Baseball remembers the pitcher who rewrote endurance
Major League Baseball has confirmed the death of Wilbur Wood, a three time All Star knuckleballer whose workload and longevity made him one of the most unusual pitchers of the modern era, according to Major League Baseball.
A career shaped by an uncommon role
Wood spent 17 seasons in the major leagues, carving out a career that blended starting and relief work at a volume rarely seen today. He became most closely identified with the Chicago White Sox, where he pitched for 12 seasons between 1967,78, according to MLB.
He also appeared during his career with the Boston Red Sox and the Pittsburgh Pirates, but his most enduring years came in Chicago, where his reliability reshaped how the team used its pitching staff.
The knuckleball as a survival tool
As a left handed knuckleballer, Wood relied on deception and movement rather than power. That approach allowed him to pitch frequently and recover quickly, a combination that defined his reputation across the league.
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According to MLB, Wood led the American League in appearances as a reliever three times from 1968,70. His flexibility later extended into the rotation, where he became one of the most heavily used starters in baseball.
When durability became historic
From 1971 through 1974, Wood entered territory that few pitchers have approached since. During those four seasons, he won more than 20 games each year and threw over 300 innings annually, according to MLB.
His most remarkable season came in 1972. MLB reported that Wood started 49 games, finished with a 24,17 record, posted a 2.51 ERA, and logged 376.2 innings. That performance earned him a second place finish in American League Cy Young voting behind Gaylord Perry.
A legacy from a different era
Wood finished his career with 164 victories, a total built not on dominance but on availability, trust, and resilience. His usage reflected an era when pitchers were expected to absorb workloads that are now considered unsustainable.
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He was 84 years old at the time of his death, according to Major League Baseball.
Sources: Major League Baseball
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