Perce Wilson

Percival James "Perce" Wilson (February 22, 1890 – September 20, 1936), sometimes shown as Percy Wilson, was an American football player. He was the quarterback for the 1920 Detroit Heralds during the first regular season of the National Football League (then known as the American Professional Football Association). He was one of the first Canadian-born players, and the first Canadian-born quarterback, to play in the NFL.

Perce Wilson
Position:Quarterback, Halfback
Personal information
Born:(1890-02-22)February 22, 1890
Lifford, Ontario, Canada
Died:September 20, 1936(1936-09-20) (aged 46)
Height:5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight:150 lb (68 kg)
Career information
High school:Detroit (MI) Western
Career history
  • Detroit Heralds (1920)
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Early years

Wilson was born in 1890 in Lifford, Ontario, Canada.[1][2][3] His father, James Wilson, was born in Canada to Irish immigrants. His mother, Anna, was also born in Canada.[2]

Wilson moved to Detroit as a young boy and attended Detroit's Western High School.[2][4] By 1917, Wilson had become a naturalized United States citizen and was employed in the milk and creamery business in Detroit.[3]

Professional football

In 1920, he played for the Detroit Heralds during the first regular season of the National Football League (then known as the American Professional Football Association).[4] The Heralds opened their season with a game against the Cleveland Panthers, played at Navin Field on October 10, 1920. The Heralds won by a 40-14 score, and Wilson, the Heralds' starting quarterback, scored the team's fifth touchdown.[5] Two weeks later, Wilson appeared in the Heralds' game against the Columbus Panhandles as a substitute at the quarterback position.[6] On November 28, 1920, he played at the left halfback position for the Heralds.[7]

Wilson was one of the first Canadian-born players, and the first Canadian-born quarterback, to play in the NFL. The other three Canadian-born players to play in the NFL during its inaugural 1920 season were Buck MacDonald, a guard, Tommy Hughitt, a halfback, and Jim Bryant, a halfback.[8]

Later years

Wilson and his brother, Ernie Wilson, also played basketball for the Detroit Rayls, a team that existed in the late 1910s and early 1920s.[1]

Wilson died in 1936 at age 46.[9]

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References
  1. "Percival James 'Perce' Wilson". OldestLivingProFootball.com. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  2. 1900 U.S. Census entry for James Wilson, born June 1859 in Canada. Son Percival J. Wilson born February 1890 in Canada. Son Ernest A. Wilson born Feb. 1887 in Canada. Census Place: Detroit Ward 10, Wayne, Michigan; Roll: 751; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 0106; FHL microfilm: 1240751. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line].
  3. Draft registration card dated June 5, 1917, for Percy James Wilson, born February 22, 1890, at Lifford, Ontario, Canada, employed in the milk & creamery business. Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918 [database on-line].
  4. "Perce Wilson NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  5. "Heralds Trim Panthers 40-14: Vogel, Cleveland Star Right Halfback, in Hospital From Injuries". Detroit Free Press. October 11, 1920. p. 13.
  6. "Heralds Get Lonely Tally: Fitzgerald Intercepts Forward Pass, Runs 85 Yards to Beat Pan Handles; Local Team Plays Good Game as Do the Visitors; Big Crowd Out". Detroit Free Press. October 25, 1920. p. 12.
  7. "No Scoring in Title Battle: Neither Lansing Nor Champion Heralds Are Able to Tally on Muddy Gridiron; Visitors Outgain Locals but Long Forward Pass Almost Beats Them". Detroit Free Press. November 29, 1920. p. 11.
  8. "Players Born in Canada". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 12, 2014.(by clicking on the "From" column, players are assembled in the order in which they made their debut in the NFL)
  9. "Percy J. Wilson". Detroit Free Press. September 23, 1936. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
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