History of the Seattle Mariners
Seattle's MLB team, born from a lawsuit, debuted in 1977.
The Seattle Mariners are a Major League Baseball team based in Seattle, Washington, and a member of the American League West. They were granted a franchise in 1977, but the team’s existence stems from a lawsuit filed by the city, county, and state after the Seattle Pilots—a 1969 expansion team—were sold and moved to Milwaukee in 1970, becoming the Brewers. In exchange for dropping the suit, the American League promised Seattle an expansion franchise, and a formal process also awarded a second team to Toronto, the Blue Jays. The new club began play in 1977 at the Kingdome, a multipurpose stadium built in anticipation of baseball’s return, and moved to Safeco Field (now T-Mobile Park) in July 1999.
The franchise’s origins trace back to earlier failed attempts to bring Major League Baseball to Seattle. A 1965 bid to relocate the Cleveland Indians fell through, and the Pilots themselves lasted only one season due to financial troubles. The Mariners’ ownership group, led by entertainer Danny Kaye along with several investors, paid about $5.5 million for the team. The name “Mariners” was chosen in August 1976 from over 600 suggestions submitted in a public contest, but the winner, Roger Szmodis of Bellevue, could never be contacted to claim his prize. The team’s first general manager, Dick Vertlieb, had preferred the names “Hustlers” or “Pros” and later expressed disappointment with the chosen name.
The Mariners played their first game on April 6, 1977, losing 7–0 to the California Angels before a sold-out crowd of 57,762 at the Kingdome. After another shutout, they earned their first win two days later, 7–6. The first home run in team history came on April 10 from designated hitter Juan Bernhardt. Pitcher Diego Seguí, in his final season, was one of several players to have suited up for both the Pilots and the Mariners, including Jim Bouton and Tommy Harper. The team finished 64–98, sixth in the AL West, narrowly avoiding last place. In 1979, Seattle hosted the All-Star Game at the Kingdome. Before the 1981 season, the team was sold to California businessman George Argyros for about $12.5 million, a sale approved unanimously by American League owners.
Throughout the late 1970s and the entire 1980s, the Mariners struggled, posting losing records and low attendance despite featuring stars like Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry (nicknamed the “Ancient Mariner”),
- founded
- 1977
- home_ballpark
- T-Mobile Park (formerly Safeco Field) since July 1999; Kingdome from 1977 to June 1999
- league
- American League, Western Division
- first_game
- April 6, 1977, a 7–0 loss to the California Angels
- first_win
- April 8, 1977, defeating the California Angels 7–6
- first_home_run
- April 10, 1977, by Juan Bernhardt
- notable_early_owners
- Danny Kaye (lead of consortium), later George Argyros, Jeff Smulyan, Hiroshi Yamauchi
Lore & Background
The Mariners were created after the City of Seattle, King County, and the state of Washington sued the American League for breach of contract following the Seattle Pilots' relocation to Milwaukee in 1970. The lawsuit continued until 1976, when the American League offered Seattle an expansion franchise in return for dropping the suit. The new team, to begin play in 1977, was owned by a consortium led by entertainer Danny Kaye. The name 'Mariners' was chosen from over 600 names submitted by 15,000 entrants in a contest; the winner, Roger Szmodis of Bellevue, could not be contacted for his prize.
The Mariners played their first game on April 6, 1977, a 7–0 shutout by the California Angels before a sold-out crowd of 57,762 at the Kingdome. The team finished its inaugural season with a 64–98 record, echoing the record of the 1969 Pilots. In 1979, Seattle hosted the 50th MLB All-Star Game at the Kingdome. The team struggled through the 1980s with losing records, despite stars such as Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry, 1984 Rookie of the Year Alvin Davis, and Ken Griffey Jr., who debuted in 1989. The Mariners achieved their first winning season in 1991 under manager Jim Lefebvre, finishing 83–79.
Reader's Guide
The Seattle Mariners represent a significant chapter in Major League Baseball's expansion history, emerging from legal action after the Seattle Pilots' abrupt departure. Their creation underscored the determination of local government and fans to retain major league baseball in the Pacific Northwest. The team's early decades were marked by persistent losing records and low attendance, yet they developed a core of talented players—including Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, and Edgar Martínez—that would later define the franchise. The Mariners' ownership transitions, from Danny Kaye to George Argyros to Jeff Smulyan and finally to a group led by Nintendo chairman Hiroshi Yamauchi, reflected broader trends in sports ownership and the globalization of baseball. The team's move from the Kingdome to Safeco Field in 1999 was influenced by structural issues at the old stadium. Despite their struggles, the Mariners have remained a fixture in Seattle, symbolizing the city's resilience and passion for baseball.
Did You Know?
- The Mariners were created as a result of a lawsuit filed by the City of Seattle, King County, and the state of Washington after the Seattle Pilots relocated to Milwaukee in 1970.
- The name 'Mariners' was chosen from over 600 names submitted by 15,000 entrants in a contest; the winner, Roger Szmodis, could not be contacted for his prize.
- Pitcher Diego Seguí is the only player to have played for both the Seattle Pilots and the Seattle Mariners.
- On September 14, 1990, Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. hit back-to-back home runs, becoming the first father-and-son duo to do so in the same game.
More in History of Major League Baseball by team 1-24
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