Forgotten Pirates All-Star gets heartwarming full-circle moment with rookie son in 2025

It's been more than two decades since Jack Wilson represented the Pittsburgh Pirates in the MLB All-Star Game, but the former big league shortstop still managed to be a part of history at this year's iteration of the Midsummer Classic.

Wilson's son, Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson, was voted into the 2025 MLB All-Star Game as the starting shortstop for the American League to join his dad as just the 21st father-son duo of players to become All-Stars in Major League history.

In doing so, they are joined by some elite company including the Griffeys (Ken Jr. and Ken Sr.), the Bonds’ (Barry and Bobby) and the Fielders (Prince and Cecil).

The Wilsons, however, are now part of an even more exclusive club than any of the aforementioned members of baseball royalty. Of the 21 father-son All-Star duos, they are the only ones to both become All-Star shortstops.

Former Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson and son Jacob join exclusive MLB All-Star club

Jacob was just two years old when his dad earned the lone All-Star nod of his 12-year Major League career as an injury replacement for St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Edgar Renteria. Jack went hitless in two at-bats at Minute Maid Park in Houston and spent the week toting Jacob around in his arms throughout all the All-Star festivities, from the workouts to the Home Run Derby.

Jacob made his first All-Star appearance – and likely not his last – Tuesday in Atlanta, where Jack spent the final two seasons of his Major League career in 2011-12. He was drafted by the Athletics in 2023 in Seattle, where Jack spent three seasons with the Mariners from 2009-11.

Both father and son were mic'd up on the FOX broadcast of the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, with Jack watching proudly from the stands at Truist Park as Jacob took the field.

"Jacob, I’m a little bit in a weird place," John Smoltz said from the broadcast booth. "I faced your dad, and now I’m calling your All-Star Game. Has your dad told you what his batting average is against me?”

"No," Jacob said. "Remind me."

“.333, 4-for-12,” replied Smoltz, causing Jack to reply, “C’mon, that can’t be right.” But it was.

Jacob, like his dad, went 0-for-2 in his All-Star debut as the AL squad went on to lose the game in a swing-off. But the end result hardly mattered in what will go down as an historic night for the Wilson family and for the game of baseball as a whole.

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