He played ten seasons in Major League Baseball, between 1982 and 1993, for the Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Houston Astros.

Born in Baytown, Texas, Wilson attended Channelview High School and Sam Houston State University.

On August 5, 1987 Wilson pitched in the bottom on the eighth inning in a game against the New York Mets when the Phillies ran out of relief pitchers and manager Lee Elia put him on the mound.

[4] Wilson was dealt, along with Mike Jackson and Dave Brundage, from the Phillies to the Seattle Mariners for Phil Bradley and Tim Fortugno at the Winter Meetings on December 9, 1987.

[8] He released his autobiography, co-written with Darrell Halk and titled Headed Home: A [sic] MLB All-Star's Search for Truth, in 2012.