Alvin Davis

Lore & Background

Davis was born and raised in Riverside, California, the youngest of four sons. His father died in 1970. He graduated from John W. North High School in 1978. He was selected in the eighth round (189th overall) of the 1978 MLB draft by the San Francisco Giants, but opted to attend Arizona State University and play college baseball for the Arizona State Sun Devils. He was later drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the sixth round (144th overall) of the 1981 MLB draft, but opted to stay in college and earned a degree in finance. After his senior season at Arizona State in 1982, he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the sixth round (138th overall). He played minor league baseball for the Lynn Sailors, Chattanooga Lookouts, and Salt Lake City Gulls. He made his major league debut on April 11, 1984, and homered in his first two big league at-bats. He holds the Mariners and MLB record for the most consecutive games reaching base to start a career, with 47. He was named the Mariners' MVP and voted American League Rookie of the Year in 1984. He hit a career-high 29 home runs in 1987 and had perhaps his best season in 1989, finishing second in the American League with a .920 OPS. He hit the last home run in Chicago's Comiskey Park on September 29, 1990. After eight years in Seattle, he signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the California Angels on February 14, 1992, and was released after only a half season. He then joined the Kintetsu Buffaloes of Osaka, Japan. In 1997, he was inducted into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame. In 2012, he returned to the Mariners as a roving minor league instructor.

In Their Own Story

The Kingdome hummed with a unique, muffled energy on a humid July evening. Alvin Davis stepped into the batter's box, adjusting his batting gloves with practiced ease. The crowd, a sea of green and navy, fell silent as he took a practice swing, the crack of the wood echoing against the vast concrete walls. He was 'The Cat,' moving with a fluid grace that belied his power. As the pitcher wound up, Davis didn't flinch; he simply waited, eyes locked on the incoming sphere. With a sharp turn of his hips, he connected, sending the ball soaring toward the distant outfield wall, a moment of pure magic that defined an era for Seattle.

Reader's Guide

Alvin Davis played first base and designated hitter. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. During a nine-year major league career, he batted .280 with 160 home runs and 683 RBI in 1,206 games. He hit 20-plus homers in three seasons and drove in over 100 runs twice. His highest batting average for a season was .305 in 1989. He was known for his patience at the plate, nearly averaging a walk per game in the minors. He was well-liked by fans and fellow players, with teammate Ed Vande Berg calling him "Mr. Everything on the offense" and Tommy John calling him a "modern-day George Scott."

Did You Know?

• Alvin Davis holds the Mariners and Major League Baseball record for the most consecutive games reaching base to start a career, with 47.
• Davis hit the last home run in Chicago's Comiskey Park on September 29, 1990.
• He was drafted three times: by the San Francisco Giants in 1978, by the Oakland Athletics in 1981, and by the Seattle Mariners in 1982.
• Davis never returned to the minor leagues after his one game in Triple-A in 1984.