Jack Wilson played in the major leagues for 12 seasons.

He spent the first nine of those seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2001-09, representing them in the 2004 All-Star Game and becoming a fan favorite with his hustle and spectacular defense. Few things in baseball have been more unfair than Wilson never winning a Gold Glove.

Wilson even appeared with the Savannah Bananas last month when they brought their act to Pittsburgh.

However, Wilson believes nothing will compare to being at PNC Park this weekend to see the Pirates and Athletics play a three-game series that begins tonight.

“I think it might be the pinnacle of my baseball life,” Wilson told Pittsburgh Baseball Now on Thursday.

The Athletics’ shortstop is rookie Jacob Wilson, Jack’s son. This weekend will mark Jacob Wilson’s first appearance as a player in Pittsburgh, though he spent plenty of time around PNC Park in his early childhood. Dad used to call him “Jakey” back then.

“You achieve things personally, and that’s really cool,” Jack Wilson said. “You reach the big leagues and you know the odds are against that ever happening, and you’re grateful to play as long as I did. Then, having a career in Pittsburgh, spending a long time there, and raising your family is amazing because it’s an unbelievable place to raise a family. I also had a great connection with the fans.

“So, to be able to go back as a family to celebrate what Jacob has been able to accomplish up to this point at the same place where my dreams come true, he’s going to be able to play on that same field on that same spot I did for nine years and that’s more meaningful to me than anything I’ve ever done in baseball.”

Jacob Wilson has quickly emerged as one of the most exciting young players in the major leagues. He was the American League’s starting shortstop in the All-Star Game, is one of the top contenders for AL Rookie of the Year, and has a chance to win the AL batting title.

The 23-year-old Wilson is hitting .320/.363/.455 with 13 home runs in 117 games. His batting average is second in the AL to the .328 of New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.

The Wilsons had an emotional moment at the All-Star Game in Atlanta in July. Jack and Jacob Wilson became the first father and son to both play shortstop in the Midsummer Classic.

One of the highlights of Fox’s broadcast was both Wilsons being mic’d up for a half inning – Jack sitting in the stands and Jacob playing in the field.

“I’m immensely proud of him, No. 1 because of the human being that he is. He’s a great young man,” Jack Wilson said. “And that’s a testament to his mom (Julie) because she did a great job raising him, a lot of times by herself, while I was playing baseball.

“It’s tough being a big-leaguer’s kid because there are a lot of unfair expectations on you. He wasn’t the best player on his team when he was growing up. He was always a good player, but he didn’t become an outstanding player until his second year of college (at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix). A lot of that came because of the work he put in to reach this point.”

I must admit this series circled on my calendar all year. And not because it’s mercifully the final three home games of yet another bad season for the Pirates.

I vividly remember Jacob Wilson spending plenty of time with his dad in the clubhouse as a little boy, always clad in his miniature Pirates uniform. This weekend will be a full-circle moment, and that’s really cool.

It’s easy to understand why it will be the pinnacle of Jack Wilson’s baseball life.