Ex-MLB star Wilbur Wood dead at 84

Wilbur Wood, a three-time All-Star pitcher who made opposing batters plaything and miss with a nasty knuckleball, has died, the Chicago White Sox announced. He was 84.

Wood spent 17 seasons successful the majors from 1961 to 1978, spending 12 seasons with the White Sox. He besides played for the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates.

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Chicago White Sox pitcher Wilbur Wood successful enactment during the 1968 season. (Malcolm Emmons/USA TODAY Sports)

"The White Sox nonstop our condolences to the family, friends and fans of 3x All-Star Wilbur Wood, who has passed distant astatine the property of 84," the squad said connected societal media.

Wilbur made his debut with the Red Sox successful 1961 arsenic a 19-year-old pitcher and past recovered himself with the Pirates successful his aboriginal 20s. But helium made his biggest interaction with the White Sox.

He started arsenic a reliever for the White Sox. He led the majors successful 1968 erstwhile helium appeared successful 88 games and past led the American League the adjacent 2 years erstwhile helium appeared successful 76 games successful 1969 and 77 games successful 1970.

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Chicago White Sox pitcher Wilbur Wood (8) delivers a transportation astatine Comiskey Park during the 1973 season. (Malcolm Emmons/USA TODAY Sports)

Wood was thrust into the starting relation successful 1971 and did his champion to cleanable the knuckleball to enactment little accent connected his throwing arm. He turned into an unthinkable workhorse pitcher, starring the majors successful games started from 1972 to 1975. He won astatine slightest 20 games from 1971 done 1974.

He suffered a fractured kneecap connected a enactment thrust aboriginal successful the 1976 season. When helium returned to the mound, Wood began to struggle. His ERA ballooned to 5.20 successful 28 games successful 1978, which would beryllium the last play of his career.

He finished his vocation with a 3.24 ERA and 1,411 strikeouts. The 376.2 innings helium pitched during the 1972 play were the astir by a starter successful a azygous play successful the Live Ball Era (since 1920), according to MLB.com.

Chicago White Sox pitcher Wilbur Wood (8) delivers a transportation during the 1974 play astatine Cleveland Stadium. (Malcolm Emmons/USA TODAY Sports)

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Wood finished apical 3 successful AL Cy Young Award voting successful 1971 and 1972.

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