Thanks for posting this. My father in law was also a great ball player and this era is simply forgotten because of the popularity. A great era with great men!
Your pride is well-deserved! He was a great one, a pitcher I really enjoyed watching as a kid. By the way, that was the first All-star game I ever saw.
When I was a kid I always enjoyed watching your uncle pitch. He worked fast and had a smooth delivery. Once in the early seventies I was hanging around the players exit at the Dome after the game and saw him come out. I asked him for an autograph and he laughed and said, "I'm not a player, I just sell popcorn." I followed him for a while, insisting that he sure looked like the guy on the baseball card I was holding. He laughed again, took the card, and signed it. Then he patiently signed for every kid that was standing there with me. Back then I wondered why he did that, but as an adult I understand that it must be tiring to be a celebrity. Nevertheless, he was very good natured and polite to me. I got his autograph several times after that as well. I liked his signature because I could read it (Joe Morgan had a nice signature also). I still have those cards. God bless Don Wilson.
What a cool memory. I wish I still had my cards from the 70’s. I think I still have one card. It will probably turn up someday in a box of memorabilia. That one was a Yaz card that I bought from a dealer. My sister just found the pair of tickets that my dad and I got from going to a 1980 World Series game between the Royals and the Phillies. I will treasure those forever. That’s a story for another time.
These two comments were simply about cherished experiences that we each had. If you’ve had some wonderful experience involving your favorite game you can tell me about that if you like.
Ayanna: Just came across the video of your Uncle Don Wilson pitching in the 71 All Star game. I saw your uncle play and followed his career. I had so much respect and admiration for his superb pitching skills, as well as for the way he carried himself on the field. He was a true great and I’m extremely sorry he left our world at such a young age. Regards to you and Don’s family. Your admiration for him is well placed. Regards. Rich
Al Kaline heard those fastballs but he never did see them! Thanks for posting this. Your uncle was a very fine pitcher. Your whole family should be proud. Sorry to see men like Don Wilson and Lymon Bostock Jr. meet such a sad end.
When I was 13 years old, my parents gave me a very special birthday/X-mas gift to me- pitching lessons for a week by an Astros pitcher, Don Wilson. Mr. Wilson seemed to take special interest and spent approx 1 and a half hrs per day with me. On my last day of my lessons, when I was going to pitch to Cedeno and Cruz, I was told, " Don died last night". I was the last person to play catch with Don Wilson, and I have his recorded voice ( lovingly giving pitching lessons) on the day he died.
Oh wow thank you for sharing! That's amazing! I'm going to share this with my mother today and his daughter! I would love to see if there is a way I could get a copy of the recording for them. Please let me know.
Please ignore any negative comments posted by people who are looking for a life but are doomed to disappointment. The batters all knew what the next pitch was and they still couldn't hit it. Don Wilson was one of the best pitchers I ever saw.
ed chapman Thank For your comment. That was extremely kind of you and you are right I appreciate you taking the time to address the negative miserable people. Be blessed
Ayanna Williams I have been attending baseball games since 1962, being able to watch in person Don Wilson and J.R. Richards pitch against the Phillies I believe I watch two of the best Right handed pitchers of all time. Gone way to soon. Peace to you and your family!!!!!!!
Thank you for sharing this footage. I was honored to watch it. I remember when I was a kid I collected baseball cards. I did a presentation on them to my 4th grade class. I had one of Don Wilson's cards. He had already past by this time. I showed his card and gave a talk on him. The students enjoyed it! Its too bad he died to soon. My prayer, May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace and let light perpetual shine upon him. Amen
Ms. Williams, thank you for posting your uncle. He was before my time. But as a lifelong Astros fan, I'm well aware of how good he was through my family. I can see why because of this vid. God Bless You and your family and thanks for sharing.
Look at Tiger Stadium in all its glory! What a place. I went to many ballgames there in 60's - 80's. It smelled of cheap cigars, a little slight urine fragrance and hot dogs - which were delicious. It was a true American treasure.
The first time I ever heard about Don Wilson is when I got his 1968 topps card. It was the first year I started collecting. It may not be a big deal but Don was one of the best pitchers on the Astros with Larry Dierker that team today could make post season.
Thanks for posting this, you uncle was one of my favorite pitchers of all time! I used to go as a kid to see him pitch. back then a kid could sit in centerfield at the Astrodome for 50 cents. Long time ago, hehehe. My favorite game Don Wilson pitched was a pitching duel with Juan Marichal of the Giants. Don Wilson pitched a 14 inning shutout for the complete game win. He is missed.
Thank you for the fond memory of the way baseball used to be, and your uncle was quite a wonderful pitcher and you should be proud, peace and love from Canada!
I managed to tape the whole game once it became available on cable channels many years back. And I saw this game (on NBC) back in 1971 when I was 13 yrs old. It was quite exciting seeing some of the very best stars in history perform that day. Ms Williams, your uncle was indeed one of the best pitches of that era... one whom I believe did not get the recognition he deserved. People also forget he was very respectable with the bat as well. Obviously, like everyone else in the sports world, I was stunned by his untimely death at such a young age. Thank you for sharing...
Helluva pitcher. I wonder how much faster he could have thrown if he had been schooled in modern pitching mechanics? He's leaving a lot of power out with poor weight transition. Then again, that whipping action is what's giving his pitches all that movement. Him and Nolan Ryan had that extra jump on their fastball. A joy to watch.
Ten years old in 71....Visited my Uncle Bob that summer in Houston. My dad, God bless him, took us to The Astro Dome to see a game.....WOW! I still have the super 8 footage of that game....The electric board....Neon rockets.....Wow.....We were die hard Cub fans.....still are.....But what a night for a ten year old.....INDOOR BASEBALL.....Wilson pitched ...Nasty heat with a very smooth wind up. I well remember my dad, who had played minor league ball for a year prior to the war, commenting about Wilson's pitching.
