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Seattle Mariners

Seattle Mariners

American League

AAA

Tacoma Rainiers

AA

San Antonio Missions

A

Inland Empire 66ers
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
Everett AquaSox

R

Peoria Mariners

The Seattle Mariners are a Major League Baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. They are in the Western Division of the American League.

Founded: 1977 (American League expansion)
Home ballpark: Safeco Field (1999-present), The Kingdome (1977-1999).
Uniform colors: Navy Blue, Emerald Green, Silver
Logo design: A baseball on an 8-pointed compass.
Mascot: Mariner Moose
Current ownership: Hiroshi Yamauchi, former chairman of Nintendo (majority shareholder)
Wild Card titles won (1): 2000
Division titles won (3): 2001, 1997, 1995
League pennants won (0): none
World Series championships won (0): none

Franchise history

1970s and 1980s

The Mariners were added to the American League in 1977, and were for many years perennial non-achievers. Despite having stars such as Alvin Davis and Gaylord Perry, the team gained a reputation for their poor performance. Highlights of the early years included hosting the 1979 All-Star Game, Gaylord Perry's 300th career win, and promotions, such as "Funny Nose Glasses Night." In 1989, rookie centerfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. joined the team. His defensive ability, hitting power, and baserunning speed would begin to change the Mariners' reputation.

1990s

In 1991, the Mariners had their first winning season, finishing 83-79. Though it was the team's best season, it was only good enough to end in fifth place. Prior to the 1993 season, the Mariners hired manager Lou Pinella, who managed the Cincinnati Reds to a 1990 World Series win.

By 1995, the Mariners had added a core of strong players built around center-fielder Ken Griffey, Jr., pitcher Randy Johnson and designated hitter Edgar Martinez. An early-season injury to Griffey seemed to doom the 1995 season. In mid-August, the Mariners were 13 games behind the first-place California Angels. A September winning streak marked by late-inning comeback wins, combined with a losing streak by the Angels, opened the way for the Mariners to tie the Angels for first place on the last day of the season. The Mariners won the tiebreaker game 9-1 and clinched their first ever trip to the playoffs. Down 2-0 in the ALDS,in one of the games most dramatic moments, the Mariners won three games at home to beat the New York Yankees and advance to the ALCS. Their championship run was halted by the Cleveland Indians. The Mariners won the division title again in 1997, but were defeated in the ALDS 3-1 by the Baltimore Orioles.

2000s

Ichiro Suzuki joined the Mariners in 2001

In 2001, despite the loss of superstar shortstop Alex Rodriguez (He would be greeted at his return to Safeco with Monopoly money by fans, no doubt to protest his selling out of the Seattle fans), the addition of Japanese sensation Ichiro Suzuki and a career season by second basemen Bret Boone helped the Mariners to the most successful regular season on record in the modern era, leading the major leagues in winning percentage from start to finish, easily winning the American League West championship, setting a new Major Leage Baseball record for most wins in a single season with an unprecedented 116, matching the previous record for single season wins set by the Chicago Cubs in 1906. They pulled off a come-from-behind 3-2 series win over the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS to advance to the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees, but succumbed to the Yankees for the second year in a row in the ALCS, 4 games to 1, in a hard fought series, a sad end to such a historic year.

At the end of the 2002 season, manager Lou Piniella left the Mariners to manage the Tampa Bay Devil Rays over the management policy of non-aggressive hiring. The Mariners signed Bob Melvin to be their new manager. Despite an excellent start to the 2003 season, the Mariners failed to make the playoffs.

The Mariners stayed competitive in 7 of the 9 seasons from 1995 to 2003. The 2004 season, however, saw the demise of the Mariners' dominance of their division. Although many of their players were aging, the Mariners continued an apparent practice of "content to contend," starting the 2004 season having not made a major deal in three years. The team lost their first five games and went into the All-Star Break with a 9-game losing streak, a 32-54 season record (.372), and a 17-game deficit behind the first-place Texas Rangers.

