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Home , Brandon League, Charlie Furbush, Fernando Rodney, Hisashi Iwakuma, Jack Zduriencik, Jerry Dipoto

FOUR DECADES OF MARINERS Each month during the 2017 season, Mariners Magazine will highlight a different era to celebrate the club’s 40th Anniversary. In this issue, we’ll take a look at the 2011 through 2017 seasons. (Part 6 of 6) By Mike Gastineau

Coming off their second 100-loss Wilhelmsen went season in three years, the 2011 Mari- on to complete ners looked to turn the tide, hiring Eric one of the most Wedge as their new . After unusual no-hitters a slow start the team recovered and, in baseball history. despite a sluggish offense, was just The six 2.5 games out of first place on July 5. combined to throw Unfortunately, that’s when their season 114 pitches, strike went south in a hurry and was done in out nine and walk by a team-record 17-game losing streak. three en route to In 2012 their offense picked up a their no-no. little thanks to the addition of Kyle Just over two Seager to the lineup. Drafted by the months later, on Seattle in 2009, Seager made his Major August 15, Felix League debut in 2011 and by the start Hernandez threw of the new season was the Mariners the first perfect everyday . In his first full game in Mariners season, Seager .259 with 20 history. The King runs and 86 RBIs. retired 27 consecu- In an effort to accelerate a rebuild- tive Tampa Bay ing of the team Seattle elected to trade batters in a 1-0 the incomparable Ichiro in July, send- win. Hernandez is ing him to the for just the 23rd - a pair of minor league pitchers. In an er in Major League interesting coincidence the Mariners history to throw first three games after the trade were a . against the Yankees. Ichiro had three He was urged on hits for New York in the series. by a crowd of The two big highlights of the 2012 21,889 on a hot season both came on the ’s Wednesday afternoon. Earlier that on August 15, 2012, Felix Hernandez threw the first perfect mound. On June 8, season, in April, Seattle had been on game in Mariners history. The King retired 27 consecutive started an interleague game for the the wrong end of a perfecto at Tampa Bay batters in a 1-0 win. Mariners against the Los Angeles Field courtesy of White Sox pitcher Dodgers. At the end of the sixth in- Phillip Humber. It was the only time in sitting in a section that had come to ning, despite not giving up a hit, he baseball history that two perfect games be called “The King’s Court.” Another was removed from the game due to a were pitched in the same ballpark in innovative promotion, the idea was groin injury. Relievers Charlie Fur- the same season. hatched during the 2011 season. On bush, , , Among those in the crowd in nights when Hernandez pitched, fans and Tom August were approximately 1,500 fans who purchased specially priced tickets

