Seattle Mariners history

Before major league baseball decided to place a franchise in Seattle, the city was a major AAA stronghold for the Pacific Coast League. The first attempt to get a franchise in Seattle failed when a bid by William Daley to move the Cleveland Indians to Seattle in 1965 was rejected by the league. In 1967, Daley won a franchise in the 1969 expansion. The new team was the Seattle Pilots.

 In 1970, the city of Seattle sued the American League for breach of contract after the Pilots relocated to Milwaukee. In 1976, the American League offered to give Seattle a franchise in return for dropping the lawsuit.

 On April 6, 1977, major league baseball returned to Seattle when the Mariners played the California Angles before a sellout crowd of 57, 762. The Mariners went on to lose the game 7-0 and finished their inaugural season with a record of 64-98. In 1978, the Mariners, under manager Darrell Johnson, finished in seventh place posting a 56-104 record. Outfielder Leon Roberts led the club with 22 home runs, 92 RBI’s and a .301 batting average.

 In 1979, the Mariners hosted their first all-star game and cheered for their lone star, first baseman Bruce Bochete. The National League won the contest 7-6 in front of 58, 905 Kingdom fans. The club finished the year 67-95.

 As the eighties began, Seattle Mariner’s fans saw the clubs first manager change when Maury Wills replaced Darrell Johnson on August 4, 1980. The club continued to struggle finishing the season 59-103. Outfielder Tom Paciorek led the team in home runs with 15, while relief pitcher Floyd Banister led the team with a 3.47 ERA.

 In 1984, Seattle’s first legitimate star arrived on the scene as first baseman Alvin Davis captured the hearts of Seattle fans everywhere. In 1984, Davis hit 27 home runs, drove in 126 RBI’s and had a .284 batting average. He was also named Rookie of the Year and to the 1984 All-Star team.

 In 1987, the Mariners posted their best record winning 78 games behind two young all-stars in pitcher Mark Langston and infielder Harold Reynolds. The dominate Langston was 19-13 with a 3.84 ERA, while the speedy Reynolds stole a club-record 60 bases.

 In 1989, a young player named Ken Griffey Jr. impressed new manager Jim Lefebvre during spring training, making the Opening Day roster and launching a new era in Mariners baseball. Junior made his mark on the Mariners instantly, hitting his first ML home run on the first pitch he saw in the Kingdom. Randy Johnson also arrived going 7-9 with a 4.40 ERA. The Mariners went 73-89 on the year.

 In 1990, Randy Johnson recorded the clubs first no-hitter on June 2, defeating the Detroit Tigers. Family history was next as Ken Griffey Jr. and Ken Griffey Sr. became the first father and son to play on the same team.

 In 1991, the Mariners for the first time finished the season above .500 with a record of 83-79.Though it was the best season the club had, manager Jim Lefebvre was fired and replace by Bill Plummer for the 1992 season. Ken Griffey Jr. was selected to play in his second All-Star Game and also brought the clubs first Silver Slugger Award.

 After the 1992 season, manager Bill Plummer was fired, Lou Piniella replaced him as the new skipper. Piniella immediately changed the face of the franchise by winning 82 games in his first season in 1993. On April 22, pitcher Chris Bosio threw the clubs second no-hitter.

 Around core players such as: Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez and Jay Buhner, the 1995 season was a historic one for the Mariners, as they won their first American League West title, defeating the Angels in a one-game playoff. In one of the most exciting postseason series, the Mariners faced off against the New York Yankees in the ALDS. Seattle overcame a 5-4 deficit in the 11th inning, scoring two runs on an Edgar Martinez double to left field to take the decisive game five. In the ALCS the Mariners lost to the up-and-coming Cleveland Indians four games to two.

