The Five Most Important Hits in Seattle Mariners History

In Seattle Mariners' history, there have been dry spells (see 1980s) and hot streaks (see late 1990s and early 2000s). In most franchise-changing moments, the winning play can be traced to a single at-bat that changed the course of the game.

In this article, I have identified what I believe to be the five most important hits in Seattle Mariners history. Some of these are milestones accomplished by the franchise's most prestigious players. Others are single at-bats in which one man turned the fate of a series upside down.

When the greatest moments and accomplishments in Seattle Mariners' history are evaluated, certain moments stand out more than the rest. These five hits either started, ended, or added onto the greatest innings, games, and careers in Seattle Mariners history.

5. Griffey Hits His 400th Home Run as a Mariner – Apr. 15, 2009

Ken Griffey Jr. is undoubtedly the greatest power hitter in Seattle Mariners’ history. Griffey, whose first stint with the club resulted in 10 consecutive All-Star selections, 10 consecutive Gold Glove Awards, and an American League MVP, was the face of the Seattle Mariners franchise throughout the 1990s.

In 2009, Griffey agreed to a contract to return to the Seattle Mariners. The city was abuzz over Griffey’s return, and Nike and the Seattle Mariners immediately sponsored a clothing line titled “The Return,” with the date of the 2009 season opener and Griffey’s image on every item.

Griffey had left Seattle with 398 career home runs. Obviously, all those home runs had been hit with the Mariners (as he had not played for another team prior to his departure), leaving Griffey’s career home run total as a Mariner a franchise-record 398.

Upon his return, much anticipation built about Griffey hitting his 400th career home run as a Mariner. Griffey already held the record with 398, but his return excited fans about the possibility of Griffey accomplishing another career milestone as a Seattle Mariner.

On Apr. 15, 2009, Griffey hit home run No. 400 as a Mariner off of Angels’ starter Jered Weaver. Griffey’s 417 (and counting) home runs as a Mariner stands as a record which will not be broken any time in the near future. For perspective sake, the closest active Mariner to him on that list is Ichiro Suzuki, with 84.

4. Carlos Guillen’s Gamble – AL Division Series – Oct. 6, 2000

In the 2000 American League Division Series, the Wild Card Seattle Mariners faced AL Central Champions Chicago White Sox.

Seattle made quick work of the White Sox; however, winning the first two games of the series in Chicago, including an extra-inning victory in game one. With the Mariners holding a 2-0 series lead, the series moved to Seattle.

The game was tied 1-1 going into the bottom of the ninth. Following a John Olerud single and some small-ball tactics, the Mariners had a runner on third with only one out as Carlos Guillen stepped to the dish. Mariners’ manager Lou Piniella reportedly told Guillen to hit the ball to first baseman Frank Thomas, who was often a designated hitter instead of a fielder.

Taking the White Sox by surprise, Guillen drag bunted the ball down the first base line past Thomas, allowing the winning run to score (by none other than Rickey Henderson!), and vaulting the Mariners to the American League Championship Series.

3. Ichiro Hits No. 258 – Oct. 1, 2004

Ichiro Suzuki is one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. Period.

In 2004, Ichiro Suzuki chased down a record that some believed to be unbreakable: George Sisler’s 257 hits in a single season. The Seattle Mariners were far from competitive in 2004, finishing the season in last place in the AL West with a 63-99 record.

Ichiro, however, captivated the national sports scene with his pursuit of one of the most elusive records in baseball history.

On Oct. 1, 2004, Suzuki was tied with Sisler, on the precipice of breaking the record. In the third inning of a game against the Texas Rangers, Ichiro drove the ball up the middle for his 258th base hit of the season, breaking Sisler’s single-season record. Ichiro finished the year with 262 hits, a record which stands to this day.

More impressive than his 262 hits, however, was his performance in terms of monthly accomplishments and batting average. Out of the six-month season, Ichiro had three months with 50 hits or more, three months with a batting average over .400.

