Seattle Mariners

Quick Facts

  • Founded: 1977

  • Original Name/City: Seattle Mariners

  • Current Ballpark: T-Mobile Park

  • World Series Titles: 0

  • Franchise Nicknames: The M's

A History of the Seattle Mariners

Joining the American League as an expansion team in 1977, the Seattle Mariners experienced a difficult beginning, failing to post a winning record in their first 14 seasons.

The franchise's fortunes began to change with the arrival of a smiling superstar with a picture-perfect swing: Ken Griffey Jr. Griffey's immense talent and charisma put Seattle on the baseball map for the first time. Playing in the multipurpose Kingdome, the team slowly built a contender around him.

The defining moment for the franchise came in 1995. On the brink of relocation and trailing in the ALDS, the "Refuse to Lose" Mariners mounted a furious comeback against the New York Yankees. The series was won on a dramatic walk-off double by Edgar Martinez, a play simply known as "The Double" that scored a flying Griffey from first base.

The victory ignited the city's passion for baseball, secured funding for a new stadium, and is widely credited with saving the sport in Seattle.

The most successful regular season in franchise history came in 2001. Led by Japanese phenom Ichiro Suzuki, who won both Rookie of the Year and AL MVP, the Mariners tied the MLB record with an incredible 116 wins.

However, they failed to reach the World Series, and that season was followed by a 20-year playoff drought, the longest in major American men's professional sports. The drought was finally broken in 2022 on a walk-off home run by Cal Raleigh.

This ushered in a new, hopeful era for the club. The Mariners remain the only active MLB franchise to have never appeared in a World Series.

Franchise Timeline

  • 1977: Founded as an expansion team.

  • 1995: The "Refuse to Lose" team makes its first postseason, winning the ALDS on "The Double."

  • 1999: Moved into Safeco Field (now T-Mobile Park).

  • 2001: Won an MLB-record-tying 116 regular-season games.

  • 2022: Broke a 20-year postseason drought.

Legendary Players

Ken Griffey Jr. (1989-1999, 2009-2010)

  • "The Kid" was a cultural phenomenon whose grace, backwards cap, and beautiful swing made baseball cool for a generation. A Hall of Famer and one of the greatest centerfielders ever, he won the 1997 AL MVP and put the Mariners franchise on the map, inspiring a generation of fans in the Pacific Northwest.

Edgar Martinez (1987-2004)

  • One of the greatest designated hitters of all time, the beloved "Gar" played his entire career in Seattle. A two-time batting champion, he was known for his professional approach and consistent clutch hits, none more important than his series-winning hit in the 1995 ALDS. The award for the league's best DH is now named after him.

Ichiro Suzuki (2001-2012, 2018-2019)

  • A legend in both Japan and America, Ichiro arrived in 2001 and took the league by storm, winning MVP and Rookie of the Year. In 2004, he set the MLB single-season record with 262 hits. A master of bat control and a defensive wizard, he collected 3,089 MLB hits after a stellar career in Japan.

Randy Johnson (1989-1998)

  • "The Big Unit" transformed from a wild, hard-throwing lefty into one of the most fearsome and dominant pitchers ever while in Seattle. The intimidating 6'10" ace won the first of his five Cy Young awards with the Mariners in 1995 and was a key part of the team's rise to prominence.

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