Wilson debuted for the
Baltimore Black Sox in 1922. Though Wilson was referred to as "Babe Ruth Wilson" by the media, his teammates nicknamed him "Boojum" after the noise his line drives made after striking the outfield fences. The team went on a 12-game winning streak after Wilson joined the club. He finished his first season with a .390
batting average and a team high in home runs. The Black Sox joined the
Eastern Colored League in 1923. However, the team finished in last place, prompting the hiring of
Pete Hill as the team's manager. During the 1920s, Wilson was also enjoying remarkable success playing winter baseball in the
Cuban League. His career batting average there was the highest in league history. Wilson moved to the
Homestead Grays for 1931 and part of 1932, finishing that season with the
Pittsburgh Crawfords. He joined the
Philadelphia Stars in 1933. In 1940, Wilson returned to the Homestead Grays. He played with the team through 1945, when he was 49 years old. Struggling with his fielding skills, Wilson often blocked or knocked down batted balls rather than catching them with his glove. Because of his strong arm, he was still able to throw runners out on such plays. He had an unusual physique, standing 5'8" and weighing 195 pounds with a large torso, a small waist, bowed legs and
pigeon toe.
Pitcher Satchel Paige claimed that Wilson and
Chino Smith were the two toughest outs he ever faced (Wilson hit .375 against Paige).
Catcher Josh Gibson said that Wilson was the best hitter in baseball. Wilson was known for a bad temper and a willingness to get into physical altercations. His friend
Jake Stephens said, "The minute he saw an umpire, he became a maniac." A well-circulated story involved Wilson holding Stephens out of a 16th story window by one leg after Stephens came in late and woke him. Others, including
Judy Johnson and
Ted Page, described him as different off the field. "He'd do anything in the world for you," Johnson said. Late in his career, Wilson developed epilepsy. During a
Negro World Series game, Wilson began to draw circles in the dirt and was said to be unaware of his surroundings. ==Later life==