Born: December 29, 1977 in Westlake Village, CA
Thousand Oaks High School
Oxnard College
Grand Canyon University
2015 Business of Sports Management
Mastery with the glove was Jack Wilson’s calling card as one of the best fielding shortstops during his 12-year Major League baseball career.
No better example for his defensive skills was his 2004 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
That season, Wilson led the National League in assists, putouts and total chances. He set a club record with 129 double plays, ranking No. 1 in the majors for shortstops that season. He did not make an error in 31 consecutive games.
That 2004 season was memorable for more than Wilson’s glove. He became only the ninth shortstop in National League history to have 200 hits. With 201, he became the first Pirate shortstop since Hall of Famer Honus Wagner in 2008. Wilson also had 41 doubles and 12 triples that season.
The following season, Wilson led all major league shortstops in assists, total chances and double plays.
Wilson’s path to the majors began at Thousand Oaks High. He played two seasons at Oxnard College before being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1998. He was traded to Pittsburgh in 2000 and broke into the majors in 2002.
In 2009, Wilson was traded to the Seattle Mariners. He finished his career with the Atlanta Braves in 2012.
Wilson has been hired as the head baseball coach at Thousand Oaks High.
Wilson and his wife Julie are the parents of three children.