Thanks for posting this. The one game that I can remember for sure being in attendance when Don Wilson pitched was at the end of that 1971 season. He was going against Bill Singer in Dodger Stadium, with the Dodgers one game behind the Giants with maybe three games left in the season. Wilson was throwing bullets with such an effortless looking delivery. He looked like he could throw upper 90s for 150 pitches without strain. Singer, on the other hand strained with every pitch he threw. He looked like at any minute, his arm would fall off. It was a big pitcher's duel. Neither team got more than a couple hits, but the Astros were totally inept on offense. Ironically, I knew both starting catches in that game in Johnny Edwards and Duke Sims, and Duke won the game for the Dodgers with a homer. Alas, the Giants also won that night to keep the Dodgers one game back, which is where it ended after 162 games. I also remember that Hank Aaron once said that Don Wilson had the fastest fastball he had faced other than Sandy Koufax, and they were about equal. Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Don Wilson play on the same high school team as Roy White and Reggie Smith in the LA area?
Awesome! I think it's awesome that you are so proud of your uncle...and you should be!!! What a great pitcher he was. Sounds like he was even a better man
Thank you for sharing this .This was the first All Star game I saw as a kid. 1971 was my first year of following and playing baseball as a kid. This brings back wonderful memories from my childhood. At that time , outside of your local team baseball had limited TV coverage so the All Stat game was the chance to see this players who I had read so much about on live TV . I often wonder how great the Astros would have been had Don Wilson and JR Richard both been pitching on the same team during their primes. Richard was just coming up and had not hit his peak when Wilson was there . Imagine a staff of Richard, Larry Dierker, and Wilson during that period with Cedeno and Bob Watson leading the offense ? They would have been very competitive
Thank you for posting this video. This was the first All Star Game I watched as an 8 year old. It brings back wonderful memories of my childhood and dreams of being a major league baseball player. Your uncle was a great pitcher and from what I read an even better person
Love watching your uncle, I’m a huge baseball fan, I started watching baseball in 1983, and fell in love with baseball and I’m a Chicago White Sox Fan Since 1983 I was 7 Years Old in 1983
Watching Don Wilson pitch , he's so fluid and wastes no time on the mound in contrast to the pitchers of today. Both he and Fergie Jenkins had similar motions and worked quickly. Loved see the Yaz at bat . I grew up watching the Red Sox and seeing Yaz with his traditional batting stance and hands held high brings back fond memories. I saw Yaz's grandson play in AAA this year and it's amazing how much he resembles his grandfather in so facial features and approach to the game .
I remember watching your uncle pitch against the Cardinals when I was a boy. He was a great pitcher and like your family, I mourned when he died. Also, I read where Hank Aaron said that your uncle was the toughest pitcher he ever faced. That's total validation.
@@samuelbarrett5648 Yes, it was in Baseball Digest in a 1975 issue. I'm sorry I don't remember the month. If you come across it, let me know. I'd like to get that issue again. I used to subscribe to it for several years.
Don Wilson was part of something that's only happened twice in baseball history. In 1969 the Astros were playing the Reds. On April 30, Jim Maloney of the Reda pitched a no-hitter against the Astros. The next night, Don returned the Favor and pitched his own no-hitter against the Reds.
there is another side to that history!!. The big red machine heckled and mocked the astros the night they lost to Maloney. Don Wilson was furious and every pitch that night was payback. He was so angry he charged their dugout on the last pitch even though he threw a no-hitter against them. Pretty cool!
Wilson hit Johnny Bench in that no-hitter and then Wilson himself (who also walked 6) was hit while at bat. Here, a couple of years later, he is pitching to Bench as his catcher. The All-Star games can make strange comrades.
Don Wison was a big, hard thrower. He was a Houston Astro great. This was in an era when black boys still loved baseball, and black players were filling Major League Baseball rosters. Thanks for posting this video!
Great video. The first baseball cards I owned as a kid were from 1971 and one of them was a Don Wilson card. The first games I remember were in the 1970 Word Series.
Thank you for posting this video. I was 10 years old at the time, and I remember Don and his fearsome fastball. He was a big star back at that time. Great stuff!
Great footage!!! This was before my time, but I am very impressed by Don Wilson's pitching... His delivery appears to be almost effortless, but very intimidating... Clearly one of the great pitchers in Astros' history, and it is fitting that the franchise retired his #40... True Astros' fans (and baseball fans in general) should remember him fondly.... It was a pleasure to watch this...
I remember him growing up as a child & watching him when ever the Mets played the Astro’s OT the game of the week on Saturday with curt goaded .he was one of my favorite, God rest his soul & his family.
Don and I played on the same summer league team in Compton, the Compton Travelers. Six players on that team signed professional. Thanks for sharing this. Really enjoyed it.
Thank you so much for posting, Ayanna. Your uncle was a great pitcher. As a lifelong baseball fan in his 40's, it's wonderful to see clips from a great era of baseball.
I remember your uncle very well. Not only was he a great pitcher, he was one of the better, if not the best hitting pitchers of his time. I was in 10th grade and I remember hearing on the radio when they announced his death. It was so sad.
Wilson was an ace pitcher. My greatest memory of him was when he no-hit the Reds in 1969, the day after Jim Maloney no-hit Wilson's Astros for the Reds. No-hitters on back-to-back days between the Reds and Astros. BTW, Curt Gowdy, Tony Kubek, and Joe Garagiola were fine announcers.
The 1971 All Star Game had several future hall of famers. It was in some ways a transition from the older stars like Mays and the new like Jackson Bench etc .
Thank you for posting this. Wonderful to see these wonderful players in action. Don Wilson was a fine pitcher and his "stuff" was certainly on display against these HoF players...
I'm old enough to have seen him play but I don't remember him. He looked like he really brought the heat! Nice video... nice to see the umps back then actually make the calls in a timely fashion. These days they wait for ever to call them!
