A good defensive player, the hard-working Wilson was a reliable reserve catcher for
Giant pennant-winners in 1911-13 but did not play regularly until he jumped to the
Federal League. In two seasons with the Chicago Whales, he hit .291 and .305. He
returned to the NL with the Cubs in 1916 and was Hippo Vaughn's catcher when Vaughn
and Fred Toney matched no-hitters through nine innings (5/2/17), a game won by Toney
in the tenth when Wilson couldn't handle Vaughn's throw home on a fielder's choice.
(BC)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»May 30, 1911: New York takes the National League lead, winning two from Brooklyn. Giants C Art Wilson makes the first nine putouts in the morning game as four Superbas fan, three foul out, and two are thrown out at home trying to score on base hits. The Giants win, 4–1, before 8,000. Before a turnaway crowd of 25,000 in the nitecap, Bugs Raymond gives up just a single in five innings before leaving with acute stomach pain "just southwest of the fourth rib" (NY Times) caused by eating a strawberry sundae between games. Red Ames allows two hits the rest of the way as the Giants whip the Dodgers Nap Rucker, 3–0.
»October 9, 1912: Three errors by Giants SS Art Fletcher help put Christy Mathewson behind 4–2 until the team rallies for three in the 8th when Duffy Lewis muffs a fly ball by Fred Snodgrass. Boston ties it in the last of the 8th. The Giants push across a run in the 10th off reliever "Sea Lion" Hall, but Tris Speaker blasts a triple to deep center. Apparently out at home trying to stretch it into a home run, he is safe when C Art Wilson, who has just entered the game, drops the throw for New York's 5th error. Darkness ends the game at 6–6 after 11 innings.
»April 22, 1914:
The Chicago Whales (FL) host the Kansas City Packers at newly built Weegham Park, on Chicago's North Side. With two homers by Art Wilson, and a 5-hitter by Claude Hendrix, the Chifeds coast to a 9–1 before a crowd of 21,000.
»May 2, 1917: The Cubs lefthander Hippo Vaughn and righthander Fred Toney of the Reds toe the mound in Chicago for a one-of-a-kind game. The Reds put up an all righthanded batting order, benching Edd Roush, who will lead the NL with a .341 BA. At the end of 9, both pitchers have no-hitters. With one out in the top of the 10th, Larry Kopf lines the first hit of the game. One out later, Hal Chase lines to Cy Williams, who drops the ball for an error. Chase then steals 2B, and with runners on 2B and 3B, Jim Thorpe hits a swinging bunt near the mound. Vaughn picks it up and, with no play at 1B, fires home, but C Art Wilson, not expecting the throw, freezes and the ball hits his chest protector. Kopf slides in for the only run. Toney sets the Cubs down in order and has the 4th 10-inning no-hitter to date. The run scored by the Reds is their first in 34 innings.
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