Dan Wilson (baseball player)
Encyclopedia
Daniel Allen Wilson is an American
former professional
baseball
player. He played as a catcher
in Major League Baseball
for the Cincinnati Reds
and the Seattle Mariners
. He is regarded as one of the best defensive catchers in major-league history, setting an American League record for catchers with a .995 career fielding percentage
.
by the New York Mets
. He did not sign with the Mets, electing to instead go to the University of Minnesota
. He re-entered the draft in 1990
; he was selected in the first round, seventh overall, by the Cincinnati Reds
. He signed in time to play 32 games with the Charleston Wheelers of the South Atlantic League
. He returned to Charleston at the start of the season, batting
.315 in 52 games before earning a promotion to Class AA Chattanooga
. He started the season with Nashville in the Triple-A American Association
, and he batted .251 in 106 games there before earning a September callup to the major leagues at age 23. He returned to the minor leagues
the following year, going to the Indianapolis Indians
since the Reds had changed their AAA affiliation after the 1992
season, and he played 51 games for the Indians as well as 36 games in the majors for the Reds.
season, the Reds traded Wilson to the Seattle Mariners for second baseman Bret Boone
. He made the Mariners' roster out of spring training
and became an established major-league player, replacing Dave Valle
as the Mariners catcher. In his first full season in the majors, he struggled at the plate, batting .216, but he showed signs of his defensive ability with a .986 fielding percentage. That turned out to be the lowest fielding percentage he would have in the years he spent as the Mariners' primary catcher. The 1995
season went better for him; he played 119 games, batting .278 and raising his fielding percentage to .995, as the Mariners won the American League Western Division
pennant
.
In 1996
, Wilson set career highs with 146 games played
, 18 home run
s, 83 runs batted in, and a .774 OPS
. In addition, he made his only All-Star
appearance. The 1996 season was also his first working with starting pitcher Jamie Moyer
; Randy Johnson
was another pitcher he spent several seasons catching with the Mariners. In 1998
Wilson hit an inside-the-park
-grand slam
, an unusual feat for any ballplayer, and especially for a catcher. Wilson remained a dependable battery mate for Mariners pitchers over the next several seasons. In the 2000
season, Wilson's numbers declined to a .235 batting average and .990 fielding percentage; he was also limited to 90 games because of injuries. However, in 2001
, he regained his form, playing 123 games (122 at catcher) and posting a .265 batting average and a .999 fielding percentage (one error in 744 total chances). Although it was becoming late in his career, he posted a .295 batting average in 115 games for the Mariners in , and a .998 fielding percentage over 96 games in 2003
. In what ended up being his last full healthy season in the majors, he batted .251 with 33 RBI in 2004
.
Wilson lost his starting job at the beginning of the 2005
season to Miguel Olivo
. On May 4, he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament
in his right knee during a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
. Wilson had intended the 2005 season to be his last as a player, and he announced his retirement, effective at the end of the 2005 season, on September 12. Although a torn ACL commonly keeps athletes sidelined for most of a season, Wilson spent most of the rest of the season rehabilitating his knee and was activated from the disabled list on September 30. He came back for one final inning on September 30 against the Oakland Athletics
; he had not recovered enough to swing a bat, but he was able to crouch and throw. The Mariners' starting pitcher in that game was Jamie Moyer, with whom Wilson had formed a battery for 190 previous starts dating back to 1996. Moyer pitched to five batters in the inning, which ended when Bobby Kielty
flied out to center field, and the Athletics scored no runs. Moyer went on to pitch seven more innings, and the Mariners defeated the Athletics, 4-1.
, accumulating 1097 hits
in 4186 at bats for a .262 career batting average along with 88 home run
s and 519 runs batted in. He ended his career with a .995 fielding percentage
; the highest for a catcher in American League history, and the sixth highest in major league history. Wilson led American League
catchers twice in fielding percentage, twice in putout
s, twice in baserunners caught stealing
and twice in range factor
.
Wilson set an American League record for catchers with 1051 putout
s in 1997
, the fourth highest season total for a catcher in major league history. His 1128 total chances
in 1997 were the sixth highest season total for a catcher in major league history. In 2001, Wilson committed only one error
in 122 games, for a .9987 fielding percentage, the fourth highest season average in major league history. He played in more games as a catcher than any other player in Mariners history (1281).
, and is also known for his involvement with charities in the Seattle area.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former professional
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. He played as a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
and the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. He is regarded as one of the best defensive catchers in major-league history, setting an American League record for catchers with a .995 career fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
.
