A FORMER New York Mets star has enjoyed an extremely varied career since retiring from the MLB.
After twelve years starring for the Mets and the Toronto Blue Jays, Mookie Wilson turned his focus to the world of trucking…and securities trading…and becoming a minister.
A star center fielder at South Carolina State University, Wilson wound up being drafted in the second round of the 1977 MLB Draft by the Mets.
Come 1980, Wilson made his way to the big leagues, making his first of 1,116 appearances for New York.
Six years later, he played in his only World Series, with the Mets besting the Boston Red Sox 4-3 in the series.
And key to their historic win was a moment of incredible luck for Wilson.
With Game 6 tied at 5-5 in the tenth inning, a hit from Wilson rolled through the legs of Bill Buckner by first base allowing Ray Knight to make his way back to home plate to give New York the win.
But despite his religious beliefs, Wilson clearly does not believe this play was the act of a higher power.
Speaking to Religion Unplugged, he said: “People say that (it was an act of God) because the unexpected happened.
“The reason for that is baseball. The unexpected happens in baseball.”
Traded to the Blue Jays during the 1989 season, he wound up making 287 appearances for Toronto through the 1991 season before hanging up his glove for good.
Stepping away from the game proved tough for Wilson, who admitted in 2014 during an interview with The New York Times: “I miss being on the field right now, but I don’t dwell on it.”
Looking for his next professional calling, one of his first post-baseball career saw him become a trucker.
“I was always fascinated with trucks,” Wilson said. “I was raised on a farm, and the first things you learn to drive are trucks and tractors.
“But when I was at truck-driving school, and we had to give our professions, I didn’t want to go through the whole baseball thing, so I made up this thing about being a schoolteacher.
“And they said, ‘O.K., we’re going to call you the Professor.’
“Later, when I started my own trucking company, I changed my handle to Night Rider, because I loved driving at night.”
Wilson also tried his hand at trading securities, and while he proved successful, this wasn’t the career path for him.
“My first client was a retired bus driver,” he said. “He gave me his retirement money, and every day, every night I was on needles and pins.
“He did very well, and when that was all over, I didn’t do it anymore.
“The stress level was just too much. An error on your part doesn’t cost you anything, but it hurts someone else.”
In 2014, Wilson was also ordained as a Baptist minister.
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