Seattle Mariners facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Seattle Mariners
2025 Seattle Mariners season
Established in 1977
Team logo Cap insignia
Major league affiliations
American League (1977–present) West Division (1977–present)
Current uniform
Retired numbers	11 24 42
Colors
Navy blue, metallic silver, Northwest green, royal blue, yellow, cream
Name
Seattle Mariners (1977–present)
Other nicknames
The M's
Ballpark
T-Mobile Park (1999–present) Kingdome (1977–1999)
Major league titles
World Series titles (0)	None
AL Pennants (0)	None
West Division titles (3)	1995 1997 2001
Wild card berths (2)	2000 2022
Front office
Principal owner(s)	John Stanton
President	Kevin Martinez (President of Business Operations)
President of baseball operations	Jerry Dipoto
General manager	Justin Hollander
Manager	Dan Wilson

The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team from Seattle, Washington. They play in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the American League (AL) West Division. The team started in 1977 as a new expansion team. Their first home was the Kingdome. Since July 1999, the Mariners have played their home games at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

The name "Mariners" comes from Seattle's strong connection to the sea. People often call them the M's. This nickname was even part of their main logo from 1987 to 1992. The team's current colors are navy blue, Northwest green (a type of teal), and silver. They adopted these colors before the 1993 season. Before that, their colors were royal blue and gold. Their fun mascot is the Mariner Moose.

The Mariners did not have a winning season until 1991. They found more success in the late 1990s. This was their best time in team history. Star players like Edgar Martínez, Ken Griffey Jr., and Randy Johnson led the team. In 1995, they made the playoffs for the first time. They won their division and beat the New York Yankees in the ALDS. A famous moment happened in Game 5 when Edgar Martínez hit a "walk-off double." This hit won the game in the 11th inning. It helped keep baseball in Seattle and is a huge part of team history. They won their second division title in 1997.

After Griffey, Johnson, and Alex Rodriguez left, the Mariners signed Ichiro Suzuki. In 2001, they won 116 games. This set a new American League record for most wins in a season. It also tied the Major League record set by the 1906 Chicago Cubs. The team did not make the playoffs again until 2022. This ended the longest playoff drought in major North American sports.

The Mariners have had losing records in 30 of their 48 seasons. They are the only active MLB team never to have played in the World Series. This is the longest active World Series appearance drought in baseball. As of 2024, the Mariners' all-time win-loss record is 3,599 wins, 3,950 losses, and 2 ties.

Team History

The Mariners team was created because of a lawsuit. In 1970, the Seattle Pilots team moved to Milwaukee. The city of Seattle sued the American League. They believed baseball should return to Seattle. King County built the Kingdome, a large stadium, hoping a new team would come. The Seattle Seahawks football team started playing there in 1976.

The name "Mariners" was chosen in August 1976. It came from a contest where 15,000 people suggested names. Roger Szmodis of Bellevue, Washington submitted the winning name. The first home run for the team was hit on April 10, 1977, by Juan Bernhardt.

Ken Griffey Jr. holds many batting records for the Mariners.

In 1977, pitcher Diego Seguí became the only player to play for both the Pilots and the Mariners. The Mariners finished their first season with a 64–98 record. They did not have a winning record for their first 14 seasons. In 1979, Seattle hosted the 50th Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

After the 1981 season, the team was sold to George Argyros. He then sold the team in 1989 to a group led by Jeff Smulyan. Smulyan thought about moving the team to Tampa, Florida in 1992. But then Nintendo of America bought the team in 1992. Nintendo CEO Hiroshi Yamauchi owned 49 percent of the team. He had never been to a baseball game. He bought the team to thank Seattle for helping his company succeed.

Mariners logo, 1977–1979

Mariners logo, 1980–1986. Used for the 1979 MLB All-Star Game.

Mariners logo, 1987–1992

Before the 1993 season, the Mariners hired Lou Piniella as manager. He had led the Cincinnati Reds to a World Series win in 1990. Fans loved Piniella. He managed the team from 1993 to 2002. He won two American League Manager of the Year Awards.