Congratulations Ms. Williams!! You have much of which to be proud. I know how you feel. Yesterday, May 2, 2020, marked the 67th anniversary of my Dad, Carlos Bernier, connecting three (3) consecutive triples in the same game against the Cincinnati Reds while wearing a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform. This feat tied a Major League record that was later matched by Roberto Clemente in 1958. The Pirates won 12-4. My Dad went 4 for 5 with 4 RBI's and a stolen base in the game. Unfortunately, they never kept those films and my Dad is no longer here to share those memories. I remember your uncle from the 1971 All Star game...as a matter of fact, I watched the game with my father that day. I remember all the great players that participated in the game: Roberto Clemente, Frank Robinson, Carl Yazstremski, Harmon Killebrew, Al Kaline, Reggie Jackson, Luis Aparicio, Hank Aaron, Steve Carlton, Willie Stargell, Johnny Bench...OMG. That game may have hosted the biggest number of superstars (and Hall of Famers) of any All Star game. Your uncle made it to the All Star game with the best that baseball had to offer and did very well for himself!! Thank you for the wonderful memory you brought back by sharing this video of your uncle, Don Wilson.
Wow thank you for sharing! Your father was one of the greats too! I'm so glad you have those wonderful memories! I truly appreciate the walk down memory lane! ❤❤
Your Uncle Don not only tossed two no-hitters, he was pulled for a pinch-hitter in a 3rd no-hitter (that the bullpen blew). He also struck out 18 batters in a game. He was a great pitcher. I remember as an 11-year-old child fan being heartbroken when he died. Thank you for uploading this video!
Ayanna, You posted a wonderful tribute to your uncle and I am sure he is looking down on you and very proud of the woman you have become. Ironically, this game was shown in its entirety on the MLB Network today and I turned it on and started watching it at the very point your late uncle came into the game. As someone who was a former pitcher and played baseball up until my senior year in high school before a serious injury cut my season short and effectively ended my dreams of becoming a professional ballplayer, I can most definitely appreciate your uncle's level of talent, skill, drive, and determination to succeed in the sport and can see from many of the comments in response to your post that I am not alone in doing so. His life may have seemed brief but his star shone unquestionably bright for some of that time while doing something he loved and that people like myself would have given almost anything to do. While you are comforted by the special memories you have of him, please remember to look after yourself and stay healthy and safe during this challenging time in this country and global pandemic. Peace and best wishes to you.
Seamusin Thank you for your kind words! I really wish I could’ve seen that game today! Thank you for sharing! Its comments like this that make the insults feel like nothing. Thank you and I hope you are getting through these trying times peacefully.
@@awilliams352005 Likewise, thank you so much for the kind words. Try checking out the MLB Network's schedule for this month and next. They frequently repeat broadcasts of old games. It should appear somewhere under the title 1971 All Star Game. What is intriguing about the game is not only your uncle's appearance in it and untimely death at a young age but also that Roberto Clemente appeared in the game as well and would die in a plane crash a little over a year later. It was tragic and sad to lose both of them as they were extremely talented ballplayers who still had so much to give and left us much too soon.
I remember Don Wilson well. I believe Hank Aaron described him as one of the toughest pitchers he ever faced. I also remember once when Don Wilson was pitching a no-hitter but was taken out of the game for a pinch-hitter in the eighth (as I believe his team was losing1-0). Reporters asked him after the game what he thought of the move. Don Wilson said he had more respect for his manager than ever for putting team goals over individual ones. Sounds like both a great teammate and person.
My first ballgame was at Cincinnati's Crosley Field ,1969. Don Wilson vs . Jim Merrit if I remember correctly . Two guys throwing serious heat that day . It smelled like cigars at Crosley .Thats wahat I remeber most .
My favorite All-Star game, played in my hometown ballpark. 20 future hall of famers, 11 NL & 9 AL, played in this game. Also Sparky and Earl, the managers. I have the complete original broadcast of this game on dvd.
Interesting thing watching Wilson is how his motion is rather matter of fact and slow, til the end when he seems to suddenly accelerate and fling the ball out at high velocity. For the record 1971 was Wilson's best year: 16-10 with a 2.45 ERA. It was his only all star appearance. Yaz had a relatively bad year, hitting .254 with 15 home runs. Kaline hit .294 with 15 home runs but missed 29 games due to injury. Killebrew led the AL in RBIs and walks, but hit a low (for him) 28 home runs.
Don Wilson - I remember he had a deceptively smooth delivery coupled with a fireball coming to the plate...gone too soon...quiet, soft-spoken, and classy player
Don Wilson was loaded with talent and was quite a fierce competitor. A real warrior on the mound with tremendous stuff. I was lucky to get to watch him pitch at the Dome many times. I'll never forget seeing his picture pop up on the news and finding out what happened.
I was such a huge Astros fan going back to 1969 when I was 9 years old. Dierker, Wilson, Griffin, Billingham....what a staff! Don Wilson threw heat......batters would dispute pitches with the umpire by saying, "how can you call that a strike? That pitch sounded outside to me!"
Thanks for posting this. You’re uncle is my favorite all time Astro. I think about him often when I go to Minute Maid and see his name and number hanging above the rafters. To me he will always be the best Astros pitcher of All Time.
I grew up attending Astros games in the 70s as a youngster. I remember being saddened the morning I opened up the sports section of the Beaumont Enterprise & Journal while still a 5th grader and reading the tragic news about Don Wilson and his children. Indeed, Wilson was one of the best pitchers to ever wear the Astros unfiform, and that's saying something. Thanks for posting.
I'm a baseball stats geek and I appreciate this video. I was actually born the year this game took place. I've seen Wilson's name before in with the Astros retired numbers and his 2 no-hitters. But never did much research on him and kind of lumped him in with quality players from that era I just didn't know much about. And even though every Tom, Dick, and Harry can look up his stats, it's nice to actually see him work an inning to see what he was about. I'm just sorry he left us too soon.
I love 70's baseball, seems I could watch it on end! Thank you! Baseball the way it should be played! Not calling half swings (did you notice with Kaline's at bat?) Wilson just rearing back and firing..no pitch counts or speed guns..You just hear the ball hit the mitt and make smoke. WOW!
I was at the Henderson Alvarez no-hitter today and it appeared he might not get the win because the Marlins had not scored a run for him. I thought of Don Wilson. And tonight, at random, I saw this on TH-cam. RIP Don Wilson
I was 10 then, a kid growing up in Atlanta and pitching in the local LL. I remember your uncle could flat "bring it" and wondering how he got all that speed from what looked like such an easy motion. Gave my Braves fits for sure.
