 | 77 | 10 | 698 | 611 | 3.15 | 1.21 | |
Note: "-" indicates no record or not applicable. Bold indicates league leader.
4.2. Awards and uniform numbers
Don Wilson's accolades include his selection to the 1971 Major League Baseball All-Star Game and being named the Astros MVP for his performance in 1971.
Throughout his career with the Houston Astros, Don Wilson wore two different uniform numbers:
- 23 (1966 - mid-1967)
- 40 (mid-1967 - 1974)
5. Personal life
Don Wilson was married to Bernice Wilson, and together they had a daughter named Denise and a son named Donald "Alex" Alexander.
6. Death
Don Wilson's life came to a tragic end under unfortunate circumstances, resulting in an investigation into the incident.
6.1. Circumstances of death
On January 5, 1975, Don Wilson died at the age of 29 in his home in the Fondren Southwest community of Houston. His wife, Bernice, discovered him in the passenger seat of his Ford Thunderbird, which was parked inside their attached garage with the engine still running. The cause of death was determined to be carbon monoxide poisoning. The gas, leaking from the running vehicle, fatally asphyxiated his five-year-old son, Donald "Alex" Alexander, who was sleeping in the master bedroom located directly above the garage. Wilson's nine-year-old daughter, Denise, was found unconscious in another bedroom and required hospitalization. Bernice Wilson also received treatment for carbon monoxide inhalation and an unexplained jaw injury she could not recall incurring.
6.2. Official investigation and theories
On February 5, 1975, Harris County Medical Examiner Dr. Joseph Jachimczyk officially ruled the deaths of both Don Wilson and his son, Alex, as accidental. The autopsy report revealed that Wilson had a blood alcohol content of 0.167% at the time of his death. One prevailing theory regarding the incident suggests that Wilson drove into his garage, activated the automatic door closer, and then passed out inside the running vehicle, leading to the tragic accumulation of carbon monoxide.
7. Legacy and honors
Don Wilson's contributions to the Houston Astros and baseball have been permanently recognized through various honors and tributes.
7.1. Jersey number retirement
In a significant tribute to his legacy, the Houston Astros retired Don Wilson's uniform number 40 on April 13, 1975, just over three months after his death. This act honored his impact as a key pitcher and his tragic passing while still an active player.
7.2. Other tributes and impact
Beyond the retirement of his jersey number, the Houston Astros continued to commemorate Don Wilson. For the season following his death, the team wore a black circular patch featuring his number 40 in white on the left sleeve of their "rainbow jerseys" as a memorial. His enduring contributions to the team are also recognized on the Houston Astros Wall of Honor at Minute Maid Park, where a plate bearing his name is displayed. Wilson is also an inductee into the Houston Astros Hall of Fame.