The Mariners first won the AL West and made the playoffs in 1995. This happened even though star outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. missed much of the season. He broke his wrist crashing into the outfield wall. The team beat the California Angels in a special playoff game to win the division. The Mariners returned to the playoffs in 1997 and 2000.

The 2001 Mariners had an amazing season. They finished with 116 wins and 46 losses. This was the best winning percentage in Major League Baseball that year. They easily won the American League West division title. They broke the American League record of 114 wins set by the 1998 New York Yankees. They also tied the all-time MLB record for wins set by the 1906 Chicago Cubs. At the end of the season, Ichiro Suzuki won the AL MVP and AL Rookie of the Year. He also won a Gold Glove Award. He was the first player since Fred Lynn in 1975 to win all three in one season. The Mariners went far in the playoffs but lost to the Yankees in the 2001 ALCS. This was the team's last playoff appearance until 2022.

The Mariners won 93 games in 2002 but did not make the playoffs. Manager Lou Piniella was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays. The team won 93 games again in 2003 but still missed the playoffs. On October 22, 2008, the Mariners hired Jack Zduriencik as their general manager. On November 18, they named Don Wakamatsu as their new manager. The team made many player changes. They traded All-Star closer J. J. Putz to the New York Mets. They got five players in return, including Mike Carp and Franklin Gutiérrez. Seattle favorite Griffey Jr. also returned.

Inside the Kingdome (1977–June 1999)

Griffey Jr. retired on June 2, 2010, after 22 MLB seasons. The team did not do well in 2010. They finished with the worst record in the American League. The Mariners fired Wakamatsu on August 9, 2010. Daren Brown became the interim manager. Dave Niehaus, the Mariners' play-by-play announcer since 1977, died on November 10, 2010. Seattle rapper Macklemore wrote a tribute song called "My Oh My" for him. He performed it at the Mariners' Opening Day game on April 8, 2011. The Mariners hired Eric Wedge as their new manager on October 19, 2010.

On April 21, 2012, Philip Humber of the Chicago White Sox pitched a perfect game against the Mariners. It was the 21st perfect game in MLB history. On June 8, Mariners pitchers Kevin Millwood and five relievers threw a combined no-hitter. This was the first no-hitter in Mariners history. On August 15, Félix Hernández pitched the first perfect game in team history. He shut down the Tampa Bay Rays 1–0 at Safeco Field. This was the 23rd perfect game in MLB history. The Mariners became the first team to be involved in two perfect games in one season.

Zduriencik was fired on August 28, 2015. Jerry Dipoto was hired as the new general manager a month later. On October 9, manager Lloyd McClendon was fired. Scott Servais was named the new Mariners' manager on October 23.

Nintendo announced on April 27, 2016, that it would sell most of its ownership in the Mariners. It sold to First Avenue Entertainment, led by John W. Stanton. Nintendo kept a 10 percent share after the sale in August 2016. The team was valued at $1.4 billion at that time.

The team tried to win a championship with players like Robinson Cano, Félix Hernández, Nelson Cruz, and Kyle Seager. They came close but missed the playoffs. After the 2018 season, the team decided to rebuild. They traded many players for younger prospects. After a few tough years in 2019–2020, the team started winning again in 2021. They won 90 games but still missed the playoffs. In 2022, with new stars like Julio Rodríguez, J. P. Crawford, and Luis Castillo, the team made the postseason for the first time since 2001. This ended the longest playoff drought in major North American sports. Rodríguez also won the American League Rookie of the Year Award. In 2023, the team won 88 games but missed the playoffs by one game. In August 2024, Servais was fired as manager. He was replaced by former catcher Dan Wilson. The team again missed the playoffs by one game in 2024.

Team Uniforms

Ruppert Jones in the team's first uniform design

Early Uniforms (1977–1992)

The Mariners' first colors were blue and gold. These were the same colors used by the Seattle Pilots. For the first four seasons, they wore white jerseys at home. These jerseys had the team name and numbers on the front. The "M" in "Mariners" looked like a trident. On the road, they wore light blue jerseys with the city name. The letters were blue with gold trim. The trident logo was added to the left sleeve in 1979. The cap was all blue with a gold trident logo.

Floyd Bannister in the 1981 Mariners uniform

In 1981, the Mariners changed their uniforms slightly. The trident logo was replaced by blue and gold stripes on the shoulders. The letters had an extra blue outline. The numbers changed from rounded to block style. In 1985, the road jersey color changed to grey. The cap logo also had a small update to the trident. It changed to blue with white outlines and a white star background. This logo was first used for the 1979 All-Star Game.

Scott Bankhead in the uniform design from 1987 to 1992

In 1987, the Mariners switched to traditional button-up jerseys and belted pants. Both uniforms had blue piping. They also had a block "Mariners" wordmark in blue with gold and blue outlines. The numbers stayed blue but lost their trim. The cap logo changed to a gold "S."

Current Uniforms (1993–Present)

The Mariners started wearing their current uniforms in 1993. The white home uniform has "Mariners" in navy blue. It has trim in a dark teal color called "Northwest Green." It also features the "compass rose" logo on top of the "M." The grey road uniform originally had "Seattle" in navy with Northwest Green and white trim. In 2001, the compass rose logo was added to the "S." In 2015, a silver line was added to the letters and numbers. The main team logo is on the left sleeve.

From 1997 to 2000, the Mariners also wore sleeveless versions of their main uniforms. They wore them with a navy undershirt.

The Mariners have also worn Northwest Green alternate uniforms. The first green uniform came out in 1994. It had "Mariners" in silver with navy and white trim. The white trim was removed the next season for better visibility. The Mariners did not wear green uniforms from 1997 to 2010. Now, they wear them regularly. They are worn on some Saturday home games and on road games when the home team wears navy or black uniforms.

James Jones and Ben Gamel in the Mariners' current uniform design

The navy alternate uniform replaced the Northwest Green alternate in 1997. It had the team name in silver with Northwest Green and navy trim. In 1999, the alternates were updated to show the city name with the "S" behind the compass rose logo. This became their road alternate. In 2003, the silver piping was removed. The letter and number fonts were changed to match the wordmark. In 2012, the navy uniforms were changed again. They now have the city name in front and stylized letters. In 2024, the names changed to block lettering. This uniform is now worn for most road games.

A navy blue cap with a ball and compass rose "S" logo is worn with the home white, road gray, and navy blue jerseys. A version of this cap with a Northwest Green brim is worn with the home alternate jersey.

Robinson Canó in the Mariners' cream alternate uniform in 2016

In January 2015, the team announced a new alternate uniform for Sunday home games. This cream-colored uniform looks like an old-style jersey. It has the current logo and letters in royal blue and gold. These are the original team colors. The back of the jersey does not show the player's name. The cap has the current logo in the old colors.

In January 2019, the Mariners announced new home and away uniforms for spring training. The jersey looks like their home white jerseys. It has a light blue color, like the team colors from the 1980s. The cap is navy blue with a compass rose and a large "M" in the center.

For the 2023 season, MLB and Nike started a "four plus one" uniform model. This means each team has a home uniform, an away uniform, two alternate uniforms, and a City Connect uniform. City Connect uniforms have colors and logos that honor a team’s city. The Mariners confirmed they would use the navy blue jerseys as their standard away uniforms for the 2023 season. They also stopped using the light blue jerseys during spring training. These changes were made based on feedback from players and fans.

The Mariners' City Connect uniform celebrates Seattle's baseball history. The jersey has a patch with Mount Rainier and the letters "PNW" (for Pacific Northwest). It also uses the team's first colors. The word "Seattle" across the chest looks like the old Seattle Pilots uniforms. This jersey is worn with a cap that has a new trident logo and black pants. This uniform is mostly worn during Friday home games. The team wore the City Connect uniform more often in 2024 because they won many games in them. For the 2025 season, the Mariners are partnering with Nintendo of America again. The Nintendo "racetrack" logo is on the sleeve of the home jersey. The logo of the Nintendo Switch 2 is on the sleeve of the away jersey.

