When I think of HACK WILSON

[Appling]

Hack Wilson set the NL record for homeruns in a single season when he smashed 56 in 1930. This record was bettered 4 times by AL sluggers (twice by Ruth, once each by Jimmie Foxx and Hank Greenberg) so it was sometimes derided by AL fans who cited this as another proof of American League superiority.

But the Wilson mark stood well the test of time. It bettered the old NL mark of 43 set by Chuck Klein just the year before, but Wilson's 56 remained the National League standard for 68 years -- until it was passed by McGwire and Sosa in 1998.

Wilson set another record in 1930 as well: 190 Runs Batted In (since corrected to 191).

When you remember Hack Wilson, what number do you think of?

[GaryL]

When I think of Hack Wilson, the number(s) I think of are: 5'6", which is how tall - or should I say, how short - he was. It's amazing to me that someone so tiny could generate all that power.

To see it in stark reality, check out this team photo of the 1929 pennant-winning Cubs. Hack is standing (I think!) in line with his Cub teammates, fourth from the end on the right, and you can really see how short he actually was! Here's the link:

http://www.thedeadballera.com/TeamPhotos/1929Cubs.html

Also check out the interesting picture below this one, where Hack is sitting in the front row.

[mac195]

... and he had tiny feet, like size 3 or something...

[CTaka]

When I think of Hack Wilson, the number(s) I think of are: 5'6", which is how tall - or should I say, how short - he was. It's amazing to me that someone so tiny could generate all that power.

But he did pack 190 pounds into that 5'6" frame. He may have been short, but I wouldn't call him "tiny"...

[wamby]

Size five.

[sschirmer]

5' 6", a size five shoe, built like a fireplug, and could drink ya under the table. I think he might be my hero!

[Bill Burgess]

Hack Wilson? I think of his epic 1930 season. 56 HRs, 190 RBIs. He also had a pretty good season in 1929, where he led the league again in homers.

Slugging %
1926-.539-2
1927-.579-3
1928-.588-4
1929-.618-6
1930-.723-1
1932-.538-7
Car-.545-30

Runs1926-97-7
1927-119-3
1929-135-4
1930-146-4

Total Bases
1926-285-3
1927-319-3
1928-306-7
1929-355-4
1930-423-2

Home Runs
1926-21-1
1927-30-1
1928-31-1
1929-39-3
1930-56-1
1931-13-9
1932-23-5


RBI
1926-109-2
1927-129-2
1928-120-3
1929-159-1
1930-191-1
1932-123-4

Bases on Balls
1926-69-1
1927-71-5
1928-77-4
1929-78-8
1930-105-1
1931-63-7
1933-52-9

Strikeouts
1926-61-4
1927-70-1
1928-94-1
1929-83-1
1930-84-1
1931-69-4
1932-85-1
1933-50-10


Adjusted OPS+
1926-151-3
1927-160-2
1928-158-3
1929-155-5
1930-178-1
1932-141-8

[E.Banks#14]

Hack Wilson? I think of his epic 1930 season. 56 HRs, 190 RBIs. He also had a pretty good season in 1929, where he led the league again in homers.

Bill

Was it 190 or 191 RBIs in 1930? I think I read that they (SABR or some other statisticians) went back and recounted and it came out to 191.

[Bill Burgess]

Was it 190 or 191 RBIs in 1930? I think I read that they (SABR or some other statisticians) went back and recounted and it came out to 191.

Oops! It was 190 all my life, but now Total Baseball and Baseball-reference both list it as 191.

I stand reproved.

Bill Burgess

[johnny]

When I think of Hack Wilson, the number(s) I think of are: 5'6", which is how tall - or should I say, how short - he was. It's amazing to me that someone so tiny could generate all that power.

