Jimmie Wilson

James Wilson (July 23, 1900 — May 31, 1947), nicknamed "Ace," was an American professional athlete in soccer and baseball.

He began his professional sports career as a soccer outside right in the National Association Football League and American Soccer League before becoming a catcher, manager and coach in Major League Baseball. In the 1940 World Series, the 40-year-old Wilson came off the coaching lines to take over as the regular catcher for the Cincinnati Reds when the starter, future Baseball Hall of Famer Ernie Lombardi, was injured. Wilson batted .353 in six games, playing a key role in Cincinnati's defeat of the Detroit Tigers, four games to three, for the world championship. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Wilson threw and batted right-handed and stood tall and weighed .

Soccer

Wilson, the son of Scottish immigrants, grew up in northeast Philadelphia. He left school when he was fourteen to work in a local textile mill. In 1919, he left the mills when he began playing as an outside forward with Philadelphia Merchant Ship B in the National Association Football League. During his time with the team, he met Dick Spalding, another two sport athlete, whom he later hired as his first base coach when Wilson managed the Phillies and Cubs. After Merchant Ship folded following the 1919-1920 season, Wilson moved to Bethlehem Steel F.C., signing with the team in July 1920. During his time in Bethlehem, he also played...
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