Looks like a mid-90s fastball coming out of a deceptively relaxed and smooth delivery. Would love to have seen what he could have done with another 7 or 8 years of his career, but it just wasn't to be.
Grew up watching the Reds, i remember the Morgan, Billingham, Geronimo, Menke trade for Lee May and tommy Helms, everyone thought Houston got the better deal, took the Reds till 1975 to finally win the series.
Hard to believe that Don Wilson passed on in 75. The Astros had so much talent back then. Larry Dierker, Jimmy Wynn, Lee May, who was swapped for Joe Morgan, J. R. Richard, Cesar Cedeno, Jose Cruz, Rusty Staub, John Mayberry, Claude Osteen, etc. It's hard to believe that they didn't win at least a few pennants back then.
Bob Watson somewhere around that time to, didn't they? My first year following baseball was 79 or 80 and I was an Astros fan then. I remember Cruz, Puhl, Walling, Ryan, Niekro, Richards, Andujar, Cedeno, Howe, Cabell, Sambito, Smith, Forsche... I had the 1979 Strike-Out Leaders (traded for it from a friend, my first cards I bought were from the 1980 season). Ryan was on it for the AL for the Angels and Richards was on it for the NL. Man, if Richards hadn't had a stroke... Ryan, Richards, J. Niekro, Andujar, Forsche for a starting rotation with Joe Sambito and Dave Smith in relief? I think they picked up an aging Don Sutton not long after that. They could have almost stacked up against the 90s era Braves. No team should be allowed to have that much pitching! Sometimes I can't remember what I did yesterday but I can still remember the faces on the baseball cards!
michael semmi jr they messed up before the 1969 season by trading Rusty Staub to the Montreal Expos that was a money deal for the owner Rusty Staub should have never been traded from the Houston Astros that was a big mistake another big mistake was the big trade between the Astros and the Reds the Astros messed up by getting rid of John Mayberry and they wanted a big power-hitting first baseman so they acquired Lemay from the Cincinnati Reds along with Tommy Helm's Lemay was the first baseman Tommy Helm's was a second baseman they picked up a utility infielder named Jimmy Stewart strictly garbage the big man of the trade was Lemay here's what the Astros gave up a big mistake Joe Morgan Hall of Famer Denis Menke at the tail end of his career Cesar Geronimo Ed armbrister and Jack Billingham Jack Billingham Cesar Geronimo and Jewel Morgan cogs in the Big Red Machine the Houston Astros also made a big mistake trading Jimmy win to the Dodgers prior to the 1974 season Jimmy Wynn had a big year for the Dodgers in 1974 the Houston Astros made some bonehead trades
The might have won a few pennants but their was a log-jam of really good teams ahead of them. Reds & Dodgers won that division virtually every year in the 70s.
I love this old footage Tiger Stadium and Al Kaline being a fan of the Tigers since I was 7 years old right around the time this game was played. Brings back great memories of the dozens of games I've been to at the old ballpark. I never saw this game in its first run but it is truly nostalgic. I believe I have a Don Wilson baseball card from 1974. Didn't know much about the man but he looks like he's got some mean stuff. Sorry for your loss so suddenly but it's great that you can pay tribute to him here and enjoy all of the positive comments everybody's giving you I hope you enjoy it. And to all the negative comments out there I say you need to get a life. Show some respect to this lady while giving tribute to her uncle.
Don Wilson was awesome! I followed the Astros for years. I remember reading about him in a book I had as a kid (and still do) called "Baseball's Greatest Moments" by Joseph Reichler. If he would have been on the Astros team in 1979 or 1980 I bet they would have gone all the way to win the World Series.
I love to watch old baseball footage like this! Thank goodness for TH-cam ;)
Thanks for posting this. My father in law was also a great ball player and this era is simply forgotten because of the popularity. A great era with great men!
Don Wilson is one of the most underrated pitchers in MLB history.
Your pride is well-deserved! He was a great one, a pitcher I really enjoyed watching as a kid. By the way, that was the first All-star game I ever saw.
When I was a kid I always enjoyed watching your uncle pitch. He worked fast and had a smooth delivery. Once in the early seventies I was hanging around the players exit at the Dome after the game and saw him come out. I asked him for an autograph and he laughed and said, "I'm not a player, I just sell popcorn." I followed him for a while, insisting that he sure looked like the guy on the baseball card I was holding. He laughed again, took the card, and signed it. Then he patiently signed for every kid that was standing there with me. Back then I wondered why he did that, but as an adult I understand that it must be tiring to be a celebrity. Nevertheless, he was very good natured and polite to me. I got his autograph several times after that as well. I liked his signature because I could read it (Joe Morgan had a nice signature also). I still have those cards. God bless Don Wilson.
What a cool memory. I wish I still had my cards from the 70’s. I think I still have one card. It will probably turn up someday in a box of memorabilia. That one was a Yaz card that I bought from a dealer. My sister just found the pair of tickets that my dad and I got from going to a 1980 World Series game between the Royals and the Phillies. I will treasure those forever. That’s a story for another time.
These two comments were simply about cherished experiences that we each had. If you’ve had some wonderful experience involving your favorite game you can tell me about that if you like.
@M soccer will never be shit in usa bc its boring
Thank you for sharing! That warms my heart! ❤
Ayanna: Just came across the video of your Uncle Don Wilson pitching in the 71 All Star game. I saw your uncle play and followed his career. I had so much respect and admiration for his superb pitching skills, as well as for the way he carried himself on the field. He was a true great and I’m extremely sorry he left our world at such a young age. Regards to you and Don’s family. Your admiration for him is well placed.
Regards. Rich
Don Wilson always made pitching look effortless.. Whadda fastball!!!
Al Kaline heard those fastballs but he never did see them! Thanks for posting this. Your uncle was a very fine pitcher. Your whole family should be proud. Sorry to see men like Don Wilson and Lymon Bostock Jr. meet such a sad end.
