Seattle Mariners

From BR Bullpen

Franchise Record: 2149-2424 World Series Titles: 0 American League Pennants: 0 Playoffs: 4 (1995, 1997, 2000, 2001) Franchise Players: Jamie Moyer, Alvin Davis, Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, Mark Langston, Edgar Martinez, Ichiro Suzuki

Seattle Mariners logo

The Seattle Mariners began play as an expansion club in 1977 and were best known for their futility on the field for the team's first decade and a half (see expansion of 1977). They lost more than 100 games three times in their first seven seasons. One of the few highlights during that time was when Gaylord Perry won his 300th game with the club in 1982. In 1984, two rookies gave the club some hope. First baseman Alvin Davis hit 27 homers and won the Rookie of the Year award, and hard throwing pitcher Mark Langston won 17 games and struck out a league-leading 204 batters. However, Davis' rookie year proved to be his best season, and Langston was traded in 1989. The Mariners ended the 1980s still without ever having a .500 or better season.

In the next decade, the fortunes of the Seattle Mariners improved when Japanese video game giant Nintendo bought the team in 1992. Led by young outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. and pitcher Randy Johnson (who was acquired from the Montreal Expos in the Langston trade), the club exceeded .500 for the first time in 1991. In 1993, Lou Piniella was hired to manage the club, and he transformed them from also-rans to contenders. They won their division in 1995 and 1997. Despite trading Griffey and Johnson, they reached the playoffs again in 2000. In 2001, the Mariners won a league-best 116 games but lost the American League Championship Series to the New York Yankees. Piniella left the club after the 2002 season, and by 2004, the team was back to its losing ways, finishing in last place with 99 losses.

[edit] Members of Mariners Hall of Fame

Alvin Davis (inducted 1997)

Dave Niehaus (broadcaster - inducted 2000)

Jay Buhner (inducted 2004)

[edit] Further Reading

• Kirby Arnold: Tales from the Seattle Mariners Dugout, Sports Publishing LLC, Champaign, IL, 2007.
• Fan site with stories about the 1995 Mariners

Seasons 1977 · 1978 · 1979 · 1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989 · 1990 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994 · 1995 · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 · 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 . 2008 . 2009