Seattle Mariners

Lore & Background

The Mariners first fielded a winning team in 1991, and reached the playoffs in 1995, 1997, 2000, and 2001; the most successful period in franchise history. Led by Hall of Fame players Edgar Martínez, Ken Griffey Jr., and Randy Johnson, the Mariners clinched their first playoff berth in 1995 when they won their first division championship and defeated the New York Yankees in the ALDS. Martínez's walk-off double in Game 5 drove Griffey in from first base to win the game in the 11th inning, clinched a series win for the Mariners, served as a powerful impetus to preserve baseball in Seattle, and has become an iconic moment in team history. They would win their second division title in 1997. After Griffey, Johnson, and Alex Rodriguez left the team, the Mariners, bolstered by the signing of Ichiro Suzuki, won 116 games in 2001, which set the American League record for most wins in a single season and tied the 1906 Chicago Cubs for the Major League record for most wins in a single season. Following the 2001 season, the franchise entered a long period of mediocrity and would not make the postseason again until 2022. They won their fourth AL West division title in 2025, their first title since 2001. The franchise has finished with a losing record in 30 of 49 seasons, as of 2025. The Mariners are the only active MLB franchise to never appear in the World Series, holding the sport's longest active World Series appearance drought.

In Their Own Story

The lights hummed over Comiskey Park's old concrete seats as a late August night settled in during the early nineties. The air smelled of cut grass and popcorn. A White Sox batter stepped up against a Mariners pitcher known for his sinker, the crowd holding its breath. In that moment, under the floodlights, two franchises representing the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest clashed, not with hatred, but with the quiet intensity of teams striving to secure their place in history.

Reader's Guide

The Mariners were created as a result of a lawsuit. In 1970, after Bud Selig bought the Seattle Pilots and moved them to Milwaukee to become the Milwaukee Brewers, the city of Seattle, King County, and the state of Washington sued the American League for breach of contract. The name 'Mariners' was chosen by club officials in August 1976 from more than 600 names submitted by 15,000 entrants in a 'name the team' contest. The first home run in team history was hit in their fifth game on April 10, 1977, by designated hitter Juan Bernhardt. The Mariners did not post a winning record or finish above fourth place during their first fourteen seasons. In 1979, Seattle hosted the 50th MLB All-Star Game at the Kingdome. The Mariners were sold to California businessman George Argyros in 1981, who in turn sold the team in 1989 to a group led by Jeff Smulyan for $76 million. Nintendo of America bought the team after the dismal 1992 season. Before the 1993 season, the Mariners hired manager Lou Piniella. The 2001 Mariners finished with a record of 116–46 (.716), leading all of Major League Baseball in winning percentage for the duration of the season. At the end of the season, Ichiro Suzuki won the AL MVP, AL Rookie of the Year, and one of three outfield Gold Glove Awards. The Mariners had a 93-win season in 2002 but failed to make the postseason. On October 22, 2008 the Mariners announced the hiring of Jack Zduriencik as their general manager. Weeks later, on November 18, the team named Don Wakamatsu as its new manager. The 2009–10 offseason was highlighted by the trade for 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee, the signing of third baseman Chone Figgins, and the contract extension of star pitcher Félix Hernández. Griffey announced his retirement on June 2, 2010. The team flopped in 2010, finishing at 61–101 (.377). The Mariners fired Wakamatsu on August 9 and Daren Brown took over as interim manager. Dave Niehaus, the Mariners' play-by-play announcer since the team's inception, died of a heart attack on November 10, 2010. The Mariners hired former Cleveland manager Eric Wedge as their new manager on October 19, 2010. On April 21, 2012, Philip Humber of the Chicago White Sox threw the third perfect game in White Sox history against the Mariners in Seattle. Mariners starter Kevin Millwood and five relievers combined to throw the tenth combined no-hitter in MLB history, t

Did You Know?

• The Mariners are the only active MLB franchise to never appear in the World Series.
• The 2001 Mariners won 116 games, tying the 1906 Chicago Cubs for the Major League record for most wins in a single season.
• The name 'Mariners' was chosen from over 600 names submitted by 15,000 entrants in a contest.
• Félix Hernández pitched the first perfect game in Mariners history on August 15, 2012.