When I was 13 years old, my parents gave me a very special birthday/X-mas gift to me- pitching lessons for a week by an Astros pitcher, Don Wilson. Mr. Wilson seemed to take special interest and spent approx 1 and a half hrs per day with me. On my last day of my lessons, when I was going to pitch to Cedeno and Cruz, I was told, " Don died last night". I was the last person to play catch with Don Wilson, and I have his recorded voice ( lovingly giving pitching lessons) on the day he died.
Oh wow thank you for sharing! That's amazing! I'm going to share this with my mother today and his daughter! I would love to see if there is a way I could get a copy of the recording for them. Please let me know.
I just noticed this comment was 12 years ago!
Please ignore any negative comments posted by people who are looking for a life but are doomed to disappointment. The batters all knew what the next pitch was and they still couldn't hit it. Don Wilson was one of the best pitchers I ever saw.
ed chapman Thank For your comment. That was extremely kind of you and you are right I appreciate you taking the time to address the negative miserable people. Be blessed
I saw Don Wilson throw a two hit shut out against the phills at old Connie Mack stadium. His stuff was just plain nasty.
@@scottlewis8681 I bet that was awesome to not only see Wilson pitch, but also see Shibe Park in person.
I watched this game on TV in 1971.
Ayanna Williams I have been attending baseball games since 1962, being able to watch in person Don Wilson and J.R. Richards pitch against the Phillies I believe I watch two of the best Right handed pitchers of all time. Gone way to soon. Peace to you and your family!!!!!!!
Thank you for sharing this footage. I was honored to watch it. I remember when I was a kid I collected baseball cards. I did a presentation on them to my 4th grade class. I had one of Don Wilson's cards. He had already past by this time. I showed his card and gave a talk on him. The students enjoyed it! Its too bad he died to soon. My prayer,
May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace and let light perpetual shine upon him. Amen
your uncle was great and was gone too soon, beautiful for sharing this
He had such an easy motion to the plate, but threw great heat!! Thanks for sharing!
Ms. Williams, thank you for posting your uncle. He was before my time. But as a lifelong Astros fan, I'm well aware of how good he was through my family. I can see why because of this vid. God Bless You and your family and thanks for sharing.
The late great Al Kaline R.I.P
Look at Tiger Stadium in all its glory! What a place. I went to many ballgames there in 60's - 80's. It smelled of cheap cigars, a little slight urine fragrance and hot dogs - which were delicious. It was a true American treasure.
A thing of beauty it was, sad.
Why was it sad?
Cheap center field seats and cheap beer.
@@jimmykoplin1807 Sad because it's gone now
Saw Fydrich in 80s. Place was electric for the Bird
A sad day when this great pitcher died.
The first time I ever heard about Don Wilson is when I got his 1968 topps card. It was the first year I started collecting. It may not be a big deal but Don was one of the best pitchers on the Astros with Larry Dierker that team today could make post season.
Thank you so much for posting this. I grew up in Michigan and went to many games at Tiger Stadium as a kid, and again as dad with my sons.
Thanks for posting this, you uncle was one of my favorite pitchers of all time! I used to go as a kid to see him pitch. back then a kid could sit in centerfield at the Astrodome for 50 cents. Long time ago, hehehe. My favorite game Don Wilson pitched was a pitching duel with Juan Marichal of the Giants. Don Wilson pitched a 14 inning shutout for the complete game win. He is missed.
Wilson also tied the strike-out record with 18 in '68. Koufax had 18 too. If I remember correctly. When Don Wilson was "on", he was unhittable.
Thank you for the fond memory of the way baseball used to be, and your uncle was quite a wonderful pitcher and you should be proud, peace and love from Canada!
I managed to tape the whole game once it became available on cable channels many years back. And I saw this game (on NBC) back in 1971 when I was 13 yrs old. It was quite exciting seeing some of the very best stars in history perform that day. Ms Williams, your uncle was indeed one of the best pitches of that era... one whom I believe did not get the recognition he deserved. People also forget he was very respectable with the bat as well. Obviously, like everyone else in the sports world, I was stunned by his untimely death at such a young age. Thank you for sharing...
Helluva pitcher. I wonder how much faster he could have thrown if he had been schooled in modern pitching mechanics? He's leaving a lot of power out with poor weight transition. Then again, that whipping action is what's giving his pitches all that movement. Him and Nolan Ryan had that extra jump on their fastball. A joy to watch.
Don wilson went threw some of the most dangerous hitters in baseball and it looked like he threw nothing but fastballs.
Thank you for posting! I came for Carl Yastrzemski and in the process learned of your uncle. I enjoyed and appreciate it! :)
Ten years old in 71....Visited my Uncle Bob that summer in Houston. My dad, God bless him, took us to The Astro Dome to see a game.....WOW! I still have the super 8 footage of that game....The electric board....Neon rockets.....Wow.....We were die hard Cub fans.....still are.....But what a night for a ten year old.....INDOOR BASEBALL.....Wilson pitched ...Nasty heat with a very smooth wind up. I well remember my dad, who had played minor league ball for a year prior to the war, commenting about Wilson's pitching.
Thanks for posting this. The one game that I can remember for sure being in attendance when Don Wilson pitched was at the end of that 1971 season. He was going against Bill Singer in Dodger Stadium, with the Dodgers one game behind the Giants with maybe three games left in the season. Wilson was throwing bullets with such an effortless looking delivery. He looked like he could throw upper 90s for 150 pitches without strain. Singer, on the other hand strained with every pitch he threw. He looked like at any minute, his arm would fall off.
It was a big pitcher's duel. Neither team got more than a couple hits, but the Astros were totally inept on offense. Ironically, I knew both starting catches in that game in Johnny Edwards and Duke Sims, and Duke won the game for the Dodgers with a homer. Alas, the Giants also won that night to keep the Dodgers one game back, which is where it ended after 162 games.
I also remember that Hank Aaron once said that Don Wilson had the fastest fastball he had faced other than Sandy Koufax, and they were about equal.
Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Don Wilson play on the same high school team as Roy White and Reggie Smith in the LA area?
