Rudy York and Chester "Wimpy" Wilburn

Rudy York and Chester “Wimpy” Wilburn first met in 1936 while both members of the Detroit Tiger minor league team Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association. York was arriving as the 1935 MVP first baseman of the Texas League Beaumont Exporters, and Wilburn as the starting shortstop from the Detroit affiliate Portland Beavers in the Pacific Coast League.

Rudy was 22 and Chester (who went by the nickname Wimpy) was 29.  Rudy had been in the minors for 3-years, having playing time with Shreveport, Beaumont and Ft. Worth.  At this point, Wilburn had been in the minors for 7-years and had playing time with Tucson, San Diego, Beaumont, Burlington, Des Moines, Chattanooga, Kansas City and Portland. Wilburn played shortstop for all of his 7-years. York was signed as a second baseman in Shreveport, then moved around several positions between outfield and catcher before settling in at first base in 1935. Rudy York was a big fellow, 6’ 1” and weighing nearly 200lbs and Wilburn was 5’ 10” and 145lbs.

In 1936, the Milwaukee Brewers went 90-64 to win their first American Association Championship in 20-years. For several years, several minor league organizations where participating in a playoff system, with the final two teams playing in the “Little World Series” or the “Junior World Series” In 1936, the American Associated entered the playoff system. The Brewers first faced the Kansas City Blues, defeating them in four straight games - while the second-placed St Paul Saints fell to the fourth-placed Indianapolis Indians in five.  The Brewers then defeated Indianapolis in five games in the 2nd round of the playoffs.

Over on the International League side, the Buffalo Bisons emerged to face Milwaukee in the World Series.  The Brewers took the series 4 games to 1, to win the 1936 Junior World Series and cap off a championship season.

Rudy York has a fantastic year at the plate and in the field.  York batted .334 with 37 home runs. He had 207 hits, 25 doubles and 21 triples.  His slugging percentage was .622.  He played in 157 games at 1B and had 1470 putouts, 60 assists and only 12 errors.  His fielding percentage was .992%

Wimpy Wilburn had a fine year as well. He hit .291, with 182 hits, 29 doubles, 7 triples and 9 home runs. In the field, Wilburn played in 154 games, having 423 putouts and 423 assists. He did commit 42 errors and a .949 fielding percentage.

Rudy York won the Most Valuable Player award for the American Association in 1936, even though teammate OF Chet Laabs had essentially a carbon copy year.  Laabs batted .324 with a team leading 42 home runs.  He had 203 hits, 27 doubles, 16 triples and a .619 slugging percentage.  As an outfielder, Laabs has 276 putouts, 10 assists and 16 errors, resulting in a .947 fielding average.

At the end of the 1936 championship season, York, Wilburn, Laabs and several others were optioned to the Detroit Tigers - ordered to report to 1937 Spring Training camp in Lakeland, FL. But in the new year, both York and Wilburn returned their salary offer contracts unsigned. York announced that he as not satisfied with the salary.  Wilburn returned his contract with the explanation that he had just recently been married and needed more money.

Both finally did settle and sign contracts and reported to the Lakeland spring training camp in 1937.
 

1936 Junior World Champions Milwaukee Brewers

Rudy York - center top row. Chester “Wimpy” Wilburn - last on right, bottom row.

Evidently Rudy and Wimpy formed a strong friendship from that point.  Later in 1940, Rudy York and his wife welcomed their new baby boy, Joe Wilburn York, named for his good friend Wimpy Wilburn.

Des Moines Register, Oct. 25, 1940

Good Friends - Rudy York and "Wimpy" Wilburn