The Mariners were added to the American League in 1977, and were for many years perennial non-achievers. Despite having stars such as Alvin Davis and Gaylord Perry, the Mariners did not have a winning record until 1991.

By the mid 1990s, under manager Lou Piniella, the Mariners added a core of strong players built around center-fielder Ken Griffey, Jr., pitcher Randy Johnson and designated hitter Edgar Martinez. They won their first division title in 1995, having trailed the California Angels by 13 games in mid-August. Their dramatic championship run that year was halted in the ALCS by the Cleveland Indians. The Mariners won the division title again in 1997.

In 2001, despite the loss of superstar shortstop Alex Rodriguez, the addition of Japanese sensation Ichiro Suzuki helped the Mariners to have one of the most successful regular seasons on record, leading the major leagues in winning percentage from start to finish, easily winning the American League West championship, setting a new American League record for most wins in a single season (116), and matching the major league record for single season wins set by the Chicago Cubs in 1906. They pulled off a come-from-behind 3-2 series win over the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS to advance to the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees, but succumbed to the Yankees for the second year in a row in the ALCS, 4 games to 1.

At the end of the 2002 season, manager Lou Pinella left the Mariners to manage the Tampa Bay Devil Rays over the management policy of non-aggressive hiring. The Mariners signed Bob Melvin to be their new manager. Despite an excellent start to the 2003 season, the Mariners failed to make the playoffs.

The Mariners stayed competitive in 7 of the 9 seasons from 1995 to 2003. The 2004 season, however, saw the demise of the Mariners' dominance of their division. Although many of their players were aging, the Mariners continued an apparent practice of "content to contend," starting the 2004 season having not made a major deal in three years. Despite this fact, many experts figured the Mariners would be a contending team, but one that would not win the World Series. The team lost their first five games and went into the All-Star Break with a 9-game losing streak, a 32-54 season record (.372), and a 17-game deficit behind the first-place Texas Rangers.

After the All-Star break, the Mariners stopped ignoring that a crisis was on their hands, and started giving the team a complete overhaul, moving aging but proven players away from center stage and inserting over a dozen call-ups onto the 25-man roster. The Mariners' woes still continue, however, but instead of futile brooding on the aging of the team, the bad play can be improved through training of these young players, few who are even 25 yet. The season's end was enlivened by Ichiro's attempt to break George Sisler's single season record of 257 hits, and events to honor the retirement of Mariner stalwart, Edgar Martinez.

Ichiro Suzuki joined the Mariners in 2001

Players of note

Baseball Hall of Famers

Gaylord Perry

Current stars

Not to be forgotten

Chris Bosio (retired)
Jay Buhner (retired)
Mike Cameron (signed with New York Mets)
Alvin Davis (retired)
Freddy Garcia (traded to Chicago White Sox)
Ken Griffey, Jr. (AL Most Valuable Player Award 1997) (traded to Cincinnati Reds)
Randy Johnson (AL Cy Young Award 1995) (traded to Houston Astros, now with Arizona Diamondbacks)
Tino Martinez (traded to New York Yankees, now with Tampa Bay Devil Rays)
Jeff Nelson (traded to New York Yankees, now with Texas Rangers)
John Olerud (designated for assignment on July 15, released on July 23, signed with New York Yankees on August 3, 2004)
Ken Phelps (retired)
Harold Reynolds (retired, now with ESPN)
Alex Rodriguez (signed with the Texas Rangers, now with New York Yankees)
Kazuhiro Sasaki (returned to Japan)

Managers

Darrell Johnson (1977-1980, 229-362)
Maury Wills (1980-1981, 26-56)
Rene Lachemann (1981-1983, 140-180)
Del Crandell (1983-1984 93-131)
Chuck Cottier (1984-1986, 98-119)
Marty Martinez (1986, 0-1 - Interim manager)
Dick Williams (1986-1988, 159-192)
Jim Snyder (1988, 45-60)
Jim Lefebvre (1989-1991, 233-253)
Bill Plummer (1992, 64-98)
Lou Piniella (1993-2002, 840-711)
Bob Melvin (2003-present, 125-123 at 2004 All-Star Break)

Broadcasters

Dave Niehaus (1977-present)
Ron Fairly
Rick Rizzs
Jay Buhner
Dave Henderson
Dave Valle

External links

Seattle Mariners official web site (http://www.seattlemariners.com)
Top Forums Seattle Mariners Message Board (http://seattlemariners.topmlbforums.com/forums/index.php?act=idx)
USSMariner.com, a fan blog (http://www.ussmariner.com)

American League		National League
Major League Baseball
Anaheim Angels \| Baltimore Orioles \| Boston Red Sox \| Chicago White Sox \| Cleveland Indians \| Detroit Tigers \| Kansas City Royals \| Minnesota Twins \| New York Yankees \| Oakland Athletics \| Seattle Mariners \| Tampa Bay Devil Rays \| Texas Rangers \| Toronto Blue Jays		Arizona Diamondbacks \| Atlanta Braves \| Chicago Cubs \| Colorado Rockies \| Cincinnati Reds \| Florida Marlins \| Houston Astros \| Los Angeles Dodgers \| Milwaukee Brewers \| Montreal Expos \| New York Mets \| Philadelphia Phillies \| Pittsburgh Pirates \| San Diego Padres \| San Francisco Giants \| St. Louis Cardinals \| Washington D.C.
World Series \| All Star Game \| MLBPA \| Minor Leagues

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Seattle Mariners

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