To see it in stark reality, check out this team photo of the 1929 pennant-winning Cubs. Hack is standing (I think!) in line with his Cub teammates, fourth from the end on the right, and you can really see how short he actually was! Here's the link:

http://www.thedeadballera.com/TeamPhotos/1929Cubs.html

Also check out the interesting picture below this one, where Hack is sitting in the front row.

Man, what a body. It is the first thing I think when I hear the name Hack Wilson. Probably the image of him taking that strong cut at a ball that is burned in my cornea. Then I think what a hitter.

[KCGHOST]

I think of the 191 rbi's and that 1931 may well have been the biggest drop-off season of anyone following a monster year.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

When I think of Hack Wilson, I think of one of the funniest events that ever happened on the diamond. Where was TV when we needed it.

In one game the Chicago Cub's pitcher was being pulled from the game by the Cub's manager. The pitcher was furious, did not want to come out and a long debate took place on the mound. Hack who was known to spend more than a few afternoons playing with a hang over laid down in the outfield. Finally the Cub pitcher left the mound but before leaving heaved the ball into the outfield. The ball banged against a metal sign on the wall with a clang. The noise startled Hank as he lay on the grass, eyes closed. Thinking a batter had hit the ball up against the wall, he sprang to his feet, chased down the ball and rifled a throw into the infield.

Hack received a round of applause from some fans and the players from both teams.

[hellborn]

I think of the 191 RBI first...then, I think of the amazing photo that I use in my personal signature. Whatta cut! Can't you just hear Harry Caray saying, "He had a cut..."? I would love to see video of one of Hack's swings someday.
I also think of the story about Joe McCarthy taking a worm and putting it in water, which didn't bother it, and then putting it in glass of alcohol, which killed it. Hack's conclusion was that he wouldn't get worms if he kept drinking.

Finally, I think of the photo from "The Ultimate Baseball Book" featuring Hack (with the Dodgers) posing with Ruth and Gehrig...Wilson is smiling and seems pleased, but the Yankee boys are clearly none too happy to be posing with the little girlie-footed round guy. But, neither one of them ever reached 191 RBI!!!

[Sultan_1895-1948]

I think of the 191 RBI first...then, I think of the amazing photo that I use in my personal signature. Whatta cut! Can't you just hear Harry Caray saying, "He had a cut..."? I would love to see video of one of Hack's swings someday.
I also think of the story about Joe McCarthy taking a worm and putting it in water, which didn't bother it, and then putting it in glass of alcohol, which killed it. Hack's conclusion was that he wouldn't get worms if he kept drinking.

Finally, I think of the photo from "The Ultimate Baseball Book" featuring Hack (with the Dodgers) posing with Ruth and Gehrig...Wilson is smiling and seems pleased, but the Yankee boys are clearly none too happy to be posing with the little girlie-footed round guy. But, neither one of them ever reached 191 RBI!!!

Love that worm logic

Do you have that picture on your computer? Can you get it scanned? Gotta see it brotha !!

[torez77]

When I think of Hack Wilson, I think of one of the funniest events that ever happened on the diamond. Where was TV when we needed it.

In one game the Chicago Cub's pitcher was being pulled from the game by the Cub's manager. The pitcher was furious, did not want to come out and a long debate took place on the mound. Hack who was known to spend more than a few afternoons playing with a hang over laid down in the outfield. Finally the Cub pitcher left the mound but before leaving heaved the ball into the outfield. The ball banged against a metal sign on the wall with a clang. The noise startled Hank as he lay on the grass, eyes closed. Thinking a batter had hit the ball up against the wall, he sprang to his feet, chased down the ball and rifled a throw into the infield.

Hack received a round of applause from some fans and the players from both teams.

Thanks for the laugh! I never heard that one before.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Bill James had a great write up about Hack Wilson in his Managers book. He was contrasting the different managing styles of John McGraw and Joe McCarthy. mcGraw had Wilson and he couldn't do anything with him. The Giants "lost" Wilson in some short of draft mixup. McGraw blamed the Giants front office. Anyway, under McCarthy, Wilson blossomed. According to James, McCarthy realized that Wilson had somewhat of an inferiority complex and McCarthy would contantly encourage and pump Wilson up. The moment McCarthy left the Cubs Wilson went down hill. I'm sure his drinking was part as that as well. I'll dig out James book and post the article.

