Larry Bird and ’92 Olympics: legendary baseball star Craig Wilson recounts baseball experience: “Holy cow! that’s an Olympic athlete, like you could tell that is….”

Craig Wilson: From Kansas State to the Barcelona Olympics

In the spring of 1991, the trajectory of Craig Wilson’s baseball career took an unexpected turn. With a stroke of fate, Wilson, then a junior at Kansas State University, received an invitation to try out for Team USA following an injury to another player, Gomez. Little did he know, this opportunity would set the stage for one of the most memorable chapters of his athletic journey.

“A bunch of us went down there, we competed for the job and I ended up winning the job and ended up leading the team in hitting in ’91, so it kind of set me up for a return in 1992,” Wilson recounted, reflecting on his unexpected rise to prominence on the national stage.

Fast forward to 1992, and Wilson found himself among the elite athletes representing the United States at the Barcelona Olympics. The excitement of the Opening Ceremony, where he and his teammates stood shoulder to shoulder with legends like Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and Charles Barkley of the famed Dream Team, remains etched vividly in his memory.

“The Opening Ceremonies were amazing,” Wilson recalled. “You’re getting ready to walk out the tunnel and you’re just thinking to yourself, ‘Holy cow, I’m an Olympian.’ Then, of course, the Dream Team comes in right behind us to walk out.”

Beyond the spectacle of the Olympics, Wilson had the unique experience of catching the attention of Larry Bird, an iconic figure in basketball history who surprisingly shared a passion for baseball. Bird attended several of Team USA’s games, showing genuine interest in the players and their journey.

“He came out to a few of our games and just was interested in watching the games and kind of getting to meet the players and everything,” Wilson fondly remembered. “I think he was a true baseball fan at heart.”

Wilson’s time in Barcelona wasn’t just about rubbing shoulders with basketball royalty. It was a whirlwind of encounters with other Olympic luminaries like Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson, tennis prodigy Jennifer Capriati, and swimming legend Janet Evans. Each encounter reinforced the magnitude of the Olympic experience and left a lasting impression on the young athlete from Phoenix, Arizona.

“As you said, 32 years — I have to take a step back and go, holy cow, that’s been a long time. But it seems like yesterday. It really does,” Wilson reflected, emphasizing the enduring impact of his Olympic journey.

Following the Barcelona Olympics, Wilson continued his baseball career, playing professionally with the Chicago White Sox and spending time in the minor leagues with several other teams, including Kansas City, Detroit, and the New York Yankees. Despite his ventures into professional baseball, Wilson holds his Olympic participation as one of his most cherished achievements.

“The Olympics is definitely up there as one of the highest achievements,” Wilson affirmed, underscoring the significance of representing his country on the international stage.

Today, Craig Wilson resides in the Kansas City area, where he has forged a successful career in IT. Reflecting on his journey from Chicago to Kansas State and beyond, Wilson remains grateful for the opportunities baseball has afforded him, both on and off the field.

“Baseball was an Olympic demonstration sport beginning in 1900, but 1992 was the first time it was an official sport included in each Olympic Games,” Wilson noted, highlighting the historical context of his participation.

From a junior at Kansas State to an Olympian on the grand stage of Barcelona, Craig Wilson’s story is a testament to the unexpected twists and turns of athletic pursuit and the enduring spirit of competition that defines the Olympic Games. His journey continues to inspire, reminding us that dreams pursued with passion and determination can lead to extraordinary achievements, both in sport and in life.