Chief Wilson

John Owen "Chief" Wilson (August 21, 1883 – February 22, 1954) was an American baseball outfielder who played nine seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals from 1908 to 1916. He batted left-handed but threw right-handed and served primarily as a right fielder.

Wilson played minor league baseball for three different teams until the end of 1907, when he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates. After spending six seasons with the organization, Wilson was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, where he spent the last three seasons of his major league career and with whom he played his last game on October 1, 1916. Wilson is best known for setting the single-season record for triples in 1912 with 36, a record that still stands.

Personal life

Wilson was born on August 21, 1883, in Austin, Texas. He grew up at a ranch owned by his family located approximately 50 miles north of Austin in Bertram. He was known for his silent and introvert nature; his Pirates teammate and roommate Bobby Byrne recounted how Wilson "wouldn't say two words all day." Wilson started his baseball career playing in several teams in independent leagues, before joining the Austin Senators in 1905.