Minor leagues (1987-1993)
Wilson was first drafted in the 26th round of the 1987 Major League Baseball Draft1987 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1987 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental First Round Selections:-External links:*...
by the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. He did not sign with the Mets, electing to instead go to the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. He re-entered the draft in 1990
1990 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1990 Major League Baseball draft.-Background:The draft went a record 101 rounds, surpassing 1989's total of 88, and included a record 1,487 selections. The Astros led all clubs with 100 selections. Seattle was second with 75,...
; he was selected in the first round, seventh overall, by the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. He signed in time to play 32 games with the Charleston Wheelers of the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
. He returned to Charleston at the start of the season, batting
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.315 in 52 games before earning a promotion to Class AA Chattanooga
Chattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts are a minor league baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. They are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team, which plays in the Southern League, has been a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club since the 2009 season. The Lookouts...
. He started the season with Nashville in the Triple-A American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
, and he batted .251 in 106 games there before earning a September callup to the major leagues at age 23. He returned to the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
the following year, going to the Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
since the Reds had changed their AAA affiliation after the 1992
1992 Cincinnati Reds season
The 1992 Cincinnati Reds season saw the Reds finish in second place in the National League West with a record of 92 wins and 70 losses.-Offseason:*November 12, 1991: Jacob Brumfield was signed as a Free Agent with the Cincinnati Reds....
season, and he played 51 games for the Indians as well as 36 games in the majors for the Reds.
Seattle Mariners (1994-2005)
After the 19931993 Cincinnati Reds season
The 1993 Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. It consisted of the Cincinnati Reds attempting to win the National League West.-Offseason:...
season, the Reds traded Wilson to the Seattle Mariners for second baseman Bret Boone
Bret Boone
Bret Robert Boone is a former Major League Baseball second baseman.-Personal life:Boone was born in El Cajon, California to Susan G. Roel and Bob Boone. He is a graduate of El Dorado High School and the University of Southern California. He is the grandson of former major leaguer Ray Boone and...
. He made the Mariners' roster out of spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
and became an established major-league player, replacing Dave Valle
Dave Valle
David Valle is an American former professional baseball player and current television and radio sports commentator. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, and Texas Rangers from to ....
as the Mariners catcher. In his first full season in the majors, he struggled at the plate, batting .216, but he showed signs of his defensive ability with a .986 fielding percentage. That turned out to be the lowest fielding percentage he would have in the years he spent as the Mariners' primary catcher. The 1995
1995 Seattle Mariners season
The Seattle Mariners' 1995 season was the 19th in the history of the franchise. The team finished with a regular season record of 79–66, tying the California Angels for first in the American League West...
season went better for him; he played 119 games, batting .278 and raising his fielding percentage to .995, as the Mariners won the American League Western Division
American League West
The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the...
pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
.
In 1996
1996 Seattle Mariners season
The Seattle Mariners 1996 season was their 20th since the franchise creation, and ended the season finishing second in the American League West,with a record of 85-76, five games behind the first place Texas Rangers. The Mariners scored more runs during the 1996 regular season than any other MLB...
, Wilson set career highs with 146 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, 18 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 83 runs batted in, and a .774 OPS
On-base plus slugging
On-base plus slugging is a sabermetric baseball statistic calculated as the sum of a player's on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The ability of a player to both get on base and to hit for power, two important hitting skills, are represented. An OPS of .900 or higher in Major League...
. In addition, he made his only All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
appearance. The 1996 season was also his first working with starting pitcher Jamie Moyer
Jamie Moyer
Jamie Moyer is an American professional left handed baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. At the time of his last game to date , he was the oldest player in the major leagues and had the most wins, losses, and strikeouts of any active Major League pitcher...
; Randy Johnson
Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 22-year career, he pitched for six different teams....
was another pitcher he spent several seasons catching with the Mariners. In 1998
1998 Seattle Mariners season
The Seattle Mariners 1998 season was their 22nd since the franchise creation, and ended the season finishing 3rd in the American League West, finishing with a record of 76-85.-Offseason:...
Wilson hit an inside-the-park
Inside-the-park home run
In baseball parlance, an inside-the-park home run, "leg home run", or "quadruple", is a play where a batter hits a home run without hitting the ball out of play.-Discussion:...
-grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
, an unusual feat for any ballplayer, and especially for a catcher. Wilson remained a dependable battery mate for Mariners pitchers over the next several seasons. In the 2000
2000 Seattle Mariners season
The Seattle Mariners' 2000 season was the franchise's 24th, and ended with the Mariners losing the American League Championship Series to the New York Yankees in 6 games....
season, Wilson's numbers declined to a .235 batting average and .990 fielding percentage; he was also limited to 90 games because of injuries. However, in 2001
2001 Seattle Mariners season
The Seattle Mariners' 2001 season was the 25th since franchise inception, and ended with the Mariners winning their third American League West division title, with a record of 116-46. The team set an American League record for single-season wins, and tied the Major League record set by the Chicago...
, he regained his form, playing 123 games (122 at catcher) and posting a .265 batting average and a .999 fielding percentage (one error in 744 total chances). Although it was becoming late in his career, he posted a .295 batting average in 115 games for the Mariners in , and a .998 fielding percentage over 96 games in 2003
2003 Seattle Mariners season
The Seattle Mariners 2003 season was their 27th since the franchise creation, and ended the season finishing 2nd in the American League West, finishing with a record of 93-69.-Offseason:...
. In what ended up being his last full healthy season in the majors, he batted .251 with 33 RBI in 2004
2004 Seattle Mariners season
The Seattle Mariners 2004 season was their 28th since the franchise creation, and ended the season finishing at the bottom of the American League West, finishing with a record of 63-99...
.
Wilson lost his starting job at the beginning of the 2005
2005 Seattle Mariners season
The Seattle Mariners 2005 season was their 29th since the franchise creation, and their second consecutive season finishing at the bottom of the American League West, finishing with a record of 69-93...
season to Miguel Olivo
Miguel Olivo
Miguel Eduardo Olivo Peña is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Seattle Mariners. He bats and throws right-handed.-Career:...
. On May 4, he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
in his right knee during a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
. Wilson had intended the 2005 season to be his last as a player, and he announced his retirement, effective at the end of the 2005 season, on September 12. Although a torn ACL commonly keeps athletes sidelined for most of a season, Wilson spent most of the rest of the season rehabilitating his knee and was activated from the disabled list on September 30. He came back for one final inning on September 30 against the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
; he had not recovered enough to swing a bat, but he was able to crouch and throw. The Mariners' starting pitcher in that game was Jamie Moyer, with whom Wilson had formed a battery for 190 previous starts dating back to 1996. Moyer pitched to five batters in the inning, which ended when Bobby Kielty
Bobby Kielty
Robert Micheal Kielty is an American professional baseball outfielder for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball.-College :...
flied out to center field, and the Athletics scored no runs. Moyer went on to pitch seven more innings, and the Mariners defeated the Athletics, 4-1.
Career statistics
In a fourteen-year major league career, Wilson played in 1299 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, accumulating 1097 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 4186 at bats for a .262 career batting average along with 88 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 519 runs batted in. He ended his career with a .995 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
; the highest for a catcher in American League history, and the sixth highest in major league history. Wilson led American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
catchers twice in fielding percentage, twice in putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s, twice in baserunners caught stealing
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
and twice in range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
.
Wilson set an American League record for catchers with 1051 putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s in 1997
1997 Seattle Mariners season
The Seattle Mariners 1997 season was their 21st since the franchise creation, and ended the season finishing 1st in the American League West, finishing with a record of 90-72...
, the fourth highest season total for a catcher in major league history. His 1128 total chances
Total chances
In baseball statistics, total chances , also called chances offered, represents the number of plays in which a defensive player has participated. It is calculated as follows: Total Chances = assists + putouts + errors. Chances accepted refers to the total of putouts and assists only. Fielding...
in 1997 were the sixth highest season total for a catcher in major league history. In 2001, Wilson committed only one error
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in 122 games, for a .9987 fielding percentage, the fourth highest season average in major league history. He played in more games as a catcher than any other player in Mariners history (1281).
Later life
Wilson has stated that he will remain with the Mariners' front office after retiring. He is a ChristianChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, and is also known for his involvement with charities in the Seattle area.
External links
- "Another M's icon hangs it up - from the Seattle Post-IntelligencerSeattle Post-IntelligencerThe Seattle Post-Intelligencer is an online newspaper and former print newspaper covering Seattle, Washington, United States, and the surrounding metropolitan area...
- "Brothers in Arms" - Interview along with Jamie Moyer for Focus on the FamilyFocus on the FamilyFocus on the Family is an American evangelical Christian tax-exempt non-profit organization founded in 1977 by psychologist James Dobson, and is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Focus on the Family is one of a number of evangelical parachurch organizations that rose to prominence in the 1980s...
's Breakaway magazine - Dan Wilson Profile, Baseball Digest, August 1996