Don Wilson was a flamethrowing righthander from Louisiana who signed with the Colt .45s as a 19-year-old in 1964. He blazed through the club's farm system and so impressed the team that he was appointed as the team's #4 starter on Opening Day in 1967. It was a good move, for Wilson went on to craft some of the most incredible pitching gems in team history.

He no-hit the Braves in June of his rookie season. In 1968, he tied the major league record with 18 strikeouts in a game. In 1969, he tossed the second no-hitter of his career. In 1971, he was an All-Star. In 1974, he missed his third career no-hitter when he was pulled for a pinch-hitter after 8 no-hit innings! But it all came to a tragic and sudden end in January, 1975, when Wilson died accidentally at the age of 29. The team retired his jersey on Opening Day, 1975.