Jimmy only played in 44 games. it there was a distance award nobody is taking BJW down
And what advantages?
BJW played well before the juiced "rocket" producing bats. That era had almost zero $ support, little if any expert off season training, and as mentioned over 20% less games.
BJW didn't hit any balls that the height of the fence came into play. And, "bouncier" balls? Not a thing... lively baseballs are always brought up when offense goes up a little. And never above a normal deviation.
"In order to juice balls, MLB (which would include college production) would need cooperation among the cork makers in Mississippi, the yarn spinners in Vermont and the hide sewers in Costa Rica, plus those who test the balls in St. Louis, and the final layers of quality control, the clubhouse attendants who rub them with mud and the umpires who keep a bagful at a time.
In other words, juicing the ball would require a complicated conspiracy that a lot of people would have to be in on."
Jim Wilson's big advantage was opponents. In 1982, the Pac-10 North consisted of Eastern Washington, Gonzaga, Oregon State Portland, Portland State, Washington, and Wazzu. Four games against each opponent, two home and two away. 18 "nonconference" games, 14 to start the season
The nonconference slate started with a four-game set in Lewiston against Eastern Washington, NAIA Lewis-Clark State, Wazzu, and NAIA Lewis-Clark State. Two total home runs in Lewiston.
The nonconference slate continued with two games at NAIA Oregon Tech in Klamath Falls. Home run number three in Klamath Falls.
Oregon State played @ Pacific (Oregon), @ Pacific (California), @ St. Mary's, @ Santa Clara, @ Pacific (California), and UC Santa Barbara @ San Jose. Jim Wilson hit home run number four in one of those six games.
Oregon State finished nonconference play with two games at San Jose State. Wilson hit two home runs against San Jose State to bring his total to six.
Oregon State completed nonconference play against NAIA Western Oregon.
Conference play started with a home-and-home against Portland State, hitting home run seven in Portland.
Oregon State hit none at Coleman Field against Eastern Washington.
But Wilson hit four in the two games in Pullman, three in the second game, to bring his season total to 11.
Oregon State immediately went from Pullman to Spokane to play Gonzaga, Wilson hitting home run 12.
Oregon State played Washington at Coleman Field, twice, Wilson hitting home run 13.
Oregon followed that by playing Portland twice at Coleman Field, Wilson hitting home run 14.
In the penultimate midweek game, Wilson homered against NAIA Western Oregon in Monmouth for home run 15.
Wilson hit home run 16 in Portland against Portland on May Day.
The following weekend, Wilson hit home run 17 against Gonzaga at Coleman Field.
Jim Wilson hit home run 18, a grand slam, against Wazzu at Coleman Field to help start the comeback to beat the Cougs, who led 6-0 in the second game. Oregon State won 7-6. It was the first time that the Beavs swept the Cougs at Coleman Field since 1969.
The final three games were against Portland State in Corvallis and two in Eastern Washington. Wilson hit home run 19 in one of those three games. The win against Portland State clinched the Pac-12 North, which is great, because Oregon State lost both to Eastern Washington and Wazzu won out to tie Oregon State in the standings. The tiebreaker was head-to-head, and Oregon State had won three of four against Wazzu on the season.
Oregon State travelled to Sunken Diamond to play Pac-12 South #2 Stanford with the winner earning a bid to the 36-team NCAA Tournament. Stanford won the first game 15-6, keeping Wilson at bay. Wilson homered twice in game two, driving in three. But Oregon State could only score once more in a 15-4 loss to end the season.
Jim Wilson hit 22 home runs but fewer home runs than Trevor Larnach's 19 against NCAA competition.
