Mariners Greatest Hits: Dan "The Man" Wilson's Top Outings
Dan Wilson spent 12 of his 14 years in the majors as the Mariners catcher. Now he is the Sodo Mojo pick for the greatest M’s catcher of all-time.
The seventh overall pick in the 1990 draft, Wilson spent the first two years of his career in Cincinnati before being traded to the Mariners along with Bret Boone and Erik Hanson in exchange for Bobby Ayala in November of 1993.
In his Mariners career, Wilson played in 1251 games hitting .262 with 207 doubles, and 88 home runs.
His best season came in 1996 earning him a trip to the All-Star Game. That year he hit .285 with 83 RBI and 18 dingers.
Wilson is also regarded as a great defensive catcher, he finished his career with a 31% caught stealing rate on base runners and a total defensive WAR of 10.6.
Wilson is a fan favorite still with the Mariners and is currently the M’s minor league catching coordinator.
Over his dozen years in a Mariners uniform, Wilson made countless plays that made you ooh and ahh, but here we will highlight the greatest complete games he ever had with Seattle.
The games will be chosen not only by his offensive prowess in the game but by his efforts behind the plate as well. This is not a definitive list but merely what we see as Wilson’s greatest performances with the M’s.
Enjoy seeing “The Man” at his best.
Seattle Mariner pitcher Randy Johnson throws against the Cleveland Indians in the first inning of game six of the ALCS in Seattle Tuesday, Oct. 17, 1995. (AP Photo/ Elaine Thompson)
August 8th, 1997
On this day in 1997, Dan Wilson made 20 putouts.
It was a Friday night matchup in the in front of 42,000+ excited fans in the Kingdom. The first place Seattle Mariners were facing off against the Chicago White Sox.
On the mound that night for the M’s was a towering figure known as the “big unit”, Randy Johnson. Behind the plate was 28-year-old Dan Wilson.
It was a magical night in the Kingdom, Randy stuck out 19 batters in a complete game shutout, Edgar Martinez, and Ken Griffey Jr. both hit home runs and Dan Wilson tied a Major League record for a catcher with 20 putouts in a game.
Wilson still shares that record with four other catchers to this day.
Wilson’s bat was not as much of a factor in the game as he only got on base once with a walk, but the Mariners didn’t need it as they won effortlessly 5-0 to move to 65-49 on the season.
Wilson’s 20 putouts came from Johnson’s 19 K’s and one putout after a popup from White Sox DH that night Albert Belle.
He had two in the 1st and 2nd, one in the third, three in the 4th, one in the 5th, three in the 6th, two in the seventh, and three in the 8th and 9th.
Future Mariner and teammate of Wilson, Mike Cameron, played right field for the White Sox that night, he struck out four times.
Seattle-09/19/01-Dan Wilson and Jay Buhner laugh as they watch scoreboard as they win the AL west
. Photo by Paul Kitagaki Jr./Seattle Post-Intelligencer (For Sports story by Hickey)
April 11th, 1996
It was a day to remember, Dan Wilson would hit three home runs in a game. It was a Thursday afternoon game in Detroit and Wilson’s homers helped the Mariners win 9-1 against the Tigers.
The first home run came in the top of the second inning; it was a two-run shot to deep right field off of Greg Gohr. The long bomb increased the Mariners winning percentage by 18% to 65%.
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The second home run came in the top of the seventh inning, a solo bomb to deep left field off of Mike Christopher, the score was now 3-0 all thanks to Wilson.
When Wilson came to the plate the very next inning, he delivered again with another solo shot to left field off of Christopher. The Mariners were now ahead 7-0. His third dinger of the day increased the Mariners win percentage to 99%.
Behind the plate, Wilson helped Randy Johnson punch out 12 batters in 7 1/3 innings.
Ken Griffey Jr. and Russ Davis also hit home runs in this early season rout of the Tigers.
Wilson finished the game with 12 total bases and three two-out RBIs.
Other notable Mariners to hit three round trippers in a game include Alex Rodriguez, Edgar Martinez, and of course, Mike Cameron who hit four in a game.
Apr 26, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano (22) is greeted by shortstop Ketel Marte (second from right) after hitting a grand-slam homer against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
May 3rd, 1998
It was a Sunday afternoon game in the Kingdom filled to the brim with 44,000+ fans in attendance.
Dan “The Man” Wilson accomplished one of the rarest feats in baseball: hitting an inside-the-park grand slam.
The Mariners had loaded the bases on an Alex Rodriguez single, a David Segui single, and a classic Edgar Martinez walk.
Then, Dan Wilson stepped to the plate and on a 2-2 count. Wilson ripped a line drive to left center field. Hall of fame Mariners announcer Dave Niehaus thought the ball was gone and was ready to get out the rye bread and mustard.
However, the ball had stayed in the park just missing Luis Gonzalez’s glove. Gonzalez and Detroit’s centerfielder, Brain Hunter, collided and the ball bounced off the wall into center-field.
Wilson circled the bases beating the throw home. It was an inside the park grand slam, scoring Rodriguez, Segui, Edgar and then the batter himself, Wilson.
Wilson’s four-bagger increased the Mariners win percentage by 27% to 84% as the Mariners now lead 4-0 in the bottom of the first inning.
The Mariners went on to win the game 10-6 against the Tigers, behind Randy Johnson’s 11 strikeouts.
Edgar had a home run of his own in this game driving in three runs in the bottom of the second inning.
Let us know what you think of these great moments! Do you think we missed one or did we get it just right? Shoot us a message in the comment box below or on Twitter at SodoMojoFS.
On February 5th, we will release who our pick for the Mariners all-time great first baseman. Will it be Alvin Davis? John Olerud? A sleeper pick? Check back with us on Sunday to find out.