After the All-Star break, unable to ignore the dreadful state of their team, the Mariners gave the team a complete overhaul, moving aging and unproven players away from center stage and inserting over a dozen call-ups into the 25-man roster. The season's end was enlivened by Ichiro breaking George Sisler's single season record of 257 hits (finishing with 262), and events to honor the retirement of Mariner stalwart, Edgar Martinez. Just days after the end of the season, the Mariners fired Bob Melvin. On October 20, 2004, the Mariners announced the signing of their new manager, Mike Hargrove. Hargrove was the manager who led the Cleveland Indians past the Mariners in the 1995 ALCS.

Players of note

Baseball Hall of Famers

  • Gaylord Perry

Current 25-man roster (updated on June 15, 2005)

  • Manager
    • 21 Mike Hargrove
  • Coaches
    •   9 Ron Hassey (bench)
    • 25 Don Baylor (hitting)
    • 34 Bryan Price (pitching)
    • 41 Jim Slaton (bullpen)
    • 15 Jeff Newman (third base)
    • 13 Carlos García (first base)

Not to be forgotten

  • Chris Bosio
  • Jay Buhner
  • Mike Cameron
  • Julio Cruz
  • Alvin Davis
  • Freddy Garcia
  • Rich Gossage
  • Ken Griffey, Jr.
  • Ken Griffey, Sr.
  • Carlos Guillén
  • Dave Henderson
  • Rickey Henderson
  • Randy Johnson
  • Ruppert Jones
  • Mark Langston
  • Edgar Martinez
  • Tino Martinez
  • Mario Mendoza
  • Jeff Nelson
  • John Olerud
  • Ken Phelps
  • Harold Reynolds
  • Alex Rodríguez
  • Kazuhiro Sasaki
  • Dave Valle
  • Omar Vizquel

Retired numbers

  • 42 Jackie Robinson (retired throughout baseball)

Managers

  • Darrell Johnson (1977-1980, 229-362)
  • Maury Wills (1980-1981, 26-56)
  • Rene Lachemann (1981-1983, 140-180)
  • Del Crandell (1983-1984 93-131)
  • Chuck Cottier (1984-1986, 98-119)
  • Marty Martinez (1986, 0-1 - Interim manager)
  • Dick Williams (1986-1988, 159-192)
  • Jim Snyder (1988, 45-60)
  • Jim Lefebvre (1989-1991, 233-253)
  • Bill Plummer (1992, 64-98)
  • Lou Piniella (1993-2002, 840-711)
  • Bob Melvin (2003-2004, 156-168)
  • Mike Hargrove (2005-)

Broadcasters

  • Dave Niehaus (1977-present)
  • Ron Fairly
  • Rick Rizzs
  • Dave Henderson
  • Dave Valle

During Mariners broadcasts, the TV and radio announcers switch with each other during the middle of the 5th inning.

KVI 570 was the original home of the Mariners from 1977 - 85, then to KIRO 710; 1985 - 02, and currently on KOMO News 1000; 2003 - present.

Television KING TV 5 (NBC) 1977 - 81, KSTW TV 11; 1981 - 86, 89 - 92, 98 - Present, KIRO TV 7 (CBS); 1986 - 89, 95 - 99, and Fox Sports Northwest 1993 - Present.

Single Season Records

  • Home Runs: 56 (1997 & 1998) Ken Griffey Jr.
  • Runs Batted In: 147 (1997) Ken Griffey Jr.
  • Batting Average: .372 (2004) Ichiro Suzuki
  • Hits: 262 (2004) Ichiro Suzuki (Major League Record)
  • Runs: 141 (1996) Alex Rodriguez
  • Doubles: 54 (1996) Alex Rodriguez
  • Triples: 10 (1987) Phil Bradley
  • Stolen Bases: 60 (1987) Harold Reynolds
  • Hitting Streak: 31 games (2001) Ichiro Suzuki
  • Strikeouts: 176 (2002) Mike Cameron
  • Pitching Wins: 21 (2003) Jamie Moyer
  • Pitching Strikeouts: 308 (1993) Randy Johnson



