Guillen to Boone to Olerud by John Pinza Todd

The 2001 Seattle Mariners might be best remembered for winning an American League record 116 games, but they also had a defensive trio that was far more than respectable. Join Baseball Almanac as we read John Todd's tribute appropriately titled Guillen to Boone to Olerud.

"Under lights in the dark at the edge of the Sound, With a crack of the bat the ball flashes to ground, And leaps to the left through the glorious green of the Safeco Field grass to a fielding machine." - John Todd
Guillen to Boone to Olerud

by John Pinza Todd ©

Published: Baseball Almanac (2001)

Under lights in the dark at the edge of the Sound
With a crack of the bat the ball flashes to ground
And leaps to the left through the glorious green
Of the SAFECO Field grass to a fielding machine
Comes a grab that is sure and a toss that is shrewd
Guillen to Boone to Olerud

The big hits distributed, heroes galore
Edgar and Ichiro, Mark McLemore
With Wilson or Lampkin ready to score
And Sprague in the circle, poised for one more
But second to none in their plate fortitude
Guillen and Boone and Olerud

A shot to the gap but a double it's not
For Cameron's a-sweeping, he'll run it down hot
A towering pop-up a mile in the air
To Martin or Gipson or Stan Javier
Or a grounder to Bell, the outcome's the same
The table is set for an end to the frame

In the stands and the mezzanine, bleachers and box
As one the fans rise, the stadium rocks
From Freddy to start or Sasaki to end
It's the pitch upon which we've all come to depend
A fastball inside, Fang at low latitude
Guillen to Boone to Olerud

Guillen to Boone to Olerud Author: John Pinza Todd ©



During the 2001 season (the year this poem was written / published), Carlos Guillen played 137 games at shortstop, recorded 313 assists, had a .980 fielding percentage, committed 10 errors and was involved in 75 double plays.

During the 2001 season (the year this poem was written / published), Bret Boone played 156 games at second base, recorded 411 assists, had a .986 fielding percentage, committed 10 errors and was involved in 90 double plays.

During the 2001 season (the year this poem was written / published), John Olerud played 158 games at first base, recorded 121 assists, had a .993 fielding percentage, committed 9 errors and was involved in 116 double plays.