Spring Training

The Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona has been the Mariners' spring training home since 1994. They share the complex with the San Diego Padres. On March 25, 2013, the Mariners hit 52 home runs during spring training. This broke their team record.

Season Highlights

This section lists some important moments from recent Mariners seasons. For a full list, see here.

T-Mobile Park

T-Mobile Park has been the home of the Seattle Mariners since July 15, 1999. It was known as Safeco Field until 2018. On opening night, 44,607 people were there to watch the game against the San Diego Padres.

Mariners Hall of Fame

The Mariners Hall of Fame was created on June 14, 1997. It honors players, staff, and others who helped the Mariners team. It is located at the Baseball Museum of the Pacific Northwest inside T-Mobile Park. The newest member, Félix Hernández, was added on August 12, 2023.

Key

Year	Year inducted
Bold	Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
	Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame as a Mariner
Bold	Recipient of the Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award

Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame
Inducted	No.	Player	Position	Tenure
1997	21	Alvin Davis	1B	1984–91
2000	—	Dave Niehaus	Broadcaster	1977–2010
2004	19	Jay Buhner	RF	1988–2001
2007	11	Edgar Martínez	DH/3B	1987–2004
			Coach	2015–2018, 2024
2012	6	Dan Wilson	C	1994–2005
			Manager	2024
	51	Randy Johnson	P	1989–1998
2013	24	Ken Griffey Jr.	CF DH/OF	1989–1999 2009–2010
2014	14	Lou Piniella	Manager	1993–2002
2015	50	Jamie Moyer	P	1996–2006
2022	51	Ichiro Suzuki	RF	2001–2012, 2018, 2019
2023	34	Félix Hernández	P	2005–2019

Retired Numbers

Edgar Martínez DH, 3B, Coach Retired August 12, 2017 Ken Griffey Jr. OF Retired August 6, 2016 Jackie Robinson All MLB Honored April 15, 1997

The Mariners have strict rules for retiring a uniform number. To have a number retired, a former Mariner must have:

• Been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and played for the Mariners for at least five years, OR
• Come very close to being elected to the Hall of Fame and spent almost their entire career with the Mariners.

A player's number can only be retired after they have been considered for the Hall of Fame at least once.

Ken Griffey Jr.'s No. 24 was retired on August 6, 2016. Griffey was elected to the Hall of Fame that same year.

Edgar Martínez's No. 11 was retired on August 12, 2017. Martínez played his whole career with the Mariners. His number was retired before he was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2019. The number 11 was not given to anyone after Martínez retired as a player in 2004. He wore it again when he returned as a hitting coach in 2015.

Jackie Robinson's No. 42 was retired across all of MLB on April 15, 1997. This was 50 years after he broke baseball's color barrier.

Ichiro Suzuki's No. 51 will be retired by the Mariners in a ceremony on August 9, 2025. This is just days after his Hall of Fame induction. He has continued to wear the number even after retiring.

Randy Johnson will also have his No. 51 retired by the Mariners in 2026. Johnson played 10 seasons with the Mariners. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2015. The #51 was not used until 2001 when Ichiro Suzuki requested it. No other player has worn that number for the Mariners since Johnson. The Mariners announced on June 2, 2025, that they will retire 51 for Johnson in 2026. The exact date will be announced later.

Potential Retired Numbers

Some other players might have their numbers retired in the future. Adrián Beltré played for the Mariners for five seasons (2005–2009). He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2024. He wore number 5 and then 29. Both numbers have been used by other players since he left. The Mariners have not said if they plan to retire his number.

Lou Piniella's number 14 was not given to any uniformed staff after he left in 2002. It was given to a coach in 2016. Piniella has been close to being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The Mariners have not used number 19 since Jay Buhner left the team after 2001.

Number 00 is likely off-limits because the Mariner Moose mascot has worn it since 1997.