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. The film has also been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. Television KING TV 5 (NBC) 1977 - 81, KSTW TV 11; 1981 - 86, 89 - 92, 98 - Present, KIRO TV 7 (CBS); 1986 - 89, 95 - 99, and Fox Sports Northwest 1993 - Present. This feat would not be repeated again until One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. KVI 570 was the original home of the Mariners from 1977 - 85, then to KIRO 710; 1985 - 02, and currently on KOMO News 1000; 2003 - present. This film was nominated for five Oscars (all the major ones) and won all five. During Mariners broadcasts, the TV and radio announcers switch with each other during the middle of the 5th inning. It Happened One Night is considered to be the first of the great "screwball comedies" of the 1930s, which usually centered around a couple getting into hapless situations, and falling in love as a result.

On October 20, 2004, the Mariners announced the signing of their new manager, Mike Hargrove. Hargrove was the manager who led the Cleveland Indians past the Mariners in the 1995 ALCS. Sales of men's undershirts across the country allegedly suffered a noticeable decline for a period following this movie. Just days after the end of the season, the Mariners fired Bob Melvin. As he is undressing for bed, he takes off his shirt to reveal that he is bare-chested. The season's end was enlivened by Ichiro breaking George Sisler's single season record of 257 hits (finishing with 262), and events to honor the retirement of Mariner stalwart, Edgar Martinez. Legend has it that Gable had a profound effect on men's fashion, thanks to a scene in this movie. After the All-Star break, unable to ignore the dreadful state of their team, the Mariners gave the team a complete overhaul, moving aging and unproven players away from center stage and inserting over a dozen call-ups into the 25-man roster. As Gable stands at the edge of the road and Colbert is perched atop a wooden fence, his wisecracking posture is said to be the inspiration for the beloved cartoon character Bugs Bunny.".

The team lost their first five games and went into the All-Star Break with a 9-game losing streak, a 32-54 season record (.372), and a 17-game deficit behind the first-place Texas Rangers. One IMDb user even made the following observation about the movie: "There is a scene in which the two of them are forced to hitchhike, and their 'breakfast' is only a handful of carrots plucked from a garden they were lucky to find. Although many of their players were aging, the Mariners continued an apparent practice of "content to contend," starting the 2004 season having not made a major deal in three years. As in most Frank Capra films, everything turns out all right in the end; the film fit very well with the upbeat view of the world that Frank Capra repeatedly tried to portray. The 2004 season, however, saw the demise of the Mariners' dominance of their division. It Happened One Night is a 1934 romantic comedy in which an elite socialite (Claudette Colbert) tries to get out from under her father's thumb, and falls in with a rogue reporter (Clark Gable). The Mariners stayed competitive in 7 of the 9 seasons from 1995 to 2003. Best Writing, Adaptation - Robert Riskin.

The Mariners signed Bob Melvin to be their new manager. Despite an excellent start to the 2003 season, the Mariners failed to make the playoffs. Best Director - Frank Capra. At the end of the 2002 season, manager Lou Piniella left the Mariners to manage the Tampa Bay Devil Rays over the management policy of non-aggressive hiring. Best Actress in a Leading Role - Claudette Colbert. They pulled off a come-from-behind 3-2 series win over the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS to advance to the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees, but succumbed to the Yankees for the second year in a row in the ALCS, 4 games to 1, in a hard fought series, a sad end to such a historic year. Best Actor in a Leading Role - Clark Gable. In 2001, despite the loss of superstar shortstop Alex Rodriguez (He would be greeted at his return to Safeco with Monopoly money by fans, no doubt to protest his selling out of the Seattle fans), the addition of Japanese sensation Ichiro Suzuki and a career season by second basemen Bret Boone helped the Mariners to the most successful regular season on record in the modern era, leading the major leagues in winning percentage from start to finish, easily winning the American League West championship, setting a new Major Leage Baseball record for most wins in a single season with an unprecedented 116, matching the previous record for single season wins set by the Chicago Cubs in 1906. Best Picture - Harry Cohn, producer.

