Wilbur Wood, Three-Time All-Star Pitcher, Passes Away at 84

The Chicago White Sox have announced the death of Wilbur Wood, a noted three-time All-Star pitcher famous for his outstanding knuckleball. Wood was 84 years old.

His Major League Baseball career spanned 17 seasons, starting in 1961 and concluding in 1978. Most notably, he spent 12 years with the White Sox, though he also played for the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates.

“The White Sox extend their condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Wilbur Wood, who has passed away at the age of 84,” the team shared on social media.

Wood began his MLB journey with the Red Sox as a young pitcher at age 19 before moving on to the Pirates in his early 20s. However, it was with the White Sox that he truly left his mark.

Initially serving as a relief pitcher, he led all MLB players in appearances in 1968 with 88 games. He continued to excel, topping the American League with 76 games in 1969 and 77 in 1970.

In 1971, Wood became a starting pitcher, working diligently to refine his knuckleball to alleviate strain on his arm. This was a turning point; he solidified himself as a durable pitcher, leading the league in appearances from 1972 to 1975 and amassing at least 20 wins each season from 1971 to 1974.

However, in 1976, an injury—a fractured patella from a line drive—marked the beginning of his struggles. Wood’s performance dipped, culminating in his final season in 1978 where he participated in 28 games and had an ERA of 5.20.

Overall, Wood concluded his career with a 3.24 ERA and a total of 1,411 strikeouts. Notably, in 1972, he pitched 376.2 innings, which remains the highest for a starting pitcher in a single season during the live-ball era, which began in 1920.

Throughout his career, Wood consistently ranked among the top pitchers, finishing in the top three for the American League’s Cy Young Award voting in 1971 and 1972.