32 MARINERS MAGAZINE TIMELINE were given a bright yellow T-shirt in the Mariners rotation. Another and a card with a “K” on it. A King’s successful player signed from Japan, crown perched atop the K. The fans all Iwakuma joined Seattle in 2012 after July 7, 2011 – Third baseman makes sat in a section down the left field line. a strong 11-year career as a starter in his Major League debut against the Angels. A throne was placed on the concourse Japan. He began his MLB career in the at the top of the section and fans took bullpen but had worked his way into turns sitting for photos. the rotation for good by July. Seattle struggled again in 2013, During this time, in the front office winning just 71 games and striking several changes occurred over a two- out a club record 1,353 times, and it year period to the management struc- became evident another change was ture of the team starting in late 2013 needed. The Mariners hired manager with the retirement of Chuck Arm- Lloyd McClendon for the 2014 strong. Armstrong originally joined Hernandez Pineda League campaign and bounced back with their the Mariners as team President in the best season in several years. They won 1983 offseason. He was not retained July 12, 2011 – Felix Hernandez, 87 games and were mathematically by new owner Jeff Smulyan in 1989. and Brandon League make AL All-Star team. alive for the second Wild Card playoff During Smulyan’s aborted attempt to 2011 – Mariners steal 125 bases during the regular berth on the final day of the season. move the franchise to in 1991- season, led by Ichiro’s 40. Seattle was bolstered by the ad- 92, Armstrong was asked by then-U.S. 2011 – Team sets club record with a 17-game losing dition of free agent Robinson Canó, Senator Slade Gorton to work as a streak, from July 6-26. who signed a 10-year deal with the behind-the-scenes consultant to the 2011 – Closer Brandon League records a team high team during the offseason. Canó was a group that eventually bought the team 37 saves. five-time All-Star with the Yankees and and kept them in Seattle. He returned June 8, 2012 – Six Mariners, starter Kevin was selected to the as President in 1992. Kevin Mather, Millwood and five relievers, combine to team in his first year as a Mariner. who joined Seattle in 1996 as Vice pitch a no-hitter against Dodgers. In his third full season with the club, President of Finance and Administra- June 2012 – selected No. 1 in Seager continued to improve and was tion, eventually replaced Armstrong as the MLB Draft. rewarded with his first All-Star Game President and Chief Operating Officer July 2012 – named appearance and the AL Glove on Feb. 1, 2014. AL Pitcher of the Month. Award for third basemen. Then, in May of 2016, Howard Aug. 15, 2012 – Felix Hernandez throws first Hernandez anchored the pitching Lincoln announced his resignation as perfect game in Mariners history, beating staff with 15 wins and a career high Chairman and CEO. Like Armstrong, Tampa Bay, 1-0. 248 and was the start- Lincoln had played a huge role in the August 2012 – Felix Hernandez named AL Pitcher ing pitcher for the AL in the All-Star delicate negotiations between MLB of the Month. Game. also won 15 and the group that was put together to 2012 – Kyle Seager leads team with 20 HR, 86 RBI, games and was named an All-Star. By purchase the Mariners from Smulyan. 154 hits and 35 doubles in first full season now he had firmly established himself At the time he was the chairman of in Majors. Nintendo of America. In 1999, he was June 12, 2013 – Mike Zunino makes his Major Left to right: Kevin Millwood, , Stephen named CEO of the Mariners, replac- League debut against Houston; goes 1x4. Pryor, Lucas Luetge, Brandon League and closer Tom ing John Ellis. Lincoln was replaced by June 28, 2013 – Mike Zunino hits game-winning Wilhelmsen combined to throw 114 pitches, strike out nine RBI single in bottom of 10th to beat and walk three en route to their no-no on June 8, 2012. (continued on page 34) Cubs, 5-4. July 12-23, 2013 – Mariners off a season-best 8-game winning streak. Iwakuma Hernandez

July 16, 2013 – Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma named to 84th annual All-Star Game.

MARINERS MAGAZINE 33 (continued from page 33) 2013 – Lefty reliever Charlie Furbush leads the team with a career-high 71 appearances. John Stanton who joined the owner- ship group in 2000. Ibañez In addition, it was announced that Nintendo was selling its majority inter- est in the club to other members of the ownership group. As part of the deal Nintendo kept a small percentage of the team. The sale included the group’s majority interest in the regional cable network ROOT SPORTS, which was purchased by the Mariners in 2013. Back on the field, the 2015 Mari- ners welcomed free agent slugger Nel- son Cruz, who proved every bit his val- ue by adding significant production to the offense, leading the team with 44 home runs. However, Seattle couldn’t In 2012, his first full season, Seager hit .259 with 20 home sustain the success of 2014 team and runs and 86 RBIs. 2013 – Raul Ibañez (29), (23), Kyle the subsequent 86-loss season led to Seager (22) and Mike Zunino (20) all hit at the dismissal of both McClendon and weekend they were 28-18 and leading least 20 HRs. . the AL West. April 23, 2014 – Kyle Seager hits walk off home Zduriencik was replaced as GM by However, they lost 19 of their next run against Houston. who was the GM of the 27 games to fall back to .500 where June 2014 – Felix Hernandez named AL Pitcher of Angels from 2011 to 2015. Among they stayed for most of July. A loss to the Month. Dipoto’s first moves was the hiring of Boston on August 1 left them at 52-52 July 15, 2014 – Robinson Canó is selected to former MLB catcher as and in third place in the AL West. the All-Star Game in his first season with the team’s new manager. But a subsequent hot streak, in which Seattle; joined by Felix Hernandez, Fernando Their first year in Seattle was an they went 15-5, lifted them back into Rodney and Kyle Seager. eventful baseball rollercoaster, filled second place and in contention for 2014 – Mariners finish with 87-75 record; first time with twists and turns, ups and downs postseason play. since 2009 with winning record. and plenty of thrills. The Mariners The ride wasn’t over yet. They 2014 – Defense leads the way with an AL best .986 stumbled out of the gate, losing six ended August and began September fielding percentage. of their first eight games, including by losing 10 of 12 games, a disastrous 2014 – Pitching staff leads league and sets club their first five at home. They recovered collapse that seemed to erase all hope record with 3.17 ERA and .230 quickly, though, and by Memorial Day of reaching the playoffs. Improbably, average by opponents. one more time they got back in the Rodney The Mariners bolstered their offense with the addition of race with a 17-7 tear that left them free agent Robinson Canó in 2014. within a game of a Wild Card berth heading into the season’s final weekend. They were ultimately undone by a see saw 9-8 loss in 10 to Oakland on the final Saturday of the regular season. In the end, the 2016 team finished with an 86- 76 mark, a 10-game improvement from 2015. Power returned to 2014 – Closer establishes a club the Mariners offense record with 48 saves. in a big way, with nine 2014 – Raul Ibañez wins the for players hitting 12 or community service. more homers. Cruz led June 30, 2015 – Mike Montgomery tosses a one- the way with 43, Canó hitter at San Diego. added 39 and Kyle July 21, 2015 – Franklin Gutierrez hits pinch-hit at Detroit. (continued on page 36)

