Former Pirate Jack Wilson to Make Appearance at August 11 Altoona Curve Game

Chris Rossetti

Chris Rossetti

Published June 25, 2018 4:20 am
Former Pirate Jack Wilson to Make Appearance at August 11 Altoona Curve Game

CURVE, Pa. — Former Altoona Curve shortstop and National League All-Star Jack Wilson will make an appearance at Peoples Natural Gas Field on Saturday, August 11, on his bobblehead giveaway night, the Curve announced on Thursday.

(Photo courtesy of Altoona Curve)

Wilson will be on hand as the Curve give away his Fans’ Choice All-Time Curve Team bobblehead to the first 1,000 fans, presented by the Altoona Grand Hotel. The former Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop will throw out a ceremonial first pitch, conduct a meet & greet with fans and more.

After being traded from the Cardinals to the Pirates, Wilson joined the Curve near the end of the 2000 season. That year, he played 33 games with Altoona, hitting .252 with one homer and 16 RBIs.

The next year, Wilson made his major league debut as the Pirates’ Opening Day shortstop. For nine seasons with the Pirates, “Jack Flash” wowed fans with stellar defensive play on the infield.

A 2004 National League All-Star, Wilson played 1,159 games for the Pirates and won a Silver Slugger Award in 2004. He briefly returned to the Curve for seven games in 2008 on a rehab assignment.

Wilson spent three seasons with the Mariners and his final two years with the Braves before retiring in 2012 to cap his 12-year big-league career, one of the most successful MLB careers of any Curve alumnus in franchise history.

Last fall, Wilson was voted as the shortstop on the Fans’ Choice All-Time Curve Team, part of the Curve’s celebration of their 20th season.

The ballpark gates will open at 3:30 on August 11 as the Curve face the Erie SeaWolves in a doubleheader at PNG Field. First pitch for the first game of the doubleheader is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

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