FOUR DECADES of SEATTLE MARINERS BASEBALL Each Month During the 2017 Season, Mariners Magazine Will Highlight a Different Era to Celebrate the Club’S 40Th Anniversary
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FOUR DECADES OF SEATTLE MARINERS BASEBALL 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 manager. After unusual no-hitters a slow start the team recovered and, in baseball history. despite a sluggish offense, was just The six pitchers 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 third baseman. In his first full game in Mariners season, Seager hit .259 with 20 home 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 New York Yankees for just the 23rd pitch- 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 perfect game. 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 pitcher’s Wednesday afternoon. Earlier that on August 15, 2012, Felix Hernandez threw the first perfect mound. On June 8, Kevin Millwood 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 Safeco 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, Stephen Pryor, Lucas Luetge, Among those in the crowd in nights when Hernandez pitched, fans Brandon League and closer 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 Kyle Seager 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, Michael Pineda 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 Florida 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 American League 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 – Catcher Mike Zunino 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 – Starting pitcher Jason Vargas named appearance and the AL Gold 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 strikeouts 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. Hisashi Iwakuma 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, Charlie Furbush, 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 inning 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 run 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), Kendrys Morales (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. General Manager Jack Zduriencik. 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. Jerry Dipoto 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 Scott Servais as and in third place in the AL West.