Hoyt Wilhelm with the Mooresville Moors

Photo: 1941 Mooresville Moors

Little known fact: Although it is thought Hoyt Wilhelm broke into professional baseball in 1942 with the Mooresville Moors (an independent team, not affiliated with a major league club), he actually suited up for the Mooresville Moors in 1941 (after graduating high school on May 3, 1941). However, despite the fact he spent 3 weeks with the team -- he signed May 6, 1941 (see signing in first image below) and was released May 27, 1941 (see release in second and third images below) -- it is not known that he played a game in 1941 for the Moors. 

May 7, 1941, Kannapolis Daily Independent clipping

(Hoyt Wilhelm's signing with Mooresville)

The reference to Wilhelm pitching against the Davidson College freshmen team happened on April 17, 1941, when Cornelius High beat the Davidson College freshmen 14-3 (score from The Davidsonian newspaper, April 24, 1941).

May 28, 1941, Kannapolis Daily Independent clipping

(Hoyt Wilhelm released from Mooresville)

June 5, 1941, Sporting News clipping

(Hoyt Wilhelm released from Mooresville)

Photos: 1942 Mooresville Moors 

(1st photo from collection; 2nd photo, The Charlotte Observer)

On April 12, 1942, Wilhelm was one of 20 players for practice and tryouts with the Mooresville Moors. He would sign, be released (June 28), and sign again to end the 1942 season with a 10-3 record, 4.25 ERA in 8 games started. At the plate, he hit .180 in 50 at-bats, and had 1 double and 1 triple. The Moors made the N.C. State League playoffs, but lost in the first round, 3 games to 0 games to the Landis Millers.

The Greenville (S.C.) News, Dec. 16, 1942

Interesting note: The entire 1942 Mooresville Moors team had entered military service by December of 1942. It was such a fascinating note, that it ran in papers all over the United States (from the West Coast to the East Coast) in December of 1942 and January of 1943. However, the note erroneously reported that Wilhelm won 11 games in 1942 as opposed to 10 games.

Photo: June 11, 1947, The Charlotte Observer

On Feb. 5, 1946, Hoyt Wilhelm signed with the Mooresville Moors, a return after serving in the military during World War II, where he fought in the Battle of the Bulge and earned a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars.

In 1946 he was 21-8, with a 2.47 ERA and was named an All-Star in the North Carolina State League, while helping the Moors win the playoffs (after finishing fourth in the regular-season). At the plate that season, he hit .202, with 21 hits and 5 doubles in 104 at-bats.

Photo: September 3, 1947, The Charlotte Observer

In 1947 Hoyt Wilhelm became a 20-game winner again, going 20-7, with a 3.38 ERA, while recording his best season at the plate: .299, 44 hits, 8 doubles, 2 home runs in 147 at-bats. He again helped the Moors to another North Carolina State League title, winning the regular-season and the playoffs.

Note: In early October of 1947 (Mooresville Tribune), the Boston Braves purchased Hoyt Wilhelm from Mooresville. On Nov. 20, 1947, the N.Y. Giants drafted Wilhelm from the Boston Braves in the 1947 minor league draft.

Photo: 1946 Mooresville Moors team (Wilhelm is bottom row, far right)

The 1946 Mooresville Moors finished fourth in the North Carolina State League regular season with a 57-52 record, squeaking into the playoffs as the fourth and last team, but they won the playoffs. In the first round, the Moors beat the Landis Millers, 4 games to 3 games. In the Championship Series, the Moors beat the Concord Weavers, 4 games to 2 games.

Note: After the Moors beat Concord, they were supposed to face the winner of the Tobacco State playoffs, Angier-Fuquay, in a series.

Photo: 1947 Mooresville Moors team (Wilhelm is bottom row, third from left)

The 1947 Mooresville Moors finished first in the North Carolina State League regular season with a 68-43 record and won the playoffs, as well. In the first round, the Moors beat the Hickory Rebels, 4 games to 3 games. In the Championship Series, the Moors beat the Lexington Indians, 4 games to 3 games.

