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Played with the Elite Giants from 1932-45, till 1956 in Mexico, won Triple Crown in Mexico in 1943 (defeating Hall of Famers Josh Gibson and Ray Dandridge), life-time Negro League batting average of 336, in 1939 he hit .488, had 7 Negro League All-Star appearances (batting .318 in those games), in 27 games against white major leaguers (including Hall of Fame pitchers Bob Feller and Dizzy Dean) he hit .371

If you were to describe the ideal outfielder you wind up describing "Wild Bill" Wright. At 6’4” and 210 pounds, he had the strength to hit in the heart of the order, but he was also a switch hitter with the speed of a lead-off hitter (he was clocked circling the bases in 13.2 seconds). He was an outstanding fielder and had a throwing arm like a cannon. “Wild Bill" also had a competitive fire that inspired his team and intimidated opponents.

His overall excellence is usually compared to that of Yankee legend Joe DiMaggio. Except for speed. “Yeah, I could outrun him easy. (laughs) I could run rings around him.”* From some people this might sound like bragging but in the case of Wright, it was just the truth.

“Bill was a heck of an outfielder and could run like the wind and was a switch hitter and a distance hitter from each side. He was a heck of a ballplayer. See, I’m talkin’ about (those) who are outstandin’ at bat and outstandin’ with a glove on their hand. I’d put him in the same hitting category as Josh Gibson.” **

Frank Duncan Jr., All-Star catcher

“Wild Bill was the fastest man in baseball at that time, Cool Papa Bell was getting’ older: Wild Bill, Oh, he could run. If he hit a ball to the shortstop or second baseman—a slow roller—they could put it in their pocket ‘cause he’s down to first base before you could say boom, you know…I would say Bill Wright belongs in the Hall of Fame.” ***

Charlie Boit, teammate

“Wild Bill, he had no one else in his category. He was a big man, could run like a deer, and he could do everything.” ****

Napoleon Gulley

Wright also was involved in several on-field brawls including one of the most violent. In 1950 an irate, 200-pound Rufus Lewis charged the pitcher with his bat in hand. He struck the pitcher in the head, knocking him unconscious and was about to strike him again, when the sprinting Wright (also armed with a bat) intercepted him at the mound. When the dust cleared both Lewis and Cabrera were hospitalized and Wright had reinforced his reputation as a man who would defend his teammates and was not to be crossed.

“Wild Bill" Wright is in the Mexican Hall of Fame. He deserves to be in the USA Hall of Fame, as well.