34 MARINERS MAGAZINE In 2016, (left), Robinson Canó July 31, 2015 – tosses a one-hitter and Kyle Seager all hit at least 30 home at Minnesota. runs. It was only the third time in team Iwakuma history with three 30 players.

on January 6, and while his induction was a certainty he made baseball history once again by being named on 99.3 percent (437 of 440) of the ballots submitted by the Baseball Writers Association of America, the highest percentage vote for a player in history. The Mariners season- long Junior party began on Opening Night when he (continued from page 34) threw out the game’s first pitch and Aug. 12, 2015 – Hisashi Iwakuma throws fifth received a long, warm standing ovation no-hitter in team history as Mariners defeat Seager hit a career-high 30 as the team from sold out crowd at Safeco Field. Baltimore, 3-0. finished second in the league in home On July 24, 2016, he was formally Aug. 16, 2015 – Robinson Canó collects five hits runs. The Mariners had three players inducted in the Hall of Fame becom- against Boston. with 30 or more home runs for the first ing the first Mariners player to enter 2015 – Nelson Cruz wins in time since Ken Griffey Jr., , baseball’s shrine. In a moving his first season with Seattle; hits career- and all did it in 1997. speech Junior allowed his emotions to high 44 home runs. Iwakuma led the pitching staff with show as he thanked his parents, his April 8, 2016 – 47,065 fans pack stadium for 33 starts, 16 wins and 147 strikeouts brother, his wife and his children. He at Safeco Field. in 199.0 innings. Hernandez tallied 11 thanked several former teammates and May 9, 2016 – Felix Hernandez earns this 146th wins, as he went on the disabled list stated that he believed Edgar Marti- career win, passing for the for the first time since 2008, miss- nez deserves to join him in the Hall. most wins in franchise history. ing June and much of July with a calf After thanking the two other teams he injury. He started just 25 games, his played for (the Reds and White Sox) he Díaz lowest career total, but went 7-4 after closed his speech thusly: returning from the DL. “Out of my 22 years, I’ve learned The Seattle organization spent the that only one team will treat you the entire 2016 season celebrating Ken best, and that’s your first team. I’m Griffey Jr’s Hall of Fame induction. damn proud to be a Seattle Mariner.” Griffey got the call from Cooperstown Two weeks later he returned to Seattle for a weekend long celebration Ken Griffey Jr. was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame that culminated in the club retiring his in 2016 with the highest percentage vote (99.3%) for any jersey 24, the first Mariners player in history. player to be so honored. During his thank you speech to fans at the cer- emony he addressed the 2016 Mariners who all watched the event from the top steps of the with their caps Aug. 2, 2016 – Rookie closer Edwin Díaz earns his appropriately turned backwards to first career , strikes out 3 vs. Boston in honor Junior. 1.0 inning. “Keep fighting,” he told them. “Be- Aug. 6, 2016 – Ken Griffey Jr. becomes first player cause we’re all rooting for you.” in franchise history to have his number The two-word phrase “keep fight- (#24) retired. ing” became a mantra for the team 2016 – Nelson Cruz (43), Robinson Canó (39) and over the final eight weeks of the season Kyle Seager (30) all hit at least 30 HRs, the and thoroughly tied the Mariners 3rd time in team history with three 30 HR greatest player to their current team. players. The 2017 season marks the Mari- 2016 – The bullpen strikes out a club record 550 ners fifth decade of existence. batters. 2016 – The Mariners offense averages 4.74 runs per Mike Gastineau is a freelance writer based in Seattle. He spent game, 3rd-best mark in the AL and 6th-best over 20 years hosting a local radio show, and is the author of in the Majors. two books.

36 MARINERS MAGAZINE