United States Congressman from North Carolina

Major League Baseball Player 1952-1962

(1930-99) Born in the small town of Leakesville, Mississippi, Mizell started playing baseball when he was 16 years old, and pitched around Vinegar Bend, Alabama, a neighboring town just across the state line from Leakesville. This later became his adopted hometown, and was the source of his nickname, "Vinegar Bend." After graduating from high school in 1949, Mizell, the 6 foot 3 inch, hard throwing left handed pitcher, signed a contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. The young Wilmer had attended a tryout camp in Biloxi, Mississippi the previous summer, and attracted the attention of a Cardinals scout, who took down his name and information for future reference. Upon his graduation that same scout greeted Mizell with a contract to play baseball for the Albany Cardinals, (Georgia), in the Florida League, and thus began his professional baseball career. He went on to have a 12-3 record with a 1.98 ERA, striking out 175 batters in 141 innings that first year as Albany won the Florida League pennant. He was brought up to the big league club in St. Louis in 1952, and in his rookie season with the Cardinals, he led the National League in strike outs per 9 innings with a mark of 6.9 strikeouts per game, a feat he repeated in his second year with the same 6.9 statistic. He finished his rookie season with 173 strikeouts which was 3rd in the National League, along with a 13-11 record, in 33 starts, with a 3.49 ERA. Mizell had a 2 year absence from MLB when he served in the U.S. Army, 1954-55, during the Korean War. Rejoining the Cardinals for the 1956 season, he played with the "Red Birds" until being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960, having made the National League All Star team in 1959. During the 1960 season, "Vinegar Bend" Mizell had a 30 consecutive scoreless innings streak which included 3 straight shutouts. He started Game #3 in the 1960 World Series, against the New York Yankees, and became a member of the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates World Champions when they defeated the heavily favored Yankees in 7 games. In 1962, the Pirates traded him to the New York Mets, in their maiden season, thus becoming a member of the original Mets team who finished with the worst record in baseball history, a record that still stands in 2023! 1962 was Mizell's last season in major league baseball. He finished his career with a respectable 90-88 record, pitching in 268 games, with 61 complete games, 15 shutouts, 918 strikeouts, and a 3.85 ERA. He was known as one of the best strikeout hurlers around the National League scene for a span of ten years. Mizell, had moved to Midway, North Carolina, right outside of Winston-Salem, during his minor league playing days with the Winston-Salem Cardinals. He served three terms as U.S. Congressman, from North Carolina, 1969-1975. He also served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce. Mizell died at the age of 68, on February 21, 1999, and is buried in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Signed First Day Cover: Commemorative envelope with 5 cents U.S. postage stamp honoring the 300th Anniversary of the Carolina Charter. Fancy vignette at upper left of King Charles II of England with the dates 1663-1963. Below his likeness is the imprint, "300th Anniversary Carolina Charter." C.D.S., Edenton, N.C., Apr. 6, 1963, 9 AM., with United States, 3 cents red Carolina Charter, postage stamp with vignette of the Charter, bust of King Charles II, quill pen, and the dates 1663-1963. (Scott #662). Tied on to the cover with a black imprint, "First Day Of Issue." Beautifully autographed in bold blue ink, "Wilmer Vinegar Bend Mizell." Complete with back flap. Excellent condition. Desirable item that depicts U.S. postal history, politics, and the game of Major League Baseball all rolled up into one collectible piece.

Trivia: With the success that the Virginia colony was bringing to the aristocrats of England in the 1600's, King Charles II decided to reward eight loyal English nobleman who greatly helped him regain his throne and reign as the King of England. Convinced that there was much money to be gained in owning colonies in the "New World," these aristocrats were given a large tract of land south of Virginia in 1663 that was named, "Carolina," which is the Latin word for "Charles."


The nickname "Vinegar Bend" Mizell was given to him by Harry Caray, the iconic American radio and television sportscaster, while working for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1952. Caray was honored with the Ford C. Frick Award given to him by the Baseball Hall of Fame, and he is also a member of the American Sportscasters Hall of Fame, among many other honors he earned. He became a baseball legend, and part of the fabric of America's pastime for leading the Chicago Cubs fans in his rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," in his gravelly voice during the 7th inning stretch at Wrigley Field, while he was the announcer of the Chicago Cubs. Many times Caray introduced major celebrity guests from every walk of life to lead the crowd in the famous song.