DAN WILSON ARTICLES PG. 3
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Coming Into His Own
Dan Wilson prefers to keep a low profile. With All-Stars like Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Randy Johnson and Edgar Martinez in the lineup, he's got plenty of teammates who are used to capturing headlines. Wilson, on the other hand, is plenty content with just helping his team notch another win. After all, winning a team championship is what counts most, right?     "I usually don't set personal goals at the start of a season," said the 27-year-old backstop, now in his fourth season with Seattle. "I guess I hope to at least attain the same numbers I put up last year, if not improve on those. But I just try to go out and give 100% every day. The statistics will follow."     Fortunately for Seattle and its fans, Wilson's statistics have continued to pick up ever since November 3, 1993, the day he was traded from Cincinnati. It marked not only a milestone for Wilson's career, but a key turning point for the Seattle franchise.     Wilson, then a backup catcher with the Reds, and reliever Bobby Ayala were traded to the Mariners for pitcher Erik Hanson and infielder Bret Boone. It was a moment he remembers fondly.     "I was stuck behind Joe Oliver at the time, and he was a great player. And it looked like he was gonna be there a long time," recalled Wilson, whose boyhood idol was Reds' Hall-of-Famer Johnny Bench. "So I welcomed the trade. I really did. I needed a change."     As it turns out, so did the Seattle Mariners.     A 1990 first-round draft pick of the Reds, Wilson had caught just 48 games for Cincy between 1992 and 93. Regardless, when the Mariners decided not to re-sign veteran free-agent catcher Dave Valle, the door was left wide open for Wilson to step right up.     Since his arrival to the Emerald City, he's been one of the team's steadiest performers. A superb defensive catcher, he's continued to improve his game in virtually every capacity and last season was named to his first All-Star Team. Offensively, the six-foot, three-inch, 190-pounder has gotten better every season. In 1994, playing in 91 games behind the plate, he hit .216 with three home runs and 27 RBI. A year later, during the Mariners magical ride of 1995, his batting average jumped to .278 and he belted nine homers and drove in 51 runs. Last season, however, signified Wilson's best: .285, 18 homers, 83 RBIs.     Asked to explain his much-improved hitting, he quickly credits experience and Mariners hitting instructor Lee Elia.     "I think Lee is definitely a huge factor. He's willing to give me a lot of his time, and he's really done an outstanding job.     "Plus, I put in some work in the weight room during the off-season, so I added some muscle strength. Besides that, it's just experience. It's learning the pitchers, it's getting in the league and playing every day. That all makes a big difference." Defensively, they don't come much better than Dan the Man. A 1990 baseball All-America selection at the University of Minnesota, he possesses a goaltender's mentality behind the plate and a rocket for a right arm. In fact, while attending Barrington High School in Illinois, Wilson earned All-State honors three times as a hockey goalie. Evidently, he's still not afraid to use his body like a shield, although he frequently blocks baserunners these days, not slap shots. With regard to his arm, as of the All-Star break he had thrown out an American-League best 49% of the runners (35 of 72) attempting to steal on him this season.     How does Wilson explain his success ratio in gunning down runners?     "Number one, it's our pitchers. They do a great job of getting the ball in play and giving me the time to throw, and that's a huge battle that's already won. And I think experience and understanding running situations, and just being a little bit older, helps.     "There are a lot of things, as a catcher, that you have to concentrate on in a game," he continued. "Calling the game and trying to help the pitchers through their game is one thing; base running is another; then there's hitting. It's just a mental grind every night. That's probably the toughest part."     Wilson's durability he caught in 138 games last season and has started behind the plate in 75 of Seattle's first 87 games this season has not gone unnoticed by teammates.     "To be that durable and play in as many games as he does is really something," says reserve catcher John Marzano. "There are only two guys in baseball who catch that many games, and that's Pudge Rodriguez [of Texas] and Dan. He's just real durable. He doesn't have the arm strength that Pudge Rodriguez has, but his quickness and his accuracy are both good, and that's what makes him such a great thrower from behind the plate.     "Not only is he a great catcher, but offensively he's really come into his own the last couple of years."     At this season's midway point, Wilson was hitting .273 with 20 doubles, six homers and 38 RBIs. Again, very respectable numbers. Unfortunately, two other A.L. catchers Rodriguez and Cleveland's Sandy Alomar Jr. were both posting career years, hitting .340 and .375, respectively, and were the leading vote-getters to this year's Mid-Summer Classic.     Politics and playing favorites are two subjects Wilson's not interested in pursuing. His work ethic is outstanding, and his ability to stay focused and remain healthy continues to impress those around him. If you want integrity, look no further than the guy squatting behind home plate.     "I can't speak for other organizations, but I am close to knowing ballplayers and their character on the Seattle Mariners," said longtime Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus. "And Dan Wilson certainly has character."     "He's a real take-charge individual," added Mariners bullpen coach Matt Sinatro, himself a former big league catcher. "He throws the ball well, he handles the pitchers, and he's very intelligent. He really has great presence behind the plate."     