The 2016 MLB playoffs are in full swing, and for yet another year, the Seattle Mariners will be watching from the comfort of their couches. 2016 was a familiar so close, yet so far season for the Mariners. The team ended with an 86-76 record, falling 3 games short of clinching a wild card spot, lengthening their playoff drought to a discouraging 15 years. Established in 1977, the franchise has produced only 13 winning seasons. With the franchise celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2017, it’s time to turn back the clocks and reminisce on the underwhelming 39 seasons.
The Team That Rose From A Lawsuit
Seattle was granted an MLB expansion team in 1969 after failing to relocate the Cleveland Indians to the Northwest. The Seattle Pilots played all of one season before being relocated to Milwaukee amid financial difficulties. After losing their professional team, the city of Seattle, King County, and the State of Washington filed a lawsuit against the American League claiming there was a breach of contract. The lawsuit went on for 6 years when, at trial, the American League offered Seattle an expansion team for the ’77 season if they agreed to drop the lawsuit. The owners of the new franchise decided on the name Seattle Mariners, incorporating the same color scheme from the Pilots.
Underwhelming Beginnings And Long-Waited Stability
The Mariners finished their inaugural season in the King Dome with a 64-98 record. Despite having all-star level players such as HOF pitcher Gaylord Perry and Rookie of the Year Alvin “Mr. Mariner” Davis, the Mariners didn’t have their first season above .500 until 1991. The first 15 years of the franchise was marked by losing records and perennial low attendance, all while concurrently dealing with constant manager changes and threats of relocation. In the middle of the 1992 season, the franchise was purchased from owner Jeff Smulyan by Nintendo chairman Hiroshi Yamauchi, which eventually brought some stability to the team. The next season the Mariners brought on Lou Piniella as manager, who had previously won the World Series as manager of the Cincinnati Reds. The Seattle fan base warmly welcomed Piniella as their manager, hoping he would lead the Mariners to winning seasons and playoff runs.
Playoff Berths And Record-Setting Seasons
Lou Piniella turned out to be a perfect match for the Seattle Mariners. Known for his fiery coaching style and animated arguments with umpires, Piniella led the team to their first postseason appearance in 1995, overcoming a 13 game deficit in September to steal the American League West pennant from the Los Angeles Angels. The Mariners again won the AL West pennant in the ’97 season and clinched a wild card playoff berth in 2000. The Mariners won the 3rd AL West championship in 2001 when they tied the record for most wins in a regular season, tying the record with the 1906 Chicago Cubs, finishing the season with an 116-46 record. In all 4 playoff appearances, the Mariners failed to make it to the World Series. During his tenure as manager, Piniella led the Mariners to their best seasons in history, won Manager of the Year twice, and reenergized the baseball fan base in Seattle
Looking Forward
After Piniella left the team in 2003, the Mariners once again entered into a time of mediocrity with sub-.500 records and low attendance. During this era, the team had seen several world-class players put on a Mariners jersey from Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr., and future Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki. Recently, the franchise picked up big name players like Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz in hopes to end their notorious playoff drought. In 2015, the Mariners, under new ownership, hired former MLB pitcher Jerry Dipoto as their new General Manager. Dipoto, with his championship outlook, went on to clean house for the Mariners, releasing all coaches except for 2 for the 2016 season.
With their winning 2016 season, the Mariners certainly have potential to make a run for the playoffs in coming years. With quality players, an invested fan base, and a new front office, it’s time for the Mariners make a name for themselves and create a winning era like they had in the late 90s.