Photo: Mooresville Baseball Stadium

Home to the Mooresville Moors, who Hoyt Wilhelm played for in 1942, 1946 and 1947. The stands were torn down in the 1950s, but the field and green outfield wall still remain. Now called Moor Field Baseball Park, it is home to the Mooresville Spinners of the Summer Collegiate Baseball League. The stadium is located at 691 S. Broad Street, Mooresville, NC 28115

Hoyt Wilhelm - High School (Cornelius High and American Legion baseball)

Photos: from collection

Hoyt Wilhelm (standing, with jacket, far right in both photos), with Cornelius High School teammates at the school in 1939. 

--Cornelius High School merged with neighboring Huntersville High School, Davidson High School, Long Creek High School and Derita High School to form North Mecklenburg High School in 1951. 

-- Cornelius High School's building is still standing and is Cornelius Elementary School today.

 

Photo: from collection

Hoyt Wilhelm at Cornelius High School in 1941. 

--Cornelius High School merged with neighboring Huntersville High School, Davidson High School, Long Creek High School and Derita High School to form North Mecklenburg High School in 1951. 

-- Cornelius High School's building is still standing and is Cornelius Elementary School today.

Clipping of Hoyt Wilhelm's no-hitter for Cornelius (The Charlotte Observer, April 12, 1941)

Cornelius High School Highlights:

*April 14, 1940: Hoyt Wilhelm struck out 11 in the first game of the season to lead Cornelius to a 9-6 victory against rival Long Creek High. He also had four hits (all singles).

*April 11, 1941: Hoyt Wilhelm throws a no-hitter at Long Creek High in a 14-0 victory.

*April 17, 1941: Hoyt Wilhelm pitches Cornelius High to a 13-4 victory against Davidson College’s freshman team.

*April 29, 1941: Hoyt Wilhelm pitched a 2-hitter and hit 2 HRs in a 9-2 victory against Derita High for the Northern Mecklenburg County title and the right to play for the county championship.

Photo: from collection

Hoyt Wilhelm with Davidson/North Mecklenburg American Legion Post 86 teammates in 1939 at Davidson College's Richardson Field, where they played their home games.

Photos: Davidson College's Richardson Field, where Hoyt Wilhelm played home games for Davidson/North Mecklenburg American Legion Post 86.

June 23, 1939, box score from Davidson/North Mecklenburg American Legion Post 86 in a loss against Gastonia. Wilhelm pitched in relief and didn't earn a decision. 

 1941 Cornelius High School Senior Class (photo from collection)

Hoyt Wilhelm (back row, fifth from right, with head nearly centered in the window of the door). There are 41 senior classmates in this photo. Cornelius High School was a small, rural school surrounded by a farming community. 

 1941 Cornelius High School Senior Class (The Charlotte Observer, May 4, 1941)

Hoyt Wilhelm (back row, far right). There are 36 senior classmates in this photo. Cornelius High School was a small, rural school surrounded by a farming community.

Hoyt Wilhelm with the Havana Lions (Habana Leones)

 

1950-51: One of the rarest Hoyt Wilhelm cards, the 1950-51 Fosforos La Aurora (left), and another rare Hoyt Wilhelm item, the 1950-51 Mejoral (right - some people refer to the second one as a card and others don't because it is part of a fold-out, accordion-like booklet). This was from his time in the Cuban Winter League with the Havana Lions or Reds (Habana Leones as it would be written in Cuba). Wilhelm was a Cuban Winter League All-Star this season after helping Havana win the league title and leading the league in 4 categories (see more below). 

Photo: From the 1950-51 Acebo Album for the Cuban Winter League. This album is known for also having fellow Hall of Famer Willie Mays in it (he played for Santurce). Havana's full team page is below.

Photo: From the 1950-51 Acebo Album for the Cuban Winter League (Wilhelm is on the second row, third from left). This album is known for also having fellow Hall of Famer Willie Mays in it (he played for Santurce).

Photo (from my collection): Wilhelm pictured in his home uniform for Havana. 

1950-51: In his league debut, he gave up only 2 hits and 0 runs to Marianao. For the season he was named an All-Star, and finished 8-6 (22 games pitched), and led the league in ERA (2.36), strikeouts (72), shutouts (3) and complete games (10) and helped Havana to the league title with a 40-32 record. He also gave up 118 hits and 48 walks in 141.1 innings pitched.