The Mariners won the division title again in 1997, but were defeated in the ALDS 3-1 by the Baltimore Orioles. Their championship run was halted by the Cleveland Indians. Down 2-0 in the ALDS,in one of the games most dramatic moments, the Mariners won three games at home to beat the New York Yankees and advance to the ALCS. The Mariners won the tiebreaker game 9-1 and clinched their first ever trip to the playoffs.

A September winning streak marked by late-inning comeback wins, combined with a losing streak by the Angels, opened the way for the Mariners to tie the Angels for first place on the last day of the season. In mid-August, the Mariners were 13 games behind the first-place California Angels. An early-season injury to Griffey seemed to doom the 1995 season. By 1995, the Mariners had added a core of strong players built around center-fielder Ken Griffey, Jr., pitcher Randy Johnson and designated hitter Edgar Martinez.

Prior to the 1993 season, the Mariners hired manager Lou Pinella, who managed the Cincinnati Reds to a 1990 World Series win. Though it was the team's best season, it was only good enough to end in fifth place. In 1991, the Mariners had their first winning season, finishing 83-79. His defensive ability, hitting power, and baserunning speed would begin to change the Mariners' reputation.

Highlights of the early years included hosting the 1979 All-Star Game, Gaylord Perry's 300th career win, and promotions, such as "Funny Nose Glasses Night." In 1989, rookie centerfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. joined the team. Despite having stars such as Alvin Davis and Gaylord Perry, the team gained a reputation for their poor performance. The Mariners were added to the American League in 1977, and were for many years perennial non-achievers. They are in the Western Division of the American League.

The Seattle Mariners are a Major League Baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Peoria Mariners. Inland Empire 66ers
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
Everett AquaSox. San Antonio Missions.

Tacoma Rainiers. American League
. Pitching Strikeouts: 308 (1993) Randy Johnson. Pitching Wins: 21 (2003) Jamie Moyer.

Strikeouts: 176 (2002) Mike Cameron. Hitting Streak: 31 games (2001) Ichiro Suzuki. Stolen Bases: 60 (1987) Harold Reynolds. Triples: 10 (1987) Phil Bradley.

Doubles: 54 (1996) Alex Rodriguez. Runs: 141 (1996) Alex Rodriguez. Hits: 262 (2004) Ichiro Suzuki (Major League Record). Batting Average: .372 (2004) Ichiro Suzuki.

Runs Batted In: 147 (1997) Ken Griffey Jr. Home Runs: 56 (1997 & 1998) Ken Griffey Jr. Dave Valle. Dave Henderson.

Rick Rizzs. Ron Fairly. Dave Niehaus (1977-present). Mike Hargrove (2005-).

Bob Melvin (2003-2004, 156-168). Lou Piniella (1993-2002, 840-711). Bill Plummer (1992, 64-98). Jim Lefebvre (1989-1991, 233-253).

Jim Snyder (1988, 45-60). Dick Williams (1986-1988, 159-192). Marty Martinez (1986, 0-1 - Interim manager). Chuck Cottier (1984-1986, 98-119).

Del Crandell (1983-1984 93-131). Rene Lachemann (1981-1983, 140-180). Maury Wills (1980-1981, 26-56). Darrell Johnson (1977-1980, 229-362).

42 Jackie Robinson (retired throughout baseball). Omar Vizquel. Dave Valle. Kazuhiro Sasaki.

Alex Rodríguez. Harold Reynolds. Ken Phelps. John Olerud.

Jeff Nelson. Mario Mendoza. Tino Martinez. Edgar Martinez.

Mark Langston. Ruppert Jones. Randy Johnson. Rickey Henderson.

Dave Henderson. Carlos Guillén. Ken Griffey, Sr. Ken Griffey, Jr.

Rich Gossage. Freddy Garcia. Alvin Davis. Julio Cruz.

Mike Cameron. Jay Buhner. Chris Bosio. 13 Carlos García (first base).

15 Jeff Newman (third base). 41 Jim Slaton (bullpen). 34 Bryan Price (pitching). 25 Don Baylor (hitting).

  9 Ron Hassey (bench). Coaches

    . 21 Mike Hargrove. Manager
      .

      Gaylord Perry.