The Willie Wilson T-Bones Classic is five days away. On Saturday, May 31, gates open at 2:15 p.m., with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.  The T-Bones are excited to welcome Major League Baseball and Royals Hall of Famers, like Willie Wilson, and many other former Major League greats.

Who is the legendary Willie Wilson? Willie Wilson is a former Major League Baseball outfielder for the Kansas City Royals.  He retired in ’94 with the Oakland Athletics and Chicago Cubs.

In 1974, Wilson signed with the Royals after being drafted and turning down a football scholarship to the University of Maryland.  He led the league in stolen bases for the Gulf Coast affiliate.  Wilson also led the league in steals, hits and outfield assists; and received the Most Valuable Player award and Prospect of the Year award.  Wilson spent a couple of years in the minor leagues before making it to the Major Leagues to stay.  

Wilson’s greatest season ever was in 1980, he hit .326 with 230 hits and 133 runs scored.  In 1981, he was the Royals player of the year. The next year, Wilson hit .332 and won the American League batting title.  Hitting lead-off, he helped the Royals to the 1985 World Championship.  Two years later, he played 148 straight games without committing an error.

Wilson retired in 1994 with 668 stolen bases and a batting average of .285.  He currently runs the not-for-profit Willie Wilson Baseball Foundation for seven to 14-year-old boys and girls’ baseball camps.