Jack Wilson, we hardly knew you. Hardly knew you outside of Pittsburgh, that is.
The Bucs shipped Wilson and pitcher Ian Snell to the Seattle Mariners today in exchange for five minor leaguers.
At this point, Pittsburgh Pirate fans are used to the all-too-familiar feeling that comes when your favorite team trades its best player. It’s a painfully numbing sensation on par with getting punched in the pant’s zipper.
Wilson’s four homers and .267 batting average this season wasn’t what made him a fan favorite. It was his Johnny Punch Clock, coal-coughing mentality that fans empathized with.
He may not have much of a stick, but he sure has a glove. Only Honus Wagner, Arky Vaughan and Dick Groat played more games in Pirates’ history at shortstop than Wilson. Since 2001, Wilson’s turned more double plays (832) than anyone in the Major Leagues.
The Mariners get a shortstop who is almost guaranteed to be penciled in to the starting lineup on a daily basis. Only Jimmy Rollins has played in more games this decade.
While covering the Pirates in spring training, Wilson was the popular answer when I asked fans who their favorite player was. Wilson and centerfielder Nate McLouth, who many fans dubbed Nate “The Great.” Months later, Pittsburgh traded McLouth to the Atlanta Braves. You can almost hear the collective sighs settling over Steel City like another layer of depressed smog.
The Bucs shipped Wilson and pitcher Ian Snell to the Seattle Mariners today in exchange for five minor leaguers.
At this point, Pittsburgh Pirate fans are used to the all-too-familiar feeling that comes when your favorite team trades its best player. It’s a painfully numbing sensation on par with getting punched in the pant’s zipper.
Wilson’s four homers and .267 batting average this season wasn’t what made him a fan favorite. It was his Johnny Punch Clock, coal-coughing mentality that fans empathized with.
He may not have much of a stick, but he sure has a glove. Only Honus Wagner, Arky Vaughan and Dick Groat played more games in Pirates’ history at shortstop than Wilson. Since 2001, Wilson’s turned more double plays (832) than anyone in the Major Leagues.
The Mariners get a shortstop who is almost guaranteed to be penciled in to the starting lineup on a daily basis. Only Jimmy Rollins has played in more games this decade.
While covering the Pirates in spring training, Wilson was the popular answer when I asked fans who their favorite player was. Wilson and centerfielder Nate McLouth, who many fans dubbed Nate “The Great.” Months later, Pittsburgh traded McLouth to the Atlanta Braves. You can almost hear the collective sighs settling over Steel City like another layer of depressed smog.
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