Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson was one of the most dominant closers in baseball at his peak. Wilson played collegiately for the LSU Tigers, where he was their number two starter, accumulating 18 wins and ten losses before needing Tommy John surgery in 2003. Instead of staying at LSU, Wilson decided to turn professional, entering the 2003 MLB Draft where he was selected in the 24th round by the San Francisco Giants. Wilson would go on to pitch well in the Giants’ minor league system, making it all the way up to the Major Leagues in just three seasons when he made his MLB debut in April of 2006. After two up and down seasons, Wilson was named the Giants’ full time closer in 2008, where he would tie for second in the league with 41 saves in 47 attempts. His 2009 season would be much of the same, recording 38 saves in 45 attempts. In 2010, Wilson was considered to be one of the elite closers in the MLB, and he did so by leading the Giants to a World Series victory, a post season in which he would begin growing his iconic black beard. In 2012, Wilson needed another Tommy John surgery, and would eventually wind up with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he would play for two seasons before being released in the 2014 off season.