The Astros Honors “Don”
June 23rd, 2010{If {you are|you’re|you might be}|If you’re} a Houston Astro fan, {you will|you’ll} know the date of January 5 {as the|since the|because the|as being the|because} anniversary {of a|of the} {very|really|extremely|quite|incredibly} sad event. On this date in 1975, Donald Edward Wilson, {one|a single|1|one particular|a person} {of the|with the|from the} true greats among the Astros players, waved his fans farewell and walked out of life’s {great|excellent|fantastic|good|wonderful} ballpark forever. The memories he left behind would fill Houston’s Minute Maid Park {many|numerous|several|a lot of|quite a few} times over. No Astro fan will forget the player {known|recognized|identified|acknowledged|regarded} {simply|merely|basically} as ‘Don’.
Born on February 12th, 1945, Don Wilson played college baseball at the Compton Community College, Compton, CA. The Astros snapped him up in 1966, needing a {good|{great|excellent|fantastic|good|wonderful}|excellent|{very|really|extremely|quite|incredibly} good} pitcher (what team {does not|doesn’t|will not|won’t}?). {Although|Even though|Despite the fact that|Though|While} he could perform {very|really|extremely|quite|incredibly} well, he had a tendency {to be|to become|being} {known|recognized|identified|acknowledged|regarded} {as a|like a|being a|as being a} bit {of a|of the} wild card throughout his early ears, due in part {to the|towards the|for the|on the|towards} fact that he could throw the ball harder than most other pitchers {in the|within the|inside the|from the|inside} history of baseball. It was this accolade that characterized his nine years {in the|within the|inside the|from the|inside} Majors, and {although|even though|despite the fact that|though|while} it came (as it {must|should|ought to|need to} for any {hard|difficult|tough|challenging|very difficult} throwing pitcher) at the {cost|price} of some control, the ‘wild card’ proved that the {benefits|advantages|rewards} far outweighed the {costs|expenses}.
How is ‘Don’ {best|greatest|finest|very best|ideal} {known|recognized|identified|acknowledged|regarded}? {As the|Since the|Because the|As being the|Because} {first|very first|initial|1st} pitcher ever to {achieve|accomplish} a no-hitter on artificial grass, or under a dome? {As the|Since the|Because the|As being the|Because} pitcher who, during that historic game, struck out 14 batters and then finally clinched the game by striking out {one|a single|1|one particular|a person} {more|a lot more|much more|far more|additional}; the legend Hank Aaron? Or {as the|since the|because the|as being the|because} pitcher who set the record of 18 strike-outs in a single game? With so {many|numerous|several|a lot of|quite a few} accolades in his career, {it is|it’s|it can be} {hard|difficult|tough|challenging|very difficult} to say for what he is {best|greatest|finest|very best|ideal} {known|recognized|identified|acknowledged|regarded}.
In September of 1974, having earned high respect from fans and foes alike, not to mention his teammates, Don took the mound for what would turn out {to be|to become|being} the final game of his career. He {nearly|almost} threw {one|a single|1|one particular|a person} of his trademark no-hitters, allowing the Atlanta Braves only two hits {in the|within the|inside the|from the|inside} 5 to nothing game. {However|Nevertheless|Nonetheless|On the other hand|Even so}, he was destined {never|in no way|by no means} to grace the mound again. {In the|Within the|Inside the|From the|Inside} following January, he was {found|discovered} in his car, parked in his own garage, with the engine running. He was dead. Was this a suicide? Or, was it a tragic accident? There {does not|doesn’t|will not|won’t} seem to have been any evidence that he intended to commit suicide, so the official report states his death as accidental.
{As a|Like a|Being a|As being a} mark of respect, the Astros retired Wilson’s {number|quantity|amount|variety|range}. This man whose life was dedicated {to the|towards the|for the|on the|towards} club {right|correct|proper|appropriate|perfect} until the {very|really|extremely|quite|incredibly} end would forever remain {in the|within the|inside the|from the|inside} memories of future players. The next season’s players wore a patch on their uniform emblazoned with Don’s {number|quantity|amount|variety|range} 40, {as a|like a|being a|as being a} fitting tribute to their fallen comrade. Even {today|these days|nowadays}, fans all around the Houston area {remember|keep in mind|bear in mind} Don, the hard-thrower who gave everything he had to {every|each and every|each|every single} game. He will never be forgotten.
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