1951 Caribbean Series: After helping Habana to the league title, he played in the Caribbean Series, which featured Puerto Rico (Santurce), Cuba (Habana), Venezuela (Magallanes) and Panama (Spur Cola). Cuba went 4-2 and finished second to Puerto Rico (5-1). In the series, Wilhelm went 1-1 (1 complete game) and led the series in strikeouts (10). He also gave up 16 hits and 11 walks in 15 innings of work.

*Statistics from Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History, 1878-1961 (Jorge S. Figueredo)

Photo (from my collection): Wilhelm pictured during the 1951-52 season (Oct. 7, 1951), in his away uniform in the hallway of the Gran Estadio de La Habana or Great Stadium in Havana.

1951-52: In Hoyt Wilhelm's second and last season in the Cuban Winter League he was 2-5 with a 3.52 ERA in 17 games (1 complete game) in 64 innings pitched (he also had 27 strikeouts and 23 walks) in helping Havana to the league title with a 41-30 record. 

*This time, however, he couldn't accompany Havana to the Caribbean Series because the NY Giants wanted him back in the U.S. to prepare for the upcoming major league season, which would be his rookie season.

*Statistics from Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History, 1878-1961 (Jorge S. Figueredo)

The caption of the photo read: Hoyt Wilhem (sic), el estillista de la boia de nudillos del club Habana arribo el martes por la manana y a pesar de la inclemencia del tiempo vistio el uniforme con el solo proposito de estirar los musculos. La Iluvia habia impedido a sus companeros practicar y Wilhem (sic) aprovencho ano de los pasillos interiores del stadium del Cerro para trabajar un buem rate. Observese el detalle simpatico de que Wilhem (sic) practico descalzo, ya que resultaba peligroso hacer sus lanzamientos con zapatos de sobres en el cemento.

**Note: (essentially the caption says Wilhelm was throwing because it was raining outside and he was wearing his socks because he was on cement and it wouldn't be good for his cleats; the caption also misspelled Wilhelm's name as "Wilhem," leaving off the last "l" in each of the three references.)

Photo: Hoyt Wilhelm looking at a cannon in Havana.

1950-51 Havana Lions (Habana Leones)

Cuban Winter League Champions & Caribbean Series Runner-Up

Hoyt Wilhelm is pictured on the second row, far left, standing beside the trainer. 

**More information on the team's season is below the next team photo.

1950-51 Havana Lions (Habana Leones)

Cuban Winter League Champions & Caribbean Series Runner-Up

Hoyt Wilhelm is pictured on the second row, far left, standing beside the trainer. 

Habana tied Almendares for the league's best record (40-32), but beat Almendares in a 1-game playoff to win the title and finish with a 41-32 record. Marianao finished 36-36 and Cienfuegos was 28-44. Habana's Manager was Miguel Gonzalez. 

Habana also finished runner-up in the Caribbean Series as Habana, representing Cuba, finished with a 4-2 record. Though Cuba went 1-1 against series champion Puerto Rico (Santurce), Puerto Rico won the 4-team series with a 5-1 mark. Other teams competing: Venezuela (Magallanes), which finished 2-4, and Panama (Spur Cola), which was 1-5.

*Statistics from Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History, 1878-1961 (Jorge S. Figueredo)

1951-52 Havana Lions (Habana Leones)

Cuban Winter League Champions & Caribbean Series Champions

Hoyt Wilhelm is pictured on the second row, far right, standing beside the man in the suit and hat.

The team won the Cuban Winter League title with a 40-31 record (two games ahead of Cienfuegos, which finished 39-32).  Marianao was 32-39 and Almendares was 30-41. Habana's Manager was Miguel Gonzalez. 

Habana, representing Cuba, also won the Caribbean Series, finishing 5-0-1 (Wilhelm did not play in that Caribbean Series because he had to get ready for spring training and his debut season with the N.Y. Giants). Other teams playing in the series were: Venezuela (Cerv. Caracas), Panama (Carta Vieja) and Puerto Rico (San Juan). 

--Interestingly, the only blemish on Cuba's record was the tie to last-place and winless Puerto Rico, which finished 0-5-1. Venezuela and Panama each finished 3-3.

