Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Wilson attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison where he was a star football player for the Wisconsin Badgers. He won Most Valuable Player honors as the center for the Badgers football team in 1947 and 1948, and was also an all-conference center in 1947.\n', '

In his senior year, 1949, Wilson was the team captain and won the Big Ten Most Valuable Player award as an end. Besides, he led the Badgers baseball team in hitting with batting averages of .342 and .426 in 1948 and 1949, respectively. As a pitcher, he posted a 17–7 record and earned a spot in the 1950 College World Series. He graduated from Wisconsin in 1951 as an insurance major.\n', '

Wilson was selected in the fourth round, 52nd pick overall of the 1950 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns under Paul Brown, but opted for a baseball career after leaving Wisconsin. He was signed by the Chicago White Sox as an amateur free agent in 1950, playing 85 games for them from 1951 to 1953. In May 1954, Wilson was traded to the Tigers in exchange for Matt Batts. Wilson played for Detroit during seven seasons years from 1954 through 1960, before ending his career with the Cleveland Indians in 1960.\n', '

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