Philip
Wilkinson, Sr.
Phil
Wilkinson had
an illustrious softball career that spanned over twenty years. He was
nationally respected for his pitching prowess. Phil was extremely out going
while always maintaining his --- competitive edge. When Phil was a teammate you
felt fortunate to have both his talent and leadership. He was a major force in
the Des Moines softball scene in the latter Seventies and early Eighties.
Wilkinson started in Springfield, Mo. in 1967, with
Seven-Up. In 1968 he was on the Foremost team that was
second in the State. In 1969, with Barnes he took the next step, winning the
title. This victory gave Phil his first regional appearance. Over his career he
would eventually appear in numerous state, regional,
national and world tournaments. If Phil's own team didn't qualify he could
always expect to be picked up by a team that did.
Phil had a great rise ball. He was always in control on the
mound. Using strong velocity, a good mix of pitches and excellent placement he
was dominant in the circle. Although the designated hitter rule cut into his
plate appearances, Phil took pride in his hitting. He hit a home run as a pinch
hitter to win the 1971 Missouri title with News Leader.
Reames of Des Moines landed
the big right hander in 1978. This would prove to be a very competitive era in
local softball with several teams being of state caliber. Phil's individual
accomplishments are too numerous to mention, but he played in six nationals as
well as a world tournament. He was instrumental in leading Mid West Galleries
to the 1980 regional title. The team then proceeded to a second place finish in
the A.S.A. National.
Phil completed his softball career by playing in a number of
Over 40 Masters national tournaments. In one of those, he once again enjoyed a
second place finish. Phil and his family had returned to Missouri to run a resort,
when he was unexpectedly struck by a fatal heart attack. Truly missed as the talent,
competitor and friend that he was, Phil will be long
remembered as a major talent in local and national softball circles.
Sunday, August 22, 1999
News-Leader
Inductees to Springfield
Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame
Phil
Wilkinson
Wilkinson
was a bit unusual in that not only was he a talended
pitcher, but he also was a strong hitter.
The
hard-throwing right hander once said that fast-pitch softball “has been my
whole life.”
It
started in 1958 in a church league in his hometown, Pomona, Calif., and took
him to Springfield, Oklahoma City, Little rock, back to Springfield, and then
to Des Moilnes, where he ended his career.
Wilkinson,
who died in 1995 while operating a resort on Stockton Lake, was so successful
in Iowa that he was named to the Des Moines Softball Hall of Fame in 1998.
Wilkinson
pitched for Springfield teams from 1967 to 1971, missed a year while in
Oklahoma, was back in Springfield in 1973, went to Oklahoma City again for a
year, then was in Springfield from 1975 through 1977.
One
of Wilkinson’s key moments in Springfield came when he hit a pinch homer to
give News and Leader the 1971 Missouri ASA championship.
Wilkinson
played in six national tournaments, taking second with Mid West Galleries of
Cedar Rapids in 1981.
In
1973, he and Gaslight Reality beat Prescott, Ariz., 10-0 in the ASA nationals.
After
he left the major level of play, he was with several over-40 masters
teams, one of which took second in national play.
Career
Synopsis Phil Wilkinson, Sr.
1967
Springfield, Mo. Seven Up
1968
Springfield, Mo. Seven Up
Springfield, Mo. Foremost-State Runner Up
1969
Springfield, Mo. Barnes Store--State
Champ; Regional
1970
Springfield, Mo. Harbell--State
Tournament
1971
Springfield, Mo. News Leader-State Champ;
Regional
1972 Lawton, OK. &
Oklahoma City --- Nationals
1973 Springfield, Mo.
Gaslight-Nationals
1974
Oklahoma City-Nationals
1975 Springfield, Mo
1976 Springfield, Mo.
Frost Sporting Goods-State
1977 Springfield, Mo.
Marshfield Mills
Springfield, Mo. Hortons-Regional Champ; Nationals
1978 Des Moines, Ia. Reames-State
Clear Lake, Ia. Butt'r Topp-Regionals
1979 Des Moines, Ia. Reames-State
1980 Des Moines, Ia. Reames-State
Cedar Rapids, Ia.Mid West Galleries-Regional Champ;
National Runner Up
1981 Des Moines, Ia. Reames-State
Cedar Rapids, Ia.Mid West
Galleries- ISC State Champ;
ISC World (3rd);
Sports Festival (3rd)
1982 Cedar Rapids, Ia. Collins
Radio- State Runner Up;
Regional Runner Up
ISC State Champ;
ISC World
1983 Cedar Rapids, Ia. Collins
Radio---State; ISC State Runner Up
1984 Hannibal, Mo. O'Donnels
1985
Des Moines, Ia. Henry J's-State
1986 Des Moines, la. Henry J's-State
1987
Des Moines, Ia. Henry J's-State
Various
Over Forty Masters Tournaments (4 with 2nd Place in Nationals)
1998 Sports Hall Of
Fame
All
DesMoines Decade Team-80's
1999 Sports Hall of Fame (Softball Springfield
Missouri)