‘It’s Definitely Surreal,” Jack Wilson Becomes 1st Pirates Hall of Famer From 21st Century

PITTSBURGH – Much of the Pirates notable franchise history took place in the previous century, and the team’s Hall of Fame choices have largely reflected that.

Legends like Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Honus Wagner and other team icons were inducted into the inaugural class in 2022.

Four years later, the Pirates will have their first team Hall of Famer whose career took place in the 21st century – shortstop Jack Wilson. He’s joined by left-handers Wilbur Cooper (1912-24) and John Candelaria (1975-85, 1993) in the team’s fifth-annual class. 

“It’s definitely surreal,” Wilson said of his inductio. “Since I got the call two or three months ago, it still hasn’t really set in, and I don’t think it ever will. This is something that I never envisioned happening, just because the names that are in this company, I feel like I hold them to such a high standard. It feels weird being included with them, but it’s definitely an extreme honor in a place I called home for 10 seasons and got to wear this uniform, this color and play for these people. 

Wilson, then aged-22, was acquired from the Cardinals for left-handed pitcher Jason Christiansen at the 2000 trade deadline. 

“That was shocking,” Wilson said of the trade. “It was an off day in Arkansas and I actually found out from the ticker on ESPN. It came up and it says, ‘The Cardinals trade Double-A shortstop for Jason Christiansen.’ Got on a plane and started over in a new organization and it was overwhelming at first, because I had never experienced anything like that before. And getting traded for a big-leaguer, there was a lot of pressure, too, that I felt at the time. But I came here in January for the first PiratesFest I ever came to and J.R. House, at the time, was our big prospect. I just kind of fell in love with the place.”

It was less than a year later than Wilson dealt with some more shocking news. Instead of reporting to Triple-A, Wilson not only earned a spot on Pittsburgh’s initial roster, but was the starting shortstop in Cincinnati on Opening Day for his MLB debut. Six days later, he again took the position in the first-ever game at PNC Park.  

“It was all just so fast, too,” Wilson said. “I wasn’t expecting to make it to the big leagues, I actually had my apartment set up in Nashville, because that’s where I expected to be. When they called me and said I was going to Cincinnati, it was very surreal and special.”  

Three years later, Wilson earned his lone All-Star appearance and won a Silver Slugger after batting .308 with a league-leading 12 triples, 41 doubles, 11 home runs and 59 RBI in 157 games for the Pirates.

While Wilson recorded 1,158 hits during his nine years spent with the Pirates, his defense was always his calling card. Despite never winning a Gold Glove in his career, Wilson was one of the best defensive shortstops of his generation. 

Only three Pirates have totaled more games at shortstop than Wilson’s 1,128. He led the league in putouts in 2004, assists from 2004-05 and led MLB in double plays during that same two-year stretch. Wilson also posted a career-high 32 defensive runs saved in 2005, a stat that was introduced two years earlier.

“That was everything to me, because it wasn’t about me,” he said of his defense. “Your defense is about taking care of your pitchers. They got the hardest job in the world to get big-league hitters out. My thing wasn’t to be a great defender, my thing was to take care of my guys on the mound.”

Wilson emerged as a fan favorite during his time with the Pirates. Nicknamed “Jumping Jack Flash,” the California-native’s playing-style resonated well with the Steel City.

“I think it was always meant for me to be here, just because the style of play and the way that I was raised was a lot like the people of Pittsburgh – hard working. They work hard, they earn their money, they come to a baseball game and they saw a guy who just loved the game and played hard.”

While Wilson’s tenure in the black and gold came during an infamous 20-year losing streak, he will forever be immortalized by the Pirates in the city that has meant so much to him. 

“I love being a Pittsburgh guy,” said Wilson. “I tell people all the time, ‘I was born and raised in Southern California, but I grew up in Pittsburgh.'”

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