Additionally, Ichiro finished the year batting a career-high .372, and a mind-blowing .404 against left-handed pitchers.

Ichiro is the greatest contact hitter in Seattle Mariners history, and this accomplishment, so far, is the crowning moment of his career.

2. Luis Sojo’s Double – AL West Playoff Game - October 2, 1995

Despite being best known for driving in the winning runs for the New York Yankees in the 2000 World Series, Luis Sojo made his living in the Major Leagues with his glove.

Sojo, a career .261 hitter, played 102 games for the 1995 Seattle Mariners, starting 72 times at shortstop and amassing career-highs in runs (50), home runs (7), and doubles (18). His greatest performance of the1995 season, however, came in a one game playoff with the California Angels.

The Seattle Mariners and California Angels finished the 1995 regular season tied at 78-66 (the season had been shortened to 144 games). To determine the American League West Champion, the two teams played a one game playoff on Oct. 2, 1995.

The playoff game started as a pitcher’s duel, with Seattle’s Randy Johnson and California’s Mark Langston habitually shutting down opposing hitters. Langston, a former Seattle Mariners ace, had been traded in 1989 to Montreal in exchange for (ah, sweet irony) Johnson, and the two were their respective staff aces.

Seattle took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning, but the game remained close until the seventh inning. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Luis Sojo stepped up to bat with the bases loaded and two outs.

Had Sojo got out, the game would have continued in a 1-0 duel. Sojo, however, delivered one of the most clutch hits in Seattle Mariners history. Sojo ripped a double down the right field line, deflecting off of first baseman J.T. Snow’s glove and rolling near the Angels’ bullpen.

All three runners scored, and then Sojo scored on the same play as a result of a fielding error (see the picture for him crossing the plate). The Mariners took a 5-0 lead and never looked back, winning the game 9-1, and clinching the first Division Championship and first playoff berth in team history.

Luis Sojo’s bases loaded double led the Seattle Mariners to their first playoff appearance, earned the Mariners their first division championship, and opened the door for possibly the greatest moment in Seattle Mariners history: defeating the New York Yankees in the 1995 American League Division Series.

1. “The Double” – American League Division Series – Oct. 8, 1995

In the 1995 American League Division Series, the Seattle Mariners were matched up against the New York Yankees. The Yankees took the first two games of the series, including a back-breaking extra-inning victory in game two, placing the Seattle Mariners in a 2-0 hole in a best-of-five series.

Seattle rallied by winning two consecutive games at home to force game five, in which the defining moment of Seattle Mariners baseball occurred.

In the top of the 11th inning, the New York Yankees took a one-run lead on a Randy Velarde single, putting the Yankees three outs away from a spot in the American League Championship Series. The Mariners quickly answered, however.

In the bottom of the 11th, leadoff hitter Joey Cora dropped down a bunt single, followed by a single to center field by Ken Griffey Jr., placing runners on first and third for designated hitter Edgar Martinez. Martinez ripped a double down the left field line, easily scoring Joey Cora from third base.

Griffey sprinted around third and beat the throw to the plate, scoring the winning run in the bottom of the eleventh inning, and sending the Seattle Mariners to the American League Championship Series for the first time in franchise history.

This play has been credited with saving baseball in Seattle, as rumors of relocation had been rampant in Seattle prior to and during the 1995 season.

Additionally, this play is credited with sparking the fan base in Seattle and prompting the city to allocate funding for a new stadium, now known as Safeco Field.

For those mariners fans who want to feel the chills again, copy and paste this URL into your browser: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dave_Niehaus_Winning_Call_1995_AL_Division_Series.ogg]

Conclusion

That's it for the greatest hits in Seattle Mariners history. Do you think I missed any, or included any that shouldn't have been here? Let me know in the comments section!

Conclusion

That's it for the greatest hits in Seattle Mariners history. Do you think I missed any, or included any that shouldn't have been here? Let me know in the comments section!