Former MLB star Wilbur Wood has died at the age of 84

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Wilbur Wood, a three-time All-Star pitcher who made opposing hitters swing and miss with a nasty knuckleball, has died, the Chicago White Sox announced. He was 84.

Wood spent seventeen seasons in the Majors from 1961 to 1978, including twelve seasons with the White Sox. He also played for the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates.

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Chicago White Sox pitcher Wilbur Wood in action during the 1968 season. (Malcolm Emmons/USA TODAY Sports)

“The White Sox extend our condolences to the family, friends and fans of 3x All-Star Wilbur Wood, who has passed away at the age of 84,” the team said on social media.

Wilbur made his debut with the Red Sox in 1961 as a 19-year-old pitcher and then ended up with the Pirates in his early twenties. But he made his biggest impact with the White Sox.

He started as a reliever for the White Sox. He led the Majors in 1968 when he played in 88 games and then led the American League the next two years when he played in 76 games in 1969 and 77 games in 1970.

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Chicago White Sox pitcher Wilbur Wood (8) delivers a pitch at Comiskey Park during the 1973 season. (Malcolm Emmons/USA TODAY Sports)

Wood was given the starting role in 1971 and worked to perfect the knuckleball to take the strain off his throwing arm. He emerged as an incredible workhorse pitcher, leading the majors in games from 1972 through 1975. He won at least 20 games from 1971 through 1974.

He suffered a broken kneecap on a line drive early in the 1976 season. When he returned to the mound, Wood began to struggle. His ERA rose to 5.20 in 28 games in 1978, which would be the final season of his career.

He finished his career with a 3.24 ERA and 1,411 strikeouts. The 376.2 innings he pitched during the 1972 season were the most by a starter in a single season in the Live Ball Era (since 1920), according to to MLB.com.