Seattle Mariners: Top 50 players of all time
By Nick Lee
13. Bret Boone (1992-1993, 2001-2005)
Bret Boone was drafted in the fifth round of the 1990 draft by Seattle out of USC. He spent two stints with the Mariners.
During his first two seasons, he played 109 games, hit 16 home runs and could barely keep his average above .240. He then was traded to the Reds in the Wilson deal and most thought that was it for Boone as a Mariner.
Not so. After the 2000 season in San Diego, he signed a free agent deal with the M’s. He became their everyday second baseman for their famous 2001 season.
Boone played in 158 games that year, hit a career high 37 home runs and led the American League with 141 RBI. He would earn his second of three All-Star selections.
He also hit an incredible .331, which was fifth-best in the majors. He was one of the best hitting second baseman in the game that year.
Boone hit .316 with two home runs in the 2001 ALCS against the Yankees. This is the man Cano is chasing for best second baseman in franchise history.
Boone finished his seven-year Mariners career with 143 home runs, good enough for seventh on the Mariners franchise list. He is also eighth in RBI with 535. He is ninth in position player WAR with 19.0.
In his time in Seattle, he was on two All-Star teams, won three Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers. He finished his career with 252 home runs and 1,775 hits in 14 seasons.