 In 1996, Seattle earned a then club-record 85 wins, but took second in the AL West behind the Texas Rangers. The Mariners sent Ken Griffey Jr., Jay Buhner, Edgar Martinez, Dan Wilson and rookie shortstop Alex Rodriguez to the All-Star Game. Rodriguez took home his first Silver Slugger Award and the AL batting crown by hitting .358 with 36 home runs and 123 RBI’s.

 The Mariners returned to the postseason in 1997, winning the AL West with a franchise record 90 wins. Led by Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, Jay Buhner, Joey Cora and Dan Wilson, the Mariners faced off against the Baltimore Orioles. The Mariners were hurt by their pitching staff as they lost the ALDS three games to one. Ken Griffey Jr., won his first AL MVP Award, which was the first by any player in franchise history, while Edgar Martinez won the clubs first Designated Hitter of the Year Award.

 Due to lack of pitching, the Mariners had losing seasons in 1998 and 1999. Randy Johnson was traded to the Houston Astros after being inconsistent in the first half of the season. After the 1999 season, Ken Griffey Jr. requested and attained a trade to the Cincinnati Reds.

 With a fresh roster featuring pitchers Aaron Sele and Kazuhiro Sasaki, outfielder Mike Cameron and first baseman John Olerud, the Mariners embarked on their first full season in Safeco Field in 2000. The Mariners finished the season 91-71. Returning to the playoffs the Mariners captured a wild card berth, swept the Chicago White Sox in the ALDS and pushed the New York Yankees to game six in the ALCS, before losing four games to two. Kazuhiro was named Rookie of the Year and Alex Rodriguez won his fourth Silver Slugger Award.

 In 2001, star player Alex Rodriguez was lost to free agency. However, the Mariners rebounded by signing Japanese superstar Ichiro Suzuki and power hitting second baseman veteran Bret Boone. Despite losing Alex Rodriguez, the addition of Ichiro and a career season by Bret Boone helped the Mariners to the most successful season in the modern era. The Mariners cruised through the regular season easily winning the AL West and matching the previous MLB record for single season wins with 116, set by the 1906 Chicago Cubs. At the end of the season, Ichiro won the Rookie of the Year, MVP, and won the Gold Glove Award. Ichiro became the first player since the 1975 Boston Red Sox’s Fred Lynn to win all three awards. In the postseason, the Mariners defeated the Indians in the ALDS three games to two, but in the ALCS, the Mariners were defeated by the Yankees four games to one, in a series that was postponed due to the terrorist attacks of September 11.

 In 2002, the Mariners won 93 games, but didn’t make it to the playoffs. At the end of the season, manager Lou Piniella left the Mariners to manage his hometown Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The Mariners signed Bob Melvin to be the new manager.

 In 2003, the Mariners again won 93 games, but were ousted out of playoff contention by their rival Oakland A’s. General manager Pat Gillick became a consultant midway through the off season to make room for new general manager Bill Bavasi.

 Ichiro made history in 2004 by breaking a record that stood for 84 years. Ichiro passed the single-season record for hits set by George Sisler in 1920 with his 257th hit, ending the season with 262 while claiming the American League batting title with a .372 average. The Mariners struggled during the 2004 season despite the heroics of Ichiro, falling down to a last place with a 53-99 record. Following the season, the club dismissed manager Bob Melvin and replaced him with Mike Hargrove.

The Mariners continued to struggle in 2005 losing 90 games for the second season in a row as they finished the season with a 69-93 record. Ichiro became the first player in MLB history to begin his career with five straight 200-hit seasons.In 2006, Ichiro reached the 200-hit plateau for the sixth straight time, making him the first player to do so. The Mariners improved their record to 78-84 finishing 15 games out of first place.

 In 2007, Ichiro recorded his seventh consecutive 200-hit season. During the season manager Mike Hargrove announced this would be his last season managing the Mariners. On July 13, Ichiro signed a five year 90 million dollar contract that will extend to 2012. The Mariners finished the season with an 88-74 record. Adrian Beltre led the team in doubles (41) and home runs (26). Pitcher Miguel Batista led the team in wins with 16.