Awesome! I think it's awesome that you are so proud of your uncle...and you should be!!! What a great pitcher he was. Sounds like he was even a better man
Gotta love the umps big chest protector
Thank you for sharing this .This was the first All Star game I saw as a kid. 1971 was my first year of following and playing baseball as a kid. This brings back wonderful memories from my childhood. At that time , outside of your local team baseball had limited TV coverage so the All Stat game was the chance to see this players who I had read so much about on live TV . I often wonder how great the Astros would have been had Don Wilson and JR Richard both been pitching on the same team during their primes. Richard was just coming up and had not hit his peak when Wilson was there . Imagine a staff of Richard, Larry Dierker, and Wilson during that period with Cedeno and Bob Watson leading the offense ? They would have been very competitive
Thank you for posting this video. This was the first All Star Game I watched as an 8 year old. It brings back wonderful memories of my childhood and dreams of being a major league baseball player. Your uncle was a great pitcher and from what I read an even better person
Thank you for sharing!
Don Wilson was an excellent pitcher. Good to see some footage reflecting his talent.
Don Wilson- one of the greats. I was reading about him in Dock Ellis book. He will never, ever be forgotten.
Love watching your uncle, I’m a huge baseball fan, I started watching baseball in 1983, and fell in love with baseball and I’m a Chicago White Sox Fan Since 1983 I was 7 Years Old in 1983
Don Wilson pitched in a era of great pitchers. Unfortunately he does not get the credit that he deserves because of that.
Ayanna Houston guy here, can’t believe you showed Don Wilson. Appreciate it. He threw a no hitter for the Astros.
Wow, brings back memories. Thanks for posting this.
Watching Don Wilson pitch , he's so fluid and wastes no time on the mound in contrast to the pitchers of today. Both he and Fergie Jenkins had similar motions and worked quickly. Loved see the Yaz at bat . I grew up watching the Red Sox and seeing Yaz with his traditional batting stance and hands held high brings back fond memories. I saw Yaz's grandson play in AAA this year and it's amazing how much he resembles his grandfather in so facial features and approach to the game .
Would love to see his grandson play for Boston
How nice to put this out there. This was my favorite all-star game with so many HOF players and managers. Tip of the cap to Mr.Wilson.😇
I remember watching your uncle pitch against the Cardinals when I was a boy. He was a great pitcher and like your family, I mourned when he died. Also, I read where Hank Aaron said that your uncle was the toughest pitcher he ever faced. That's total validation.
Do you remember where you read that Aaron said that? I'm not denying it-I'd just like to see it.
@@samuelbarrett5648 Yes, it was in Baseball Digest in a 1975 issue. I'm sorry I don't remember the month. If you come across it, let me know. I'd like to get that issue again. I used to subscribe to it for several years.
Don Wilson was part of something that's only happened twice in baseball history. In 1969 the Astros were playing the Reds. On April 30, Jim Maloney of the Reda pitched a no-hitter against the Astros. The next night, Don returned the Favor and pitched his own no-hitter against the Reds.
there is another side to that history!!. The big red machine heckled and mocked the astros the night they lost to Maloney. Don Wilson was furious and every pitch that night was payback. He was so angry he charged their dugout on the last pitch even though he threw a no-hitter against them. Pretty cool!
Wilson hit Johnny Bench in that no-hitter and then Wilson himself (who also walked 6) was hit while at bat. Here, a couple of years later, he is pitching to Bench as his catcher. The All-Star games can make strange comrades.
Don Wison was a big, hard thrower. He was a Houston Astro great. This was in an era when black boys still loved baseball, and black players were filling Major League Baseball rosters. Thanks for posting this video!
Thank you very much for posting this clip. Love it!!!
A great pitcher, woefully underrated. Threw serious heat.
Great video. The first baseball cards I owned as a kid were from 1971 and one of them was a Don Wilson card. The first games I remember were in the 1970 Word Series.
Thank you for posting this video. I was 10 years old at the time, and I remember Don and his fearsome fastball. He was a big star back at that time. Great stuff!
Great footage!!! This was before my time, but I am very impressed by Don Wilson's pitching... His delivery appears to be almost effortless, but very intimidating... Clearly one of the great pitchers in Astros' history, and it is fitting that the franchise retired his #40... True Astros' fans (and baseball fans in general) should remember him fondly.... It was a pleasure to watch this...
I remember him growing up as a child & watching him when ever the Mets played the Astro’s OT the game of the week on Saturday with curt goaded .he was one of my favorite, God rest his soul & his family.
Don and I played on the same summer league team in Compton, the Compton Travelers. Six players on that team signed professional. Thanks for sharing this. Really enjoyed it.
Thank you so much for posting, Ayanna. Your uncle was a great pitcher. As a lifelong baseball fan in his 40's, it's wonderful to see clips from a great era of baseball.
I remember your uncle very well. Not only was he a great pitcher, he was one of the better, if not the best hitting pitchers of his time. I was in 10th grade and I remember hearing on the radio when they announced his death. It was so sad.
ANYONE knowledgeable about great pitchers--and the game of baseball---knows full well about Don Wilson. Taken from us too soon.
Wilson was an ace pitcher. My greatest memory of him was when he no-hit the Reds in 1969, the day after Jim Maloney no-hit Wilson's Astros for the Reds. No-hitters on back-to-back days between the Reds and Astros. BTW, Curt Gowdy, Tony Kubek, and Joe Garagiola were fine announcers.
The 1971 All Star Game had several future hall of famers. It was in some ways a transition from the older stars like Mays and the new like Jackson Bench etc .
B Ruane
29 hall of gamers in Fact in this game. Players and coaches
Too young to remember him (was 3 1/2 during this game)....but he was throwing smoke on EVERY pitch! Awesome to see.
I have never seen the man pitch, quite impressive, threw real hard. RIP to your uncle. Loved getting to see Yaz, Kaline and Killer play again, too.
@awilliams352005 I saw your uncle pitch many times, and he was terrific! Thank you for posting this!
God bless you!
Thank you for posting this. Wonderful to see these wonderful players in action. Don Wilson was a fine pitcher and his "stuff" was certainly on display against these HoF players...
Thank you so much for posting this. Although 39 years have passed, so sorry for yours and your families loss.
