Chicago Cubs History: Ford Frick Pays for Hack Wilson’s Funeral
By David Hill
Hack Wilson had one of the greatest seasons in MLB history when he set a record with 191 RBI for the Chicago Cubs in 1930. Only 18 years later, he died alone and penniless.
Hack Wilson had a short career by typical Hall of Fame standards, playing for only 12 Major League seasons. Of those 12 years, Wilson appeared in 100 games in only nine of them. Nonetheless, he was an incredible power hitter for the Chicago Cubs, leading the National League in home runs four times, and setting a record with 191 RBI in 1930.
Unfortunately, Wilson was also an alcoholic, and his success on the field only furthered his drinking off it. This led to a rapid decline, with Wilson being out of the Majors only four years later. After a season in the minors in 1935, Wilson retired, the successes of his career seemingly a lifetime ago.
His business ventures failed, and after a bitter divorce, Wilson was broke. He was working as municipal park employee in Baltimore, a job given to him due to the memory of his glory years, when he was discovered unconscious after a fall in his home. Pneumonia and other complications set in, and Wilson, once the highest paid player in the National League, died penniless and alone on November 23, 1948.
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From there, Wilson’s tale gets even more tragic. His son, Robert, refused to claim his remains. For a time, he was only identified as a white male, as officials were not even sure as to the identity of the body.
On this day in 1948, National League President Ford Frick claimed Wilson’s body. Sending a check for $350, Frick paid for Wilson’s services, including the cost of his coffin. Only a few hundred people showed up to pay their respects, leading to the Chicago Cubs, and his former manager Joe McCarthy, to organize a more fitting memorial. Several former teammates attended, as did thousands of fans. A permanent granite tombstone was placed at his gravesite, giving the legend his due.
As it turned out, Wilson was quite aware of what he had lost. In an interview that he had given just a week before his death, where he admonished the younger generation that talent alone will not matter. Instead of ignoring good advice, as he had, heeding it could be the difference between having a fulfilling life and being in his shoes.
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Hack Wilson’s downfall, and the way he met his end, are among the saddest stories in baseball. However, if the Chicago Cubs legend left a legacy behind, it may be those final words, which still hang in the Cubs clubhouse to this day.