Rev. James F. Wilson, C.S.B. +

Father Wilson was born in Ontario, Canada, on August 1, 1912. In 1928 he joined the Congregation of St. Basil and started attending the University of Toronto where he received his degree in 1933. He was assigned to St. Thomas High School and became the coach of the baseball team in 1935.

Fr. Wilson returned to Toronto to enter the seminary and was ordained to the priesthood in 1938. That same year he returned to St. Thomas. Father Wilson coached baseball until 1956. During his tenure he molded some of St. Thomas' greatest baseball teams. He always had a position for every boy who wanted to play baseball.

Father Wilson earned not only the respect of those he coached, but also the admiration of those he opposed. Father Wilson is known as the "Patron Saint of Baseball."