I'm old enough to have seen him play but I don't remember him. He looked like he really brought the heat!
Nice video... nice to see the umps back then actually make the calls in a timely fashion. These days they wait for ever to call them!
Wilson had some serious gas.
Congratulations Ms. Williams!! You have much of which to be proud. I know how you feel. Yesterday, May 2, 2020, marked the 67th anniversary of my Dad, Carlos Bernier, connecting three (3) consecutive triples in the same game against the Cincinnati Reds while wearing a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform. This feat tied a Major League record that was later matched by Roberto Clemente in 1958. The Pirates won 12-4. My Dad went 4 for 5 with 4 RBI's and a stolen base in the game. Unfortunately, they never kept those films and my Dad is no longer here to share those memories. I remember your uncle from the 1971 All Star game...as a matter of fact, I watched the game with my father that day. I remember all the great players that participated in the game: Roberto Clemente, Frank Robinson, Carl Yazstremski, Harmon Killebrew, Al Kaline, Reggie Jackson, Luis Aparicio, Hank Aaron, Steve Carlton, Willie Stargell, Johnny Bench...OMG. That game may have hosted the biggest number of superstars (and Hall of Famers) of any All Star game. Your uncle made it to the All Star game with the best that baseball had to offer and did very well for himself!!
Thank you for the wonderful memory you brought back by sharing this video of your uncle, Don Wilson.
Wow thank you for sharing! Your father was one of the greats too! I'm so glad you have those wonderful memories! I truly appreciate the walk down memory lane! ❤❤
@@awilliams352005
❤️
Your Uncle Don not only tossed two no-hitters, he was pulled for a pinch-hitter in a 3rd no-hitter (that the bullpen blew). He also struck out 18 batters in a game. He was a great pitcher. I remember as an 11-year-old child fan being heartbroken when he died. Thank you for uploading this video!
Thanks for posting. I remember going to Astros games in the early 70s as a child, great to watch Don (your uncle) pitch.
Ayanna, You posted a wonderful tribute to your uncle and I am sure he is looking down on you and very proud of the woman you have become. Ironically, this game was shown in its entirety on the MLB Network today and I turned it on and started watching it at the very point your late uncle came into the game.
As someone who was a former pitcher and played baseball up until my senior year in high school before a serious injury cut my season short and effectively ended my dreams of becoming a professional ballplayer, I can most definitely appreciate your uncle's level of talent, skill, drive, and determination to succeed in the sport and can see from many of the comments in response to your post that I am not alone in doing so. His life may have seemed brief but his star shone unquestionably bright for some of that time while doing something he loved and that people like myself would have given almost anything to do. While you are comforted by the special memories you have of him, please remember to look after yourself and stay healthy and safe during this challenging time in this country and global pandemic. Peace and best wishes to you.
Seamusin Thank you for your kind words! I really wish I could’ve seen that game today! Thank you for sharing! Its comments like this that make the insults feel like nothing. Thank you and I hope you are getting through these trying times peacefully.
@@awilliams352005 Likewise, thank you so much for the kind words. Try checking out the MLB Network's schedule for this month and next. They frequently repeat broadcasts of old games. It should appear somewhere under the title 1971 All Star Game. What is intriguing about the game is not only your uncle's appearance in it and untimely death at a young age but also that Roberto Clemente appeared in the game as well and would die in a plane crash a little over a year later. It was tragic and sad to lose both of them as they were extremely talented ballplayers who still had so much to give and left us much too soon.
I remember Don Wilson well. I believe Hank Aaron described him as one of the toughest pitchers he ever faced. I also remember once when Don Wilson was pitching a no-hitter but was taken out of the game for a pinch-hitter in the eighth (as I believe his team was losing1-0). Reporters asked him after the game what he thought of the move. Don Wilson said he had more respect for his manager than ever for putting team goals over individual ones. Sounds like both a great teammate and person.
My first ballgame was at Cincinnati's Crosley Field ,1969. Don Wilson vs . Jim Merrit if I remember correctly . Two guys throwing serious heat that day . It smelled like cigars at Crosley .Thats wahat I remeber most .
My favorite All-Star game, played in my hometown ballpark. 20 future hall of famers, 11 NL & 9 AL, played in this game. Also Sparky and Earl, the managers. I have the complete original broadcast of this game on dvd.
Your uncle and Bob Gibson were the 2 badassed pitchers in baseball. LOOK at his fastball rising!
Frank Santore put Don Drysdale also
Frank Santore Ferguson Jenkins !
Michael Gardiner and Jim Simpson I agree with you both!
Frank Santore Don Drysdale 58 ? Shutout innings ?
Wow !
Interesting thing watching Wilson is how his motion is rather matter of fact and slow, til the end when he seems to suddenly accelerate and fling the ball out at high velocity. For the record 1971 was Wilson's best year: 16-10 with a 2.45 ERA. It was his only all star appearance. Yaz had a relatively bad year, hitting .254 with 15 home runs. Kaline hit .294 with 15 home runs but missed 29 games due to injury. Killebrew led the AL in RBIs and walks, but hit a low (for him) 28 home runs.
Wow! In the bottom of the Eighth inning Carl Yastrzemski and Johnny Bench having a conversion........"Classic!" 👍👍
Don Wilson - I remember he had a deceptively smooth delivery coupled with a fireball coming to the plate...gone too soon...quiet, soft-spoken, and classy player
Don Wilson was loaded with talent and was quite a fierce competitor. A real warrior on the mound with tremendous stuff. I was lucky to get to watch him pitch at the Dome many times. I'll never forget seeing his picture pop up on the news and finding out what happened.
I was such a huge Astros fan going back to 1969 when I was 9 years old. Dierker, Wilson, Griffin, Billingham....what a staff! Don Wilson threw heat......batters would dispute pitches with the umpire by saying, "how can you call that a strike? That pitch sounded outside to me!"
Man do I miss Tiger Stadium. Great video, favored.
Thanks for posting this. You’re uncle is my favorite all time Astro. I think about him often when I go to Minute Maid and see his name and number hanging above the rafters. To me he will always be the best Astros pitcher of All Time.
