I have 43 cards of Wilson Alvarez. This one is from 1992 Fleer.
Playing career: Wilson Alvarez made his major league debut for the 1989 Rangers. He started the game and allowed three runs without retiring a batter. In his second start, two years later with the White Sox, Alvarez pitched a no-hitter. His career would be a series of ups and downs like that. In his best season, with the 1993 White Sox, he went 15-8 with a 2.95 ERA but also led the American League with 122 walks allowed. He won Game 3 of the 1993 ALCS with a complete game victory, but went 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA in his other three post-season games. Overall he went 102-92 with a 3.96 ERA.
My memories: I remember his no-hitter, the first time I or most other baseball fans heard of him. He was also a part of the then-infamous “white flag trade” when the White Sox traded three star pitchers for a bunch of prospects. Such a trade probably wouldn’t be as big a deal today.
Where he is now: Alvarez was still pitching in the major leagues as late as 2005 with the Dodgers. After his playing career ended he coached in the Pirates organization for a couple of years, but I don’t know where he is now.
Google Autocomplete results: He is first when you type Wilson Al, before Wilson Alternators, an electrical products manufacturer in Mobile, AL. Another prominent Wilson Alvarez is a computer consultant in Florida.
Coming up next: The next profile will be Rich Amaral.
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