110 Greatest Baseball Players

98.  RHP Hoyt Wilhelm, Chicago White Sox

Wilhelm began his Minor League career in 1942 but it was interrupted by World War II.  He didn't return to the U. S. until 1946 and by then he was unable to regain his former fastball, which was said to be outstanding, so he scrapped everything and restarted his career as a knuckleballer.  Wilhelm finally got to the Majors with the New York Giants in 1952 at the age of 28 and quickly established himself as a premier setup man and part-time closer but he first gained notice when he hit a home run in his first Major League at-bat.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1953.  He won a World Series with the Giants in 1954.  He split 1957 between St. Louis and Cleveland.  He split 1958 between Cleveland and Baltimore and began starting games for the first time in his Major League career due to his extra stamina from the knuckleball and he amazingly threw a no-hitter in one of those starts with Baltimore.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1959.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1961.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1962.  He went to the White Sox in 1963.  He was the oldest player in the American League in 1966.  He was the oldest player in the American League in 1967.  He was the oldest player in the American League in 1968.  He split the 1969 season between the California Angels and Atlanta and was the oldest player in both the American and National Leagues.  In 1970, he played in the All-Star Game, was traded to the Cubs and was the oldest player in the National League.  He split 1971 between Atlanta and the Dodgers and was the oldest player in the National League.  He was the oldest player in the National League in 1972.  He finished his career with 143 wins and 122 losses with 227 saves and 1,610 strikeouts.  The real testament is to his longevity, though.  He played 21 seasons in the Majors and pitched in 1,070 games during that span, completing 2,254 innings pitched and maintaining a 2.52 ERA during that span.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985.  To date, he is the only setup man to ever be enshrined in Cooperstown.

Honorable Mention:

1B Norm Cash, Detroit Tigers

Cash got to the Majors with the White Sox in 1958.  He went to the Tigers in 1960. In 1961, he played in the All-Star Game, won the American League Batting Title and finished the season with 41 home runs.  He was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year in 1965.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1966.  He won a World Series with the Tigers in 1968.  In 1971, he played in the All-Star Game and was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year.  He played in the All-Star Game in 1972.  In 1974, he became a true franchise player with the Tigers and played in the All-Star Game before retiring.  He finished his career with 377 home runs and 1,103 runs batted in.  He was snubbed for the Hall of Fame and he won't make this list either.