Team Culture and Traditions

"Louie Louie"

From 1990 to 2021, the Mariners played the Kingsmen's version of "Louie Louie" during the seventh-inning stretch. This happened after "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" or "God Bless America" was sung. The song was a popular hit in the Northwest. The tradition started to help the new team owners connect with fans. It became official on June 2, 1990, when the Kingsmen performed the song live. That same game, Randy Johnson pitched the first no-hitter in Mariners history.

For the 2022 season, the Mariners replaced "Louie Louie" with the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis song "Can't Hold Us". This change caused some debate among fans. The Mariners stopped playing "Can't Hold Us" after Macklemore's comments at a concert in September 2024.

Buhner Buzz Cut Night

In 1994, the Mariners started a fun event called "Buhner Buzz Cut Night." It was inspired by Jay Buhner's shaved head. Fans who shaved their heads before the game (or were already bald) got a free ticket and a T-shirt. The T-shirts had slogans like "Bald Is Buhnerful." Hair that was 10 inches or longer was collected for charity. This event continued until Buhner retired in 2001. The club brought back the event for its 30th anniversary in 2024. Buhner even gave catcher Cal Raleigh a buzz cut.

Rally Fries

Boston Red Sox fans holding a sign requesting rally fries.

Rally Fries were a baseball tradition started by Mariners broadcaster Mike Blowers in 2007. During a game, a fan spilled his french fries trying to catch a foul ball. Blowers's partner, Dave Sims, suggested sending the fan new fries. Blowers agreed.

At the next game, fans made signs asking Blowers for fries. Coincidentally, every time fries were delivered, the Mariners seemed to score or make a comeback. This is how "Rally Fries" began. It became very popular. Blowers usually picked a person or group who stood out. The fries came from Ivar's, a Seattle seafood restaurant at T-Mobile Park. The tradition ended in 2012.

JROD Squad

The JROD Squad honors Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez. This fan section is usually in the center field seats. Fans who buy tickets for the JROD Squad section get a T-shirt. The shirt shows a replica of a gold chain Rodríguez wears. Rodríguez often waves to the JROD Squad and throws them balls after innings.

Previous Fan Sections

Area 51

When Ichiro Suzuki played right field, those seats were often called Area 51. This was a nod to Suzuki's uniform number (51) and the secret government site.

King's Court

During the 2011 season, the Mariners created the King's Court. This was a special cheering section for star pitcher "King" Félix Hernández. For every Hernández home start, fans in the King's Court would sing, chant, and cheer. They wore yellow T-shirts and held up "K" cards (for strikeout) given by the team. The King's Court ended after Hernández left the Mariners at the end of the 2019 season.

Maple Grove

In 2017, fans created the Maple Grove. This celebrated Canadian pitcher James Paxton. When Paxton started a home game, a group of fans sat under a Maple Grove banner. They often had a potted maple tree, provided by the Mariners. When Paxton got two strikes on a batter, the Grove held up "Eh" Cards. This was a nod to Canada and the "K" cards from King's Court. The Maple Grove was created by fans, unlike the King's Court. The Grove continued until Paxton was traded in 2018.

Team Rivalries

Divisional Rivals

The Mariners had a long rivalry with the Oakland Athletics. They often battled for playoff spots in the early 2000s. Since 2013, the Mariners have also developed a rivalry with the Houston Astros.

Los Angeles Angels

The Los Angeles Angels have had an on-and-off rivalry with the Mariners. Both teams often fought for division control or a playoff spot. They clashed for playoff positions in the early 2000s. Recently, both teams tried to end long playoff droughts. Players like Julio Rodríguez and Ty France for Seattle, and Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout for the Angels, led their teams. The Angels lead the all-time series 400–341. They have not met in the postseason. In 2022, tensions grew after an Angels pitcher hit a Mariners batter. This led to a big fight and player suspensions.