One of Wilson's many duties day in and day out is to work with a variety of pitchers: from Jamie Moyer to Randy Johnson, from Jeff Fassero to Bob Wolcott. Handling such a diverse group of hurlers can't be easy.     "It makes things a little challenging, but these guys are all veterans," explained Wilson. "We do our communicating back and forth, and then we just talk with each other. They all do a great job of helping me out and we get things accomplished that way."     One good turn deserves another. Just ask Wolcott.     "Dan calls an aggressive game, so I don't mind pitching to him," said the 23-year-old right hander. "And he's great defensively. You never have to worry about runners stealing bases or anything. He's a real leader on the field and in the clubhouse."     Former Mariners pitcher Scott Sanders, who came over to the A.L. after four years with San Diego, was a beneficiary of Wilson's experience and knowledge. His adaptation to American League hitters and strike zones didn't just happen overnight.     "Dan's one of the best defensive catchers I've seen in this league, blocking balls, throwing guys out, and calling games. He's helped me because I'm new to the league. In fact, he helped me a lot of times," said Sanders. "He'll come out to the mound and say, Hey, I've known this guy a little bit longer than you have, so let's try this.' He's got a pretty good idea of what's going on back there."     Though still a relative newcomer to the big leagues, Wilson was asked to relate his most memorable Major League experience thus far. His answer shouldn't surprise many.     "It's gotta be when we won the A.L. West flag in 95 and beat the Angels in that one-game playoff," he said. "To have a whole season come down to one game is pretty amazing, and to win that one game was pretty intense."     Besides being a dedicated teammate, Wilson's a devoted husband and father. He and his wife Anne, sweethearts since high school, posted a banner year of their own in 1996. When it looked as though they weren't going to be able to conceive a child of their own, they adopted Sofia, a young girl from Bulgaria. Soon thereafter, Anne became pregnant; she delivered daughter Josie last August.     "We're real excited," said Wilson. "And Seattle's just a great place to live and raise children. We've lived up here for the last couple of years and it's been great to see this place really turn into a baseball city.     "Whenever you're putting a lot of fans in the stands and you're playing off of the crowds, it's just a great feeling. And to be a part of it is even better. And now we've got a new ballpark just south of here that's going up. Just to see the excitement and feel the enthusiasm really does lift you up."     You can't help but like this guy. He's hard-working, fair and dedicated as the day is long. Perhaps Mariners skipper Lou Piniella summed up Wilson best when he said: "You are not going to find a better young man. He's just a good kid."

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Hundley, Wilson reach the pinnacle together
The circle is now complete for Todd Hundley and Dan Wilson.      The two catchers started competing against each other as kids, in Pony League, high school and American Legion ball.      Tonight, they'll be in opposite dugouts at the highest level, as major-league all-stars.      "To think about two kids from the same area, and here they are in the major-league All-Star Game," marveled Todd's father, Randy Hundley, the former Cubs Todd Hundley catcher who is taking in the all-star festivities. "Who would have ever thought?"      Did Randy ever think it?      "Yeah," he said. "Seeing those kids play when they were young, I thought they had an outstanding chance to be excellent players. They're very competitive. They played very well against each other."      Both Hundley and Wilson have blossomed this year.      Hundley, a graduate of Fremd High School, has 23 home runs and 66 RBI for the New York Mets.      Wilson, who starred for Barrington High School, is batting .308 with 12 homers and 52 RBI for the Seattle Mariners.      "It'll be nice to see Todd," Wilson said Monday upon entering the AL clubhouse. "He's having an outstanding year. It's nice that our paths are crossing this way. This is a nice way to meet again.      "Our paths went different ways. He signed out of high school and I went to college (Minnesota). Being together here is neat."      "Shoot, I've played against Dan since we were 10 years old," Hundley said. "He was always a good player. We had some great games against each other."      If their paths were different, they reached the same all-star destination on similar power drives.      Both always have been considered excellent receivers. Their offensive games began gathering steam last year before hitting high gear in '96.      "I don't think there's any magic to it," Hundley said. "Tom McCraw, our hitting instructor, and I have been really working on driving the ball. I'm not trying to hit home runs. I've been fortunate 23 of them have carried out of the ballpark."      Wilson also credited his hitting coach, Lee Elia, as well as some added muscle, for the increase in production.      "I gained some size and strength in the off-season," Wilson said. "I worked with Lee Elia, not on a daily basis, but we ironed things out with my swing. He did an outstanding job."      Now at the top of their profession, both Hundley and Wilson were taking time to enjoy it Monday.      "I've had time to reflect on it," Hundley said. "It's been a long road. I think of all the tough times in New York and all of the good times. Now is a time to relax and enjoy this, being in the same place with all of these elite ballplayers."      As for Wilson, he enjoyed slipping virtually unknown into the American League clubhouse, with the media mobs surrounding the likes of Frank Thomas and Joe Carter.      "It's kind of nice, actually," he said. "It's an honor to be in here with these people. You see these guys on a daily basis, so you're not as awestruck as you might think; I'm looking forward to it."



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