The mvp

By Times Staff
Published May 22, 2006

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He was universally regarded as the team leader, but catcher Bobby Wilson says he didn't have to say much.

When he did say something, he usually didn't have to do it with his mouth.

He was selected by the Times as the Pinellas and All-Suncoast Player of the Year after batting .457 with 39 runs, 37 RBIs and .723 slugging percentage.

He hit two grand slams in the region playoffs and added two hits, two runs and two RBIs in the state semifinal.

And yet he might be remembered more for the third strike he blocked to stave off defeat in the district semifinals against St. Petersburg. With runners on second and third and Seminole leading 3-2, Wilson stopped T.J. Large's pitch and threw to first, and the Warhawks never looked back.

"I was just doing what I was supposed to do," Wilson said. "It's funny how much attention has been given to that play. I guess I'm lucky it didn't go through my legs."

NOW: Wilson is with the Arkansas Travelers, the Double-A affiliate of the Angels, where he is batting .316 with two homers and 13 RBIs.

After high school, he played two seasons at St. Petersburg College, helping it reach the state tournament.

He turned down a scholarship from LSU to sign with Los Angeles.