How many here a BBF know Hack Wilson's first name without looking it up?!

[Wee Willie]

The 'Round Mound of RBI'

[Blackout]

Bill James had a great write up about Hack Wilson in his Managers book. He was contrasting the different managing styles of John McGraw and Joe McCarthy. mcGraw had Wilson and he couldn't do anything with him. The Giants "lost" Wilson in some short of draft mixup. McGraw blamed the Giants front office. Anyway, under McCarthy, Wilson blossomed. According to James, McCarthy realized that Wilson had somewhat of an inferiority complex and McCarthy would contantly encourage and pump Wilson up. The moment McCarthy left the Cubs Wilson went down hill. I'm sure his drinking was part as that as well. I'll dig out James book and post the article.

How many here a BBF know Hack Wilson's first name without looking it up?!

Lewis

Hack Wilson's biography "Fouled Away" is a good book

[hellborn]

Love that worm logic

Do you have that picture on your computer? Can you get it scanned? Gotta see it brotha !!

I have a pretty low resolution version at home...but, here it is with decent resolution...
http://z.lee28.tripod.com/sbnslegends/id2.html .
One of the best batting photos I've ever seen...can't say much for the head discipline, but it exemplifies what Mantle said about Splinter's batting style...he wasn't playing pattycake, he was trying to destroy the ball!

BTW, I've been playing with my swing at home, trying to add some elements from your sequence of Ruth taking a cut. Especially the push off the rear heel...my right toes are pretty numb due to nerve damage from a burst disk, so I think that pushing off my heel might help. I'm encouraged by the results so far! Only for slow pitch, though...I don't think that I could hit a baseball with that long a stride and that extreme a hip rotation. I need to stay compact!

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Lewis

Hack Wilson's biography "Fouled Away" is a good book

I didn't know Wilson had a biography. I'll check it out!

[Sultan_1895-1948]

I have a pretty low resolution version at home...but, here it is with decent resolution...

lol, I meant the one with HACK, BABE, and LOU

[hellborn]

lol, I meant the one with HACK, BABE, and LOU

Sorry, Sultan! I was being thick!!
That photo is in "The Ultimate Baseball Book"...I'll get it scanned, but I'm out next week, so please be patient with me.
HB

[Bill Burgess]

Sorry, Sultan! I was being thick!!
That photo is in "The Ultimate Baseball Book"...I'll get it scanned, but I'm out next week, so please be patient with me.
HB

I have that book and it is a great shot. Appears it was snapped at Ebbets Field in 1932. Lou appears especially disgusted.

[hellborn]

I didn't know Wilson had a biography. I'll check it out!

I consider that a must read...after I clear out my present backlog of books. Unfortunately, it is usually the sad stories that are the most interesting, so I think that Hack's life should be a good read.

[hellborn]

Bill James had a great write up about Hack Wilson in his Managers book. He was contrasting the different managing styles of John McGraw and Joe McCarthy. mcGraw had Wilson and he couldn't do anything with him. The Giants "lost" Wilson in some short of draft mixup. McGraw blamed the Giants front office. Anyway, under McCarthy, Wilson blossomed. According to James, McCarthy realized that Wilson had somewhat of an inferiority complex and McCarthy would contantly encourage and pump Wilson up. The moment McCarthy left the Cubs Wilson went down hill. I'm sure his drinking was part as that as well. I'll dig out James book and post the article.

Hack and Hornsby, McCarthy's replacement, passionately hated each other. The recent Hornsby biography has a great shot of the two supposedly shaking hands and making up, but the men are clearly not looking each other in the eye at all.
I'll have to make a copy of that one!