Wilbur Wood, White Sox Pitcher, Dies at 84

Wilbur Wood, the durable left-handed knuckleball pitcher who anchored the Chicago White Sox rotation in the 1970s, died on Saturday at a hospital in Burlington, Massachusetts. He was 84.

The White Sox announced Wood's death on social media, stating, "The White Sox send our condolences to the family, friends and fans of 3x All-Star Wilbur Wood, who has passed away at the age of 84." Wood spent 17 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1961 to 1978, with the bulk of his career in Chicago.

Born in 1937, Wood debuted with the Boston Red Sox at age 19 in 1961, appearing in 18 games over two seasons with a 4.13 earned-run average. The Red Sox traded him to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1964, where he pitched sparingly as a reliever for two years. In December 1965, the Pirates sold his contract to the White Sox, marking the start of his most productive phase.

Wood joined the White Sox bullpen in 1966 and quickly established himself as a reliable reliever. He led the American League in appearances with 88 games in 1968, followed by 76 in 1969 and 77 in 1970. During that stretch from 1968 to 1970, he also topped the league in games finished and recorded 52 saves. Under new manager Chuck Tanner...