Books and articles about Ted Wilks

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When the Cardinals' pitching staff was depleted by the WWII draft in 1944, 28-year-old Ted Wilks was called up. The rookie compiled a sparkling 17-4 record for a league-leading .810 winning percentage. From 1946 to 1950, Wilks went 30-9 as the righthanded complement to southpaw Al Brazle in the St. Louis bullpen. He was undefeated in 1946-47. In 1949, his 59 appearances, 10 relief wins, and nine saves were NL highs. Splitting the 1951 season between the Cardinals and Pirates, Wilks again led the NL in games pitched (65) and saves (13). He was not overpowering, but his excellent control made him effective. (FJO)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » March 30, 1938: The Cardinals beat Columbus (AA), 10–4, despite three errors by 3B Sammy Baugh. Slingin' Sammy has been fielding well up till today. Yesterday the Cards lost 1–0 in 13 innings to their Rochester farm club, managing just two hits off four pitchers. Ted Wilks was the winner. » August 29, 1944: The Cardinals beat the Reds 3-0 as Ted Wilks (14-1) wins his 11th in a row. He will lose his next start, September 2nd in Pittsburgh, 5-4. » October 9, 1944: Emil Verban drives in 3 runs as the Cardinals top the Browns 3-1 and win the Series in 6 games. Ted Wilks allows no one to reach base in 32Ž3 innings of relief, fanning 4 pinch hitters. George McQuinn hits .438 for the Series. The winners get $4,626 each; the Browns take $2,743, the lowest player shares since 1933. » April 29, 1948: Cards relief pitcher Ted Wilks bows 5-4 in 14 innings to the Cincinnati Reds on rookie Hank Sauer's single. It is his first loss after 77 mound appearances dating back to 1945. He had won 12 in a row. » June 15, 1951: Pittsburgh sends Cliff "no hit" Chambers and OF Wally Westlake to the Cards for C Joe Garagiola, P Howie Pollet, P Ted Wilks, OF Bill Howerton, and 2B Dick Cole. » June 19, 1951: Willie Jones cracks a pair of homers, one with the bases loaded, to drive in six runs as the Phils roll over the host Pirates, 9–1. Jones' first homer comes in the first inning with Ashburn on base, and his second is an inside-the-park grand slam in the eighth inning. Every Phils batter collects a hit including winning hurler Russ Meyer. Murry Dickson is chased early with Ted Wilks, in his first appearance for the Pirates, relieving. » August 26, 1951: The Pirates club the Dodgers, 12–11 to win the opener of two with the league leaders. Brooklyn chases Howie Pollet and takes a 9–2 lead but the Bucs roar back with eight runs in the 7th inning. Clyde King, unscored on in his last eight games, is the loser. The Dodgers load the bases in the 9th, and Murry Dickson walks pinch-hitter Cal Abrams to force in a run and make the score 12–11. But Carl Furillo and Pee Wee Reese fail to deliver. Pete Castiglione has two homers for the Pirates. Brooklyn wins the second game, 4–3, when Jackie Robinson homers in the 10th, off Ted Wilks. Andy Pafko homers in the 8th, off Bob Friend, and Preacher Roe (17-2) goes all the way. » September 24, 1960: Mickey Mantle's 11th inning homer off Ted Wilks gives New York a 6–5 win over the Red Sox at Fenway. Mantle had driven in the games first run with a drag bunt in the first.