Houston Astros

The Mariners and Houston Astros have fought for control of their division in recent years. In 2022, the Mariners returned to the playoffs. They won their first series since 2001. The Mariners and Astros then played in the ALDS. Houston swept the Mariners in 3 games. Recent games have seen fights and intentional pitches between players. The Astros lead the all-time regular season series 128–91. They have a perfect 3–0 record against Seattle in the postseason.

Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays are not in the same division as the Mariners. However, many Blue Jays fans from Western Canada travel to Seattle for games. Seattle is closer to Western Canada than Toronto. The Seattle Times estimated that Blue Jays fans made up about 70 percent of the crowd for a series in June 2017.

Interleague Rivals

The Vedder Cup

The Mariners have an unusual rivalry with the National League's San Diego Padres. This matchup was named one of 15 "naturalized rivalries" when interleague play began in 1997. The teams have played every year since, except 2017.

There is not much real hostility between the teams. They play in different leagues and are far apart. But they share a spring training facility in Peoria, Arizona. For many years, both teams struggled to make the playoffs. The Padres did not win a playoff series between 1999 and 2019. The Mariners did not make the playoffs from 2002 to 2021. This rivalry is seen as more humorous than bitter.

The rivalry has long been unofficially called the Vedder Cup. It is named after Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder. He considers both Seattle and San Diego his hometowns. He is also a fan of the Chicago Cubs. Starting in 2025, the rivalry was officially recognized as "The Vedder Cup." The winner of the series gets a trophy designed by Vedder himself.

Team Players

Baseball Hall of Famers

The following players who are in the Baseball Hall of Fame played for the Mariners.

Randy Johnson

Ken Griffey Jr.

Edgar Martínez

Ichiro Suzuki

Ford C. Frick Award Winners

State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame

Minor League Teams

The Seattle Mariners have six minor league teams. These teams help develop young players for the main MLB team.

Radio and Television

The Mariners' main radio station is KIRO-AM. It broadcast Mariners games from 1985 to 2002. In the past, games were also on KOMO and KVI. Television rights belong to Root Sports Northwest, which the Mariners own. Some Mariners games are also shown on Canadian television.

The Mariners made big changes to their broadcast team in 2025. Dave Sims, a long-time announcer, left in November 2024. Rick Rizzs is now the main radio play-by-play announcer. Aaron Goldsmith is the television play-by-play announcer. He works with a group of commentators, including Angie Mentink and former Mariners players.

Dave Niehaus broadcast for the Mariners from their first season in 1977 until he passed away in 2010. For the 2011 and 2012 seasons, other broadcasters and former Mariners players filled in for him.

Tom Hutyler has been the Mariners' public address announcer since 1987.

Team Records and Awards

Félix Hernández is the team leader in wins (169) and strikeouts (2,524)

Season Records

• Highest Batting Average: .372, Ichiro Suzuki (2004)
• Most Runs: 141, Alex Rodriguez (1996)
• Most Hits: 262, Ichiro Suzuki (2004) (Major League Record)
• Most Home Runs: 56, Ken Griffey Jr. (1997, 1998)
• Most RBIs: 147, Ken Griffey Jr. (1997)
• Most Stolen Bases: 60, Harold Reynolds (1987)
• Most Wins (Pitcher): 21, Jamie Moyer (2003)
• Lowest ERA (Pitcher): 2.14, Félix Hernández (2014)
• Most Strikeouts (Pitcher): 308, Randy Johnson (1993)
• Most Saves (Pitcher): 57, Edwin Díaz (2018)

Career Records

• Most Home Runs: 417, Ken Griffey Jr.
• Most RBIs: 1,261, Edgar Martínez
• Most Runs: 1,219, Edgar Martínez
• Most Hits: 2,542, Ichiro Suzuki
• Most Stolen Bases: 438, Ichiro Suzuki
• Highest Batting Average: .321, Ichiro Suzuki
• Most Games Played: 2,055, Edgar Martínez
• Most Wins (Pitcher): 169, Félix Hernández
• Most Strikeouts (Pitcher): 2,524, Félix Hernández
• Most Saves (Pitcher): 129, Kazuhiro Sasaki

See also

In Spanish: Seattle Mariners para niños