Time with Pirates will always hold special place in the hearts of Jacob and Jack Wilson

WEST SACRAMENTO — Whenever Jacob Wilson has had a question, from childhood through becoming a Major Leaguer with the Athletics, he always knew his dad was just a phone call away, offering advice or encouragement.

But a few weeks ago, the script was flipped after Jack Wilson called his son with some important news: The older Wilson would enter the Pirates Hall of Fame as part of its 2026 class.

Upon hearing the excitement in his dad’s voice, Jacob Wilson couldn’t help but think back to his own childhood, growing up in Pittsburgh and how much the city and Pirates organization has meant to his family.

“Pittsburgh has a big place in our hearts,” Jacob Wilson said Tuesday before the Pirates played the Athletics at Sutter Health Park. “It’s where me and my sisters [Jaidyn and Jersi] grew up. Our family lived there for a very long time. That was his organization.

“After his career, he looks back and sees himself as a Pirate. It was incredible for our family to get that news.”

Jack Wilson, Wilbur Cooper and John Candelaria will be officially enshrined in the Pirates Hall of Fame on Thursday, Sept. 3, and they’ll be part of a special pregame ceremony the next day before a game against the Angels at PNC Park.

Those three will join the inaugural class of 19 members who were inducted in 2022, along with 10 who’ve been enshrined over the past three years.

As a kid, Jacob Wilson spent a ton of time around the Pirates clubhouse and idolized former second baseman Neil Walker.

Though Walker and Jack Wilson never played together, the former not debuting until after Pittsburgh traded him to the Mariners in 2009, Jacob always appreciated Walker’s welcoming nature.

“He went out of his way,” Jacob Wilson said. “Threw me BP in the cages. I have a bunch of his signed jerseys and bats in my closet back home. He was amazing to me.”

As far as childhood memories, Jacob remembered his dad’s “Jumping Jack Flash” nickname and walkup song, which comes from something Greg Brown said on the air due to Jack Wilson’s flair at shortstop.

There was also the time in 2006, when Jacob threw out a ceremonial first pitch to his dad. The Pirates flipped that battery around last year when the Athletics played in Pittsburgh for the first time since drafting Jacob sixth overall in 2023.

"The fact that my kids grew up in Pittsburgh ... shoot, I grew up there," Jack Wilson said. "That family room, behind the Clemente Wall, that was home. It holds a very special place in our hearts. Amazing memories. And amazing teammates."

His dad's prominent place in Pirates history is still strange for Jacob Wilson, who missed 28 games but returned this past Friday due to a left shoulder subluxation.

In 42 games this season, Jacob Wilson was hitting .283 with nine doubles, three home runs, 21 RBIs and 19 runs scored prior to Tuesday. It comes a year after he hit .311 with an .800 OPS and became an American League All-Star.

Jacob Wilson has established himself as an integral part of the Athletics lineup — they went 12-16 in the games he missed — at a young age, much like his dad with the Pirates.

Jack Wilson debuted at age 23 in 2001 and became an All-Star in his fourth full season, hitting .308 with a .794 OPS in 2004. He led the National League in triples (12) that year and set the Pirates’ single-season record for double plays turned by a shortstop (129).

While playing for the Pirates from 2001-09, Jack Wilson appeared in 583 games and amassed 612 hits at PNC Park, ranking second only to Andrew McCutchen in those categories.

“Growing up, all you think about with my dad being there so long is the black and yellow, seeing the jerseys, seeing the logo and reminiscing about all the times that we got to have there,” Jacob Wilson said. “Now to be on the other side of the field, it’s a little weird.

“To me, the Pirates will always be my dad’s team. No one is still there from when he was playing, but it’s still the organization. Still has a special place in our hearts and will for a long time to come.”

Jack Wilson has coached high school baseball and for Team USA and recently returned to the college ranks, reprising his role as an assistant at his son’s alma mater: Grand Canyon University in Phoenix.

Which is why, as resistant as some kids might be to getting advice from dad, Jacob Wilson always appreciated the phone calls from his dad, the tips he’d share and how Jack Wilson seemed to know what his son needed better than anyone.

“I actually did always trust what he had to say,” Jacob Wilson said. “He makes it easy. He’s one of those guys who always tries to point out the positives each day. As a player, that’s all you can really ask for.

“Any questions I have about my game, my swing or defense, whatever it may be, he always seems to have the answer. It’s gotten to a point where I trust him with everything in this game. He’s a great guy to have in your corner.”

Like any father and son, there are still some funny conversations about different eras.

Jack Wilson is a hard-to-believe 48. The game was much different when he played, especially the pitching, and it’s a subject that comes up often during their conversations.

“I try to tell him sometimes, ‘We have Jared Jones throwing 101.’ He didn’t get to see that very much when he was playing,” Jacob said.

“But he has one of the most intelligent baseball minds I know, and I get to have those conversations with him every day. He puts me in a good spot to be the best player I can be.”

Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH.