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Baseball Teams - American League West

Seattle Mariners

Team's name: Seatle Mariners League: American League Division: West Location: Seattle, Washington Nickname: The M's Mascot: Mariner Moose Team Colours: Navy Blue, Teal, Metallic Silver Joined the League: 1977 Team's President: Chuck Armstrong Manager: John McLaren General Manager: Bill Bavasi Baseball Field: Safeco Field Current Capacity: 47,116 First Year of Baseball: 1903 League Titles: AL Pennants: none West Div: 1995, '97, 2001 Wild Card berths: 2000 World Series: none

The Seattle Mariners, also known as the M’s, have been a professional baseball team since the 1977. The years before its establishment were tumultuous ones; Seattle had bid for a major league team, and it was only with the threat of lawsuit that the American League allowed the city an expansion franchise.

Seattle’s first decades reflected its rocky beginnings. Despite claiming a star-studded roster, the team struggled in its first years. The 1970s and 1980s saw poor performances, low attendance, and losing records season after season.

The Mariners were able to claim their first winning season in 1991, fourteen years after the franchise played its first game, at 83-79. In 1992, the team was purchased by Seattle businessmen, and in 1993, the team was made over: its current uniforms were adopted and manager Lou Piniella – who had led the Cincinnati Reds to a 1990 World Series title – was hired.

The mid 1990s saw the team on the rise. The 1994 season began with promises of victory, but as a result of a labor strike, the season was shortened. Nevertheless, the team was able to continue in the same vein in the next season. The Mariners defeated the Los Angeles Angels in a one-game playoff for first place in the division and moved into the AL Division Series against the New York Yankees. The Mariners defeated the Yankees after player Edgar Martinez hit a game-winning double off of Yankee’s pitcher Jack McDowell. Although the team lost the next series against the Cleveland Indians, “The Double” has entered Seattle lore.

The late 1990s were unsuccessful years for the Mariners, but the early 2000s signaled another turn of fortune. In 2000, Seattle claimed its first wild card berth, and in 2001, the addition of Japanese superstar Ichiro Suzuki and the career season of second base vet Bret Boone led the team to a record of 116 wins. (The season record tied with the MLB record set by the Chicago Cubs in 1906.)

In 2003, the team hired Bob Melvin as head manager. The team maintained a respectable record but were beaten to the playoffs by their division rivals, the Oakland Athletics. In 2004 to 2006, however, the team hit the cellar and seemed stuck there, despite a few roster changes.

In 2007, the team managed to finish second in the league with 88-74. (Suzuki also managed to make 200 hits for his seventh consecutive year.) 2008 was less successful, however. The team added Carlos Silva and Erik Bedar to the roster and also changed the coaching staff. Despite the changes, the team suffered offensively throughout the season. The Mariners finished with a record of 61-101.

Some of the franchise’s strongest players have been Ken Griffey in center midfield, Randy Johnson on the pitching mound, Edgar Martinez on third base, and Jay Buhner in right field.

Seattle Mariners 2009 Roster

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