Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
William (Mookie) Wilson
2023 Inductee
Tidewater Baseball Shrine
Photographed by Brandon D Cross, July 18, 2025
1. William (Mookie) Wilson Marker
Inscription.
William (Mookie) Wilson. 2023 Inductee. A native of South Carolina, Wilson attended and played for Spartanburg Methodist College for two seasons before transferring to the University of South Carolina. While at South Carolina, Mookie was part of the Gamecocks second team to play for a national championship in the College World Series. He was also named to the 1977 All-Tournament team as an outfielder. Wilson was then selected in the second round of the 1977 draft by the New York Mets. , , Making his way through the Mets farm system, Wilson played for the Tidewater Tides in three separate seasons: two full seasons in 1979 and 1980, then in nine games in 1986 on a rehab assignment. At the conclusion of the 1979 season, he was named the International League Rookie of the Year. In 282 career games with the Tides, he hit .280 with 160 runs, 34 doubles, 24 triples, nine home runs, 84 RBI and 103 stolen bases. As of his induction on May 21, 2023, Wilson holds the Tides franchise record for triples, while ranking third in stolen bases and tied for tenth in runs scored with Clint Hurdle. He's one of eight Tides to play at least 140 games in a season. He owns the single-season triples record with 14 in 1980, while having the second (50, 1980) and third (49 in 1979) most stolen bases in a single season. , , In his Major League career, Wilson played in 12 seasons from 1980- 1991. He played for the New York Mets from 1980-1989 before being traded midseason to Toronto on July 31, 1989. Wilson would play with Toronto through the end of 1989-1991 before he retired. He played 1403 career games, batting .274 with 227 doubles, 71 triples, 67 home runs, 438 RBI and 327 stolen bases. As for the playoffs, Wilson played for the 1986 New York Mets who defeated the Boston Red Sox in the World Series in seven games. In game six, Mookie made his mark in baseball history. With two outs in the ninth against the Boston Red Sox, Wilson hit a routine groundball to first baseman Bill Buckner which would have extended game six to the 11th inning for a Boston opportunity to win their first World Series since 1918. Buckner's legs and the Mets went on to win game six and seven to win the World Series.
A native of South Carolina, Wilson attended and played for Spartanburg Methodist College for two seasons before transferring to the University of South Carolina. While at South Carolina, Mookie was part of the Gamecocks second team to play for a national championship in the College World Series. He was also named to the 1977 All-Tournament team as an outfielder. Wilson was then selected in the second round of the 1977 draft by the New York Mets.
Making his way through the Mets farm system, Wilson played for the Tidewater Tides in three separate seasons: two full seasons in 1979 and 1980, then in nine games in 1986 on a rehab assignment. At the conclusion of the 1979 season, he was named the International League Rookie of the Year. In 282 career games with the Tides, he hit .280 with 160 runs, 34 doubles, 24 triples, nine home runs, 84 RBI and 103 stolen bases. As of his induction on May 21, 2023, Wilson holds the Tides franchise record for triples, while ranking third in stolen bases and tied for tenth in runs scored with Clint Hurdle. He's one of eight Tides to play at least 140 games in a season. He owns the single-season triples record with 14 in 1980, while having the second (50, 1980) and third (49 in 1979) most stolen bases in a single season.
In his Major League career, Wilson played in 12 seasons from
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1980- 1991. He played for the New York Mets from 1980-1989 before being traded midseason to Toronto on July 31, 1989. Wilson would play with Toronto through the end of 1989-1991 before he retired. He played 1403 career games, batting .274 with 227 doubles, 71 triples, 67 home runs, 438 RBI and 327 stolen bases.
As for the playoffs, Wilson played for the 1986 New York Mets who defeated the Boston Red Sox in the World Series in seven games. In game six, Mookie made his mark in baseball history. With two outs in the ninth against the Boston Red Sox, Wilson hit a routine groundball to first baseman Bill Buckner which would have extended game six to the 11th inning for a Boston opportunity to win their first World Series since 1918. Buckner's legs and the Mets went on to win game six and seven to win the World Series.
Erected by Norfolk Tides.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1979.
Location. 36° 50.597′ N, 76° 16.768′ W. Marker is in Norfolk, Virginia. It is in Harbor Park. It is on Park Avenue 0.1 miles north of Water Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is located on the main concourse of Harbor Park baseball stadium. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 150 Park Ave, Norfolk VA 23510, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Hampton Roads, specifically in Coastal Virginia, and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Tidewater. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Regarding William (Mookie) Wilson. The Tidewater Baseball Shrine recognizes players and executives who have significantly contributed to the game of baseball in the Tidewater area of Virginia. The shrine is located at Harbor Park, which is home to the Norfolk Tides, a AAA minor league baseball team affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles. The Norfolk Tides annually induct new members into the shrine.
Also see . . . 1. Mookie Wilson. (Submitted on July 24, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.) 2. Harbor Park. (Submitted on July 24, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
Photographed by Society for American Baseball Research
3. Mookie Wilson
Credits. This page was last revised on July 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 24, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 92 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on July 24, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.
