He played all or part of eleven seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox (1959–1960, 1962–1966), Detroit Tigers (1966–1970) and San Diego Padres (1970), primarily as a starting pitcher.

Wilson batted and threw right-handed; he was born in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, and graduated from Greenville Park High School in Tangipahoa Parish.

(Wes Ferrell in 1931, Jim Tobin in 1944 and Rick Wise in 1971 are the only three other no-hit pitchers to homer in the same game; the latter of the three hit two home runs in pitching his no-hitter.)

Only Wes Ferrell (37 HRs), Bob Lemon and Warren Spahn (35 each) and Red Ruffing (34) hit more home runs as pitchers, according to " ESB."

[citation needed] Wilson died suddenly at age 70 as a result of a massive heart attack at his home in Southfield, Michigan, on April 23, 2005.