Willie Wilson Marquee

b. July 9, 1955 · Kansas City Royals 1976–1990, Oakland Athletics 1991–1992, Chicago Cubs 1993–1994

In 1980 he came to the plate more often than almost anyone ever has: 705 at bats, 230 hits, 133 runs, 15 triples and 79 stolen bases, and Kansas City won the pennant. Only Jimmy Rollins has had more at bats in a season. He made the last out of that World Series, striking out against Tug McGraw.

Nineteen seasons gave him 2,207 hits, 668 stolen bases — twelfth all-time — 147 triples and a .285 average, with a Gold Glove and two Silver Sluggers. He led the American League in triples five times and hit .332 in 1982, the best average in the league.

In 1983 he was one of four Royals convicted of attempting to buy cocaine and served eighty-one days in prison, and the commissioner suspended him for a year, reduced on appeal. He came back and stole 173 more bases. The 2000 ballot gave him ten votes of 499.

Honors

Award	Times	Years
All-Star selection	2	1982, 1983
Silver Slugger	2	1980, 1982
Gold Glove	1	1980
Player of the Month	1	1981
Player of the Week	1	1979

Batting, season by season

Year	Team	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	AVG
1976	KCR	12	6	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	.167
1977	KCR	13	34	10	11	2	0	0	1	1	8	6	.324
1978	KCR	127	198	43	43	8	2	0	16	16	33	46	.217
1979	KCR	154	588	113	185	18	13	6	49	28	92	83	.315
1980	KCR	161	705	133	230	28	15	3	49	28	81	79	.326
1981	KCR	102	439	54	133	10	7	1	32	18	42	34	.303
1982	KCR	136	585	87	194	19	15	3	46	26	81	37	.332
1983	KCR	137	576	90	159	22	8	2	33	33	75	59	.276
1984	KCR	128	541	81	163	24	9	2	44	39	56	47	.301
1985	KCR	141	605	87	168	25	21	4	43	29	94	43	.278
1986	KCR	156	631	77	170	20	7	9	44	31	97	34	.269
1987	KCR	146	610	97	170	18	15	4	30	32	88	59	.279
1988	KCR	147	591	81	155	17	11	1	37	22	106	35	.262
1989	KCR	112	383	58	97	17	7	3	43	27	78	24	.253
1990	KCR	115	307	49	89	13	3	2	42	30	57	24	.290
1991	OAK	113	294	38	70	14	4	0	28	18	43	20	.238
1992	OAK	132	396	38	107	15	5	0	37	35	65	28	.270
1993	CHC	105	221	29	57	11	3	1	11	11	40	7	.258
1994	CHC	17	21	4	5	0	2	0	0	1	6	1	.238
Career	—	2154	7731	1169	2207	281	147	41	585	425	1144	668	.285

On this day & linked events

1955

Born July 9, 1955

Montgomery, AL, USA

1976

Major-league debut: Willie Wilson

Willie Wilson made a major-league debut on September 4, 1976.

1994

Final major-league game: Willie Wilson

Willie Wilson played a final major-league game on May 16, 1994.

Image: Major League Baseball / Kansas City Royals, public domain