Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park
Seattle, Washington, is home to one of the premiere teams in the American League West. The Mariners play at T-Mobile Park, which opened as Safeco Field in 1999, and currently seats 47,929 for baseball. Since 2016, the Mariners have been managed by Scott Servais. The Mariners have won three American League West championships, in 1995, 1997 and 2001, as well as wild card playoff berths in 2000 & 2022. Seattle has also hosted the Major League All-Star Game twice, in 1979 at the Kingdome, and in 2001 at what was then Safeco Field.
Seattle Mariners History
The Seattle Mariners first took the field in 1977, when a breach of contract lawsuit involving the Seattle Pilots' move to Milwaukee after one season ended with the awarding of a 13th American League franchise. The early Mariners did not record their first winning season until 1991, but they did enjoy some early highlights including the team's hosting a memorable All-Star Game in 1979, Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry winning his 300th game in 1982, and first baseman Alvin Davis winning the 1984 AL Rookie of the Year award.
The Mariners had their greatest period of sustained success in the '90s, under manager Lou Piniella and future Hall of Famers Randy Johnson, Edgar Martínez and Ken Griffey Jr. "The Double" — when Martínez drove in Griffey Jr. in the bottom of the 11th inning to clinch Game 5 of the 1995 ALDS — effectively saved the franchise, paving the way for T-Mobile Park to be built. Two very different Mariners teams reached the ALCS in the early '00s, with Alex Rodriguez leading a wild card–caliber team in 2000, and Ichiro Suzuki making his debut on a record-tying 116-win 2001 team. Although Seattle would lose both series to the Yankees, the Mariners have been competitive ever since, with such future Hall of Famers as Adrián Beltré and Félix Hernández leading the club in the '00s and '10s. After missing the playoffs in 2017 and 2018, the Mariners started on a youth movement under then-general manager Jerry Dipoto, with the hope of bringing Seattle success in the new decade and beyond.