*Statistics from Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History, 1878-1961 (Jorge S. Figueredo)

Gran Estadio de La Habana or Great Stadium in Havana

It is the same stadium that hosted the famous exhibition between the Baltimore Orioles and Cuban National Team on March 28, 1999 (Baltimore won 3-2 in 11 innings; it was the first time since 1959 an MLB team had played in Cuba). It also hosted another famous exhibition, this time between the Cuban National Team and the Tampa Bay Rays on March 22, 2016 (Tampa Bay won 4-1; in attendance was then-U.S. President Barack Obama and then-Cuban President, Raul Castro).

Hoyt Wilhelm with the Minneapolis Millers

Photo credit: Collection

Hoyt Wilhelm spent the 1950 and 1951 seasons with the Minneapolis (MN) Millers (the Class-AAA American Association team of the NY Giants). 

Photo credit: Collection

1950: Hoyt Wilhelm was 15-11, with a 4.95 ERA in 35 games (25 of those were starts), and he struck out 99 in 180 innings pitched. At the plate, he hit .230 in 61 at-bats and had 1 double. 

--He pitched two 4-hitters and one 2-hitter in 1950:

**The first 4-hitter was his debut and was the second game of a double-header, a 7-inning, 7-1 victory on April 23 at the Kansas City Blues (AAA of the NY Yankees) to help the Millers improve to 3-1 on the season.

**The second 4-hitter was a 4-1 win on May 1 at home against the St. Paul Saints (AAA of the Brooklyn Dodgers) to help the Millers improve to 5-1 on the season.

**His 2-hitter came in a 9-0 win on Aug. 11 at home against the Columbus Red Birds (AAA of the St. Louis Cardinals) to help the Millers improve to 65-52 on the season.

 

Photo credit (first photo, left)--Minneapolis Tribune (Wilhelm, left, with Adrian Zabala, on March 28, 1951, during spring training); Second photo (right)--(Wilhelm, right, No. 31, playing checkers during a rain delay in Minneapolis)

1951: Hoyt Wilhelm was 11-14, with a 3.94 ERA in 40 games (29 starts), and he struck out 148 (2nd in the American Association) in 210 innings pitched (tied for the lead in the American Association). At the plate, he hit .243 in 74 at-bats and had 3 doubles. (his .243 batting average was his third-best in the minors, behind his .299 with Mooresville in 1947 and his .244 with Jacksonville in 1949). Wilhelm's last start for the Millers (Sept. 6) was an 8-3 win in the second game of a double-header at home against the Milwaukee Brewers (AAA of the Boston Braves), who would go on to win the American Association's regular-season title.

**Wilhelm would play with future Hall of Famer Willie Mays (20 years old at the time), who suited up for 35 games at the beginning of the season before being promoted to the Giants, hitting .477 (.799 slugging percentage), with 8 HRs, 30 RBIs, 3 triples, 18 doubles and 5 stolen bases).

Photo: 1950 Minneapolis Millers, American Association winners; Wilhelm is on the back row, second from right (on the end)

The 1950 Minneapolis Millers (NY Giants AAA team) finished 90-64-1 to win the 8-team American Association regular-season title, the Millers first American Association title in 15 years (Minneapolis last won in 1935 when they finished 91-63). In the first round of the playoffs, the third-place Columbus Red Birds (St. Louis' AAA team) beat Minneapolis 4 games to 2 games. Wilhelm was 1-1 in the playoffs, pitching a 5-hitter on Sept. 15 to help the Millers to a 4-1 Game 3 victory (their first win of the series). He would come back on Sept. 19 on just three days rest and lose 8-3 in the deciding Game 6.

Photo: 1950 Minneapolis Millers (American Association winners; Wilhelm is back row, third from right (on the end).

Photo: 1951 Minneapolis Millers (Wilhelm is on the first row, second from right, on the end).

The 1951 Minneapolis Millers would finish 77-75 and in fifth place in the 8-team American Association, one place out of the playoffs. The Millers were 2 1/2 games behind the fourth-place Louisville Colonels (AAA team of the Boston Red Sox).

Photo: Nicollet Park, Minneapolis

The famous park where Hoyt Wilhelm played during the 1950 and 1951 seasons with the Millers opened as Wright Field in 1896 and cost $4,000 to build, but was soon renamed Nicollet Park. It was renovated in 1912 when the wooden park was replaced with a steel and concrete structure, and the park was expanded in 1937 (adding lights) before closing in 1955. The team moved to Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington for the 1956 season.

