Vance Wilson

Vance Wilson
Degrees: 
Associate in General Studies
Graduation Year: 
1994
Award: 
Outstanding Athlete
Award Year: 
2018

A graduate of Red Mountain High School in Mesa, this Arizona native played for MCC from 1993 to 1994. He was a Second Team National Junior College Athletic Association All-American and, in 1993 and 1994, named to the All-Arizona Community College Athletic Conference.

Vance was selected in the Major League Baseball draft by the New York Mets in 1993 but he waited to sign, giving his 1994 season to the Thunderbirds. He played New York’s minor league system until he made his major league debut in 1999 as a defensive replacement. Vance played six seasons for the Mets as a catcher and then two years with the Detroit Tigers. He was a member of the Mets 2000 World Series team, and a member of the 2006 Tigers' American League championship team.

He signed with the Kansas City Royals in 2009 and became a manager in the Royals minor league system in 2011. He was affiliated with KC 2015 World Series Championship team. In 2017, he was named to his current position as Bull Pen Coach for the Royals major league team.

He and his wife Bridget and their daughter Peyton reside in Arkansas where they helped raise $150,000 to build a Children’s House for abused youth.

For a link to the full video of the ceremony, please visit MCC Hall of Fame 2018.