Rick Wilkins

Richard David Wilkins...attended Furman (SC) University, where he played linebacker and special teams on the gridiron...was a member of the 1985 Paladins team that lost 44-42 to Georgia Southern in the Division I-AA championship game...after one semester, transferred to Florida Community College, where he was an All-Conference catcher in 1986 and `87...graduated from The Bolles (FL) School, where he was named All-City and All-State in baseball...also earned All-State wrestling honors on 2 occasions.

2000

SUMMARY: Appeared in a big league uniform for the 10th consecutive season, playing in 4 July contests with St. Louis...was not active, but was with the Cardinals during their 3-game sweep of the Braves in the N.L. Division Series...was activated prior to the Cardinals N.L.C.S. vs. New York when catcher Carlos Hernandez was slowed by back problems...spent the majority of the season at Triple-A Memphis, where he batted .230 in 63 games for the Redbirds.

1999

Began the season as the Dodgers' backup catcher, but played in only 3 games before being assigned to Triple-A Albuquerque on April 21...went on to hit .253 with 8 homers and 33 RBI in 92 games with the Dukes.

1998

Batted .195 in 19 games for Seattle before being acquired by the Mets in exchange for minor league pitcher Lindsay Gulin on May 12...hit .133 in 5 games with the Mets...spent a majority of the year with Triple-A Norfolk, where he batted .259 with 20 RBI in 45 contests.

1997

Combined to hit .198 (40-for-202) in 71 games for San Francisco and Seattle...laced a 2-run pinch double to account for all of the scoring in the Giants' 2-0 win April 5 vs. New York...after being released by San Francisco on August 1, signed with Seattle on August 15 and immediately was placed on the 15-Day Disabled List with staph infections in both eyes...was activated on September 1 and played in 5 games for Seattle, going 3-for-12 with a home run and 3 RBI...appeared in one game of the Mariners' A.L. Division Series vs. Baltimore.

1996

Playing for both Houston and San Francisco, tied for the National League lead with 10 sacrifice flies...was acquired with cash by the Giants in exchange for Kirt Manwaring on July 27...hit in a career-high 10 straight July 30-August 9...hit an 8th-inning game-winning grand slam off Francisco Cordova August 13 at Pittsburgh...matched his career high with 4 hits September 3 at Montreal.

1995

Hit .191 in 50 games with the Cubs before being dealt to Houston in exchange for Luis Gonzalez and Scott Servais on June 28...played in only 2 games with the Astros before being placed on the 15-Day Disabled list with a cervical disk problem in his neck...had surgery on July 9...August 28-September 4, took rehab stints with Double-A Jackson and Triple-A Tucson...returned to big league action on September 9 at Philadelphia...went 9-for-36 (.250) in 13 September contests (11 starts).

1994

Legged out a career high 30 doubles for the Cubs...played in 100 of Chicago's 113 games...made only 4 errors in 601 total chances for a .993 fielding percentage...picked off 5 baserunners.

1993

Established career highs in every major category by hitting .303 with 30 home runs and 83 RBI as Chicago's regular catcher...became, at the time, only the 6th catcher in history to hit .300 and hit 30 or more home runs in a single sseason, joining Gabby Hartnett (1930), Walker Cooper (1947), Roy Campanella (1951, `53, `55), Joe Torre (1966) and Mike Piazza (1993)...was the first Cubs left-handed hitter to wallop 30 homers since Rick Monday's 32 in 1976...ranked 10th in the N.L. in homers...led N.L. catchers by throwing out 43 percent (50 of 116) would-be basestrealers...hit just .122 (5-for-41) in April, but .321 thereafter...homered in 4 straight games June 7-11...hit the first grand slam of his career, a game winner, off Philadelphia's Roger Mason August 30 at Wrigley Field.

1992

Broke spring camp with the Cubs, but was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on April 21...was 2-for-10 at the time of the demotion...was recalled on June 19 and started 64 of the club's final 98 contests...slugged 8 homers in only 83 big league games.

1991

Hit .271 with 5 home runs and 14 RBI in 38 games with Iowa to earn his first trip to the big leagues, where he batted .270 with 8 homers and 22 RBI in 86 games with the Cubs...was recalled by Chicago on June 4, his 24th birthday...gunned down the only 2 baserunners attempting to steal, Tony Fernandez and Tony Gwynn, in his major league debut, June 6 vs. San Diego...went 3-for-3 on June 8 vs. Los Angeles, collecting his first major league hit off Tim Belcher...slugged his first big league homer, a 3-run shot off Bob Kipper, June 25 at Pittsburgh...homered 3 straight games, June 25-27 at Three Rivers Stadium...was hit by 6 pitches to rank 6th in the N.L.

1990

Slugged 17 home runs, the 2nd-highest one-season total of his career, for Double-A Charlotte...threw out 61 of 147 (42%) of would-be basestealers...collected 10 of his 17 home runs during a 37-game power surge, July 19-August 26.