I remember him well, a blazing fastball...
I remember watching this in 1971 when I was a mere 15-years-old.
Thank you for this excellent video as it brings back so many memories! And I am very sorry for your loss.
I grew up attending Astros games in the 70s as a youngster. I remember being saddened the morning I opened up the sports section of the Beaumont Enterprise & Journal while still a 5th grader and reading the tragic news about Don Wilson and his children. Indeed, Wilson was one of the best pitchers to ever wear the Astros unfiform, and that's saying something. Thanks for posting.
I'm a baseball stats geek and I appreciate this video. I was actually born the year this game took place. I've seen Wilson's name before in with the Astros retired numbers and his 2 no-hitters. But never did much research on him and kind of lumped him in with quality players from that era I just didn't know much about. And even though every Tom, Dick, and Harry can look up his stats, it's nice to actually see him work an inning to see what he was about. I'm just sorry he left us too soon.
I love 70's baseball, seems I could watch it on end! Thank you! Baseball the way it should be played! Not calling half swings (did you notice with Kaline's at bat?) Wilson just rearing back and firing..no pitch counts or speed guns..You just hear the ball hit the mitt and make smoke.
WOW!
I was at the Henderson Alvarez no-hitter today and it appeared he might not get the win because the Marlins had not scored a run for him. I thought of Don Wilson. And tonight, at random, I saw this on TH-cam. RIP Don Wilson
RIP Don Wilson. Never got to see him play, but I always see his #40 hanging at Minute Maid Park GO ASTROS
You’re right - very under rated and often overlooked pitcher.
I was 10 then, a kid growing up in Atlanta and pitching in the local LL. I remember your uncle could flat "bring it" and wondering how he got all that speed from what looked like such an easy motion. Gave my Braves fits for sure.
Looks like a mid-90s fastball coming out of a deceptively relaxed and smooth delivery. Would love to have seen what he could have done with another 7 or 8 years of his career, but it just wasn't to be.
Grew up watching the Reds, i remember the Morgan, Billingham, Geronimo, Menke trade for Lee May and tommy Helms, everyone thought Houston got the better deal, took the Reds till 1975 to finally win the series.
Hard to believe that Don Wilson passed on in 75. The Astros had so much talent back then. Larry Dierker, Jimmy Wynn, Lee May, who was swapped for Joe Morgan, J. R. Richard, Cesar Cedeno, Jose Cruz, Rusty Staub, John Mayberry, Claude Osteen, etc. It's hard to believe that they didn't win at least a few pennants back then.
Bob Watson somewhere around that time to, didn't they? My first year following baseball was 79 or 80 and I was an Astros fan then. I remember Cruz, Puhl, Walling, Ryan, Niekro, Richards, Andujar, Cedeno, Howe, Cabell, Sambito, Smith, Forsche... I had the 1979 Strike-Out Leaders (traded for it from a friend, my first cards I bought were from the 1980 season). Ryan was on it for the AL for the Angels and Richards was on it for the NL. Man, if Richards hadn't had a stroke... Ryan, Richards, J. Niekro, Andujar, Forsche for a starting rotation with Joe Sambito and Dave Smith in relief? I think they picked up an aging Don Sutton not long after that. They could have almost stacked up against the 90s era Braves. No team should be allowed to have that much pitching!
Sometimes I can't remember what I did yesterday but I can still remember the faces on the baseball cards!
michael semmi jr they messed up before the 1969 season by trading Rusty Staub to the Montreal Expos that was a money deal for the owner Rusty Staub should have never been traded from the Houston Astros that was a big mistake another big mistake was the big trade between the Astros and the Reds the Astros messed up by getting rid of John Mayberry and they wanted a big power-hitting first baseman so they acquired Lemay from the Cincinnati Reds along with Tommy Helm's Lemay was the first baseman Tommy Helm's was a second baseman they picked up a utility infielder named Jimmy Stewart strictly garbage the big man of the trade was Lemay here's what the Astros gave up a big mistake Joe Morgan Hall of Famer Denis Menke at the tail end of his career Cesar Geronimo Ed armbrister and Jack Billingham Jack Billingham Cesar Geronimo and Jewel Morgan cogs in the Big Red Machine the Houston Astros also made a big mistake trading Jimmy win to the Dodgers prior to the 1974 season Jimmy Wynn had a big year for the Dodgers in 1974 the Houston Astros made some bonehead trades
I Love those guys! Houston Astros of 70' & 80.
The might have won a few pennants but their was a log-jam of really good teams ahead of them. Reds & Dodgers won that division virtually every year in the 70s.
In 1975 Don Wilson died of carbon monoxide poisoning after leaving his car running in a closed garage at his home.
love me some Don Wilson.
I love this old footage Tiger Stadium and Al Kaline being a fan of the Tigers since I was 7 years old right around the time this game was played. Brings back great memories of the dozens of games I've been to at the old ballpark. I never saw this game in its first run but it is truly nostalgic. I believe I have a Don Wilson baseball card from 1974. Didn't know much about the man but he looks like he's got some mean stuff. Sorry for your loss so suddenly but it's great that you can pay tribute to him here and enjoy all of the positive comments everybody's giving you I hope you enjoy it. And to all the negative comments out there I say you need to get a life. Show some respect to this lady while giving tribute to her uncle.
He was one hell of a pitcher. Too bad he had to go so soon.
I was born in 1970 so forgive me for not knowing Don Wilson before but holy cow this guy's got a live arm. He is bringing it!
Hank Aaron once said Don Wilson was his toughest pitching foe.
MrEriccloy High praise.
@MANCHESTER UNITED No one cares.
Wilson threw gas.
I miss those uniforms of the 1960's
This is when baseball was the best. I knew every player on every team. The good ole days.
This is great footage, r.i.p. Don Wilson.
Don Wilson was awesome! I followed the Astros for years. I remember reading about him in a book I had as a kid (and still do) called "Baseball's Greatest Moments" by Joseph Reichler. If he would have been on the Astros team in 1979 or 1980 I bet they would have gone all the way to win the World Series.