Photo: Nicollet Park, Minneapolis

Though 1955 was the last season the Minneapolis Millers played in Nicollet Park before moving to Metropolitan Stadium, the Millers only lasted five more seasons before ceasing operation in 1960 (the Minnesota Twins began play in 1961).  

Photo: Nicollet Park, Minneapolis

The left field line was 334 feet from home plate, center field was a deep 435 feet from home, and the right field line was a hitter's dream at 279 feet. 

*The first night game was played on July 16, 1937, when the Millers (AAA of the Boston Red Sox then) won 4-1 over their rival, the St. Paul Saints (AAA of the Chicago White Sox). On Stew Thornley's incredible website, http://www.stewthornley.net/, he writes, "Attendance: 6,381 for the first regular-season night game under lights for the Millers at home.  Cooke homers.  The Millers and Saints are the last two American Association teams to play night games under the lights.  (The Millers had played games starting at 7:00 p.m., without lights, in 1918.)"

Hoyt Wilhelm with the Jacksonville Tars

Photo credit: The Charlotte Observer

1948: Hoyt Wilhelm's time with the Jacksonville (FL) Tars (NY Giants Class A team, South Atlantic League) started out rough in 1948, as he posted an 0-0 record, 9 walks, and an 8.18 ERA in 11 innings during 6 games before being sent to the Knoxville (TN) Smokies (NY Giants Class B team, Tri-State League) where he flourished (see Knoxville Smokies page on Wilhelm).

1949: Wilhelm would redeem himself, however, in 1949, when he started and finished the season with the Jacksonville Tars, posting a 17-12 record (most wins on the team and sixth-best in the league) and a 2.66 ERA (best on the team and ninth-best in the league). At the plate Wilhelm hit .244 and had 2 doubles.

Photo credit: Collection (1949 Jacksonville Tars team; Wilhelm, back row, far left)

The 1949 Jacksonville Tars finished 73-81 and 5th place in the South Atlantic League.

Photo credit: Collection (close-up view of Wilhelm from the team photo)

South Atlantic League Hall of Fame: Hoyt Wilhelm was inducted into the South Atlantic League Hall of Fame along with six others in 1996 (the third year of the Hall of Fame's existence). Others inducted were: Bill Bethea (pitcher); Roy Majtyka (manager); Pat Putnam (first base); Jim Baynes (team executive), Ed Holtz (team executive); Pat Williams (team executive).

Photo: Durkee Field, Jacksonville, Florida (1939)

 The Jacksonville Tars played at Durkee Field, which was rebuilt in 1934 and hosted a minor league team until 1954 when a new stadium was built. Durkee Field was later renamed J.P. Small Ballpark and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Joseph E. Durkee Athletic Field.  

Hoyt Wilhelm with the Knoxville Smokies

Photo: June 15, 1948, The Charlotte News

Hoyt Wilhelm began the 1948 season with the Jacksonville (FL) Tars (NY Giants Class-A team, South Atlantic League), but after 6 games he moved to the Knoxville (TN) Smokies (NY Giants Class-B team, Tri-State League) and finished the season there, compiling a 13-9 record and a 3.62 ERA in 189 innings pitched in 24 games. 

**The 1948 Smokies finished 71-76 and sixth in the league standings.

Box Score: June 15, 1948, The Knoxville Journal

June 14, 1948: In likely the best game of his career at the plate, Wilhelm went 4-for-4, with 3 RBIs, 1 run scored and had an inside-the-park home run, but he was surprisingly pinch-hit for in the top of the ninth with the bases loaded. The pinch-hitter grounded out. Wilhelm allowed 7 hits, issued 8 walks and struck out 2, but Knoxville made 5 errors in the 10-6 road loss against the Charlotte Hornets.

Photo: June 27, 1948, The Knoxville News-Sentinel

 Hoyt Wilhelm played first base for Knoxville, in addition to pitching. In 37 games (24 of those as a pitcher), he hit .211, with 4 doubles, 1 triple and 1 home run (inside-the-park) in 114 at-bats.