Rick Wilkins
Born: 6/4/1967 in Jacksonville, FL, USA
MLB Debut: 1991-06-06 | Final Game: 2001-10-03
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 210 lbs
Full name: Richard David Wilkins
Biography
Rick Wilkins, born in 1967, was a professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1991 to 2001. Primarily known as a position player, Wilkins made a significant impact during his time in Major League Baseball, particularly noted for his role as a catcher and his contributions to the teams he played for, including the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 720 games, accumulating 515 hits, 81 home runs, and driving in 275 runs, while finishing with a batting average of .244. His ability to provide power at the plate was complemented by his versatility, as he also showcased his skills with nine stolen bases.
Wilkins’ career unfolded during a transformative era in baseball, marked by offensive explosions and the increasing importance of power-hitting catchers. His contributions helped teams in competitive divisions, and although he may not have been a household name, his performance in key moments showcased his ability to rise to the occasion. After retiring on October 3, 2001, Wilkins left a legacy as a reliable player who could impact games through both his bat and his defensive skills behind the plate.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 720 | 2114 | 280 | 515 | 95 | 7 | 81 | 275 | 9 | 278 | 571 | 0.244 | 0.332 | 0.410 | 0.742 | 758.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | CHC | NL | 86 | 203 | 21 | 45 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 22 | 3 | 19 | 56 | 0.222 | -199.0 |
| 1992 | CHC | NL | 83 | 244 | 20 | 66 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 22 | 0 | 28 | 53 | 0.270 | 398.1 |
| 1993 | CHC | NL | 136 | 446 | 78 | 135 | 23 | 1 | 30 | 73 | 2 | 50 | 99 | 0.303 | 2470.4 |
| 1994 | CHC | NL | 100 | 313 | 44 | 71 | 25 | 2 | 7 | 39 | 4 | 40 | 86 | 0.227 | -499.8 |
| 1995 | CHC | NL | 50 | 162 | 24 | 31 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 0 | 36 | 51 | 0.191 | -285.3 |
| 1995 | HOU | NL | 15 | 40 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0.250 | -285.3 |
| 1996 | HOU | NL | 84 | 254 | 34 | 54 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 23 | 0 | 46 | 81 | 0.213 | -631.6 |
| 1996 | SFG | NL | 52 | 157 | 19 | 46 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 36 | 0 | 21 | 40 | 0.293 | -631.6 |
| 1997 | SEA | AL | 5 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.250 | 0.0 |
| 1997 | SFG | NL | 66 | 190 | 18 | 37 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 23 | 0 | 17 | 65 | 0.195 | 0.0 |
| 1998 | NYN | NL | 5 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.133 | 0.0 |
| 1998 | SEA | AL | 19 | 41 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 0.195 | 0.0 |
| 1999 | LAD | NL | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2000 | STL | NL | 4 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.273 | 0.0 |
| 2001 | SDP | NL | 12 | 22 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0.182 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | NLCS | SLN | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 1997 | ALDS2 | SEA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 18 | 10 | 105 | 9 | 0 | 7 |
| C | 650 | 553 | 3608 | 374 | 31 | 42 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | CHN | C | 82 | 54 | 373 | 42 | 3 | 6 |
| 1992 | CHN | C | 73 | 66 | 408 | 47 | 3 | 5 |
| 1993 | CHN | C | 133 | 118 | 717 | 89 | 3 | 9 |
| 1994 | CHN | C | 95 | 83 | 546 | 51 | 4 | 3 |
| 1994 | CHN | 1B | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | CHN | C | 49 | 47 | 288 | 29 | 4 | 7 |
| 1995 | CHN | 1B | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1995 | HOU | C | 13 | 12 | 87 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | HOU | C | 82 | 72 | 550 | 39 | 6 | 3 |
| 1996 | SFN | C | 42 | 34 | 188 | 29 | 2 | 4 |
| 1996 | SFN | 1B | 7 | 6 | 52 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| 1997 | SEA | C | 3 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 | SFN | C | 57 | 50 | 326 | 37 | 5 | 5 |
| 1998 | NYN | C | 4 | 4 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 | SEA | C | 6 | 5 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | SEA | 1B | 6 | 4 | 42 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1999 | LAN | C | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | SLN | C | 3 | 3 | 28 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | SDN | C | 7 | 3 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | SDN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 650 |
| First Base | 18 |
| Designated Hitter | 4 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | LAN | NL | $410,000 |
| 1998 | SEA | AL | $425,000 |
| 1997 | SEA | AL | $150,000 |
| 1997 | SFN | NL | $2,000,000 |
| 1996 | HOU | NL | $1,550,000 |
| 1995 | HOU | NL | $1,475,000 |
| 1994 | CHN | NL | $350,000 |
| 1993 | CHN | NL | $212,500 |
| 1992 | CHN | NL | $140,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $6,712,500 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furman University | Greenville | SC | 1985, 1986, 1987 |