#1: Bo Robinson - 1999
Each Wednesday timberrattlers.com counted down the top 20 seasons by a Timber Rattler until this week, when #1 is revealed:
Bo Robinson 1999
.329 batting average, 101 runs, 164 hits, 50 doubles, 3 triples, 13 home runs, 102 rbi, 4 stolen bases
Brian "Bo" Robinson was a 28th round draft pick by the Seattle Mariners in the 1998 draft. The two-time Conference USA All Star at UNC-Charlotte lasted until the 845th selection of the draft. He started his career with the Everett Aqua Sox, hitting .270 with 4 HR and 27 RBI.
The 1999 opening day third baseman for the Timber Rattlers, Bo went hitless in a doubleheader vs. Beloit to start the season. He wouldn't have too many hitless days after that. From May 13th on, only once did Bo go two consecutive games without a hit. He hit .366 at the friendly confines of Fox Cities Stadium and got better as the year went on, having his best month in August, when he hit .385. On August 22 and 23, Bo combined to go 9 for 11 with 6 RBI. When he wasn't hitting, he was walking. His 108 walks are 21 more than any other Timber Rattler, which led to an on base percentage of .446, which is 29 points better than second place Shin Soo Choo in '02. He drew a free pass more than once in a game an astounding 26 times. His 50 doubles are the best in team history by 12. He is one of only two Rattlers to crack 100 RBI in a season and is the only one to score 100 runs. His 259 total bases and 164 hits are also team records, and his slugging percentage (.519) and batting average are both second all time. Bo helped lead the Timber Rattlers all the way to the Midwest League Championship Series, where they fell to the Burlington Bees in the deciding fifth game. Amazingly, Robinson did not make the Midwest League All Star Game, nor was he named a Post Season All Star (Fort Wayne's Sean Burroughs was selected the 3B).
Robinson hit .313 with Lancaster the following season and .293 in the Texas League with San Antonio in 2001. Sent back to San Antonio in 2002, Bo struggled, hitting just .245 and was released by the Mariners following the season. The Yankees gave him a shot in 2003, but he was let go after a lackluster season at Double A Trenton. He played one season of independent ball before getting a shot with the Cardinals organization in '05. He would only last 12 games with Springfield, which would end up being the last stop in his career.
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Previously on the countdown: