For a team that has only existed for 31 years, the Seattle Mariners have featured more than their fair share of all-time baseball greats. My all-time Mariner lineup features three surefire future Hall of Famers, plus two more that have a great shot to be enshrined in Cooperstown.
One legend every six years or so isn't bad—and helps make up for the team never reaching the World Series.
The Mariners have also had quite a number of underachievers; players that routinely broke fans' hearts and were on the roster just to frustrate the Seattle faithful. I'll throw in a few (highly subjective) dishonorable mentions as well.
Catcher: Dan Wilson
Dan the Man played the most games by far at catcher for the Mariners (1,237) and even managed to fit in a little offensive success here and there. Wilson made the All-Star team in 1996 and finished the year with a career-high 18 homers and 83 RBI. In the Mariners' all-time ranks, he stands fourth in games played, sixth in hits, fifth in doubles, and eighth in RBI.
Dan was a class act all the way—not to mention I always liked hearing Salt-N-Pepa's "Whatta Man" when he came up to bat.
Honorable Mention: Dave Valle
Dishonorable Mention: Miguel Olivo. He came over in the Freddy Garcia trade as a good catching prospect but hit just .176 in parts of two seasons for the M's. What makes Olivo more irritating is that he hit .304 in 2005 immediately after being traded to San Diego and has had decent success in the years since.
1st Base: Alvin Davis
The man known as Mr. Mariner was Seattle's first baseball star, making the All-Star team and winning Rookie of the Year honors in 1984. Davis played eight largely successful seasons in Seattle as a power threat who hit for a solid batting average. His name is sprinkled liberally throughout the Mariners' record books, ranking in the top five in at bats, hits, doubles, home runs, RBI, on-base percentage, and OPS.
Honorable Mention: John Olerud, Tino Martinez
Dishonorable Mention: Richie Sexson. Too soon? Sexson's ineptitude of the past year and a half completely negated the success of his first two years in Seattle. Anyone who prompts the Seattle fans to boo like they're Yankee fans must be doing something wrong.
2nd Base: Bret Boone
It's a tough choice between Boone and Harold Reynolds, who did play 352 more games in a Mariner uniform, but ultimately Boonie's outstanding performance in his Seattle years beat out Reynolds' off-and-on success over a longer period of time.
Boone ranks sixth in home runs, sixth in RBI, eighth in runs, fifth in slugging percentage, and eighth in OPS. He was a two-time All-Star, and his monster season of 2001 (.331, 37 homers, 141 RBI, 118 runs, 206 hits—all career highs) powered the Mariners to their incredible 116-win season.
Honorable Mention: Harold Reynolds, Joey Cora
Dishonorable Mention: No one stands out, really. Any suggestions?
3rd Base: Edgar Martinez
This is a somewhat questionable selection—not because of Edgar's contributions to the Mariners, but because he played three-quarters of his career as a DH.
19 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment
Prudence Miles 10 months ago
Mos, Boonie was so obviously juiced during those good years. But then, who wasn't? How about Luis Sojo for dishonorable mention at 2nd? I can't believe he left and won a WS with the Yankees. They used to play "Macarena" when he came to the plate.
Prudence
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Mosang Miles 10 months ago
He was just working out really hard, really! You make a good point, but he was an integral part of that Sodo Mojo. As far as Sojo, I still have a soft spot for him from his bases-loaded triple/homer in the one-game playoff of 1995. "Macarena" is a pretty bad at bat song.
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L.J. Burgess 10 months ago
Always liked Phil Bradley...Edgar was a great, great hitter.
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Raj Kamruddin 10 months ago
Too bad you guys have been biten by free agency. If Griffey, A-Rod, Unit had stayed, I believe Mariners would have eventually won the world series. That team was still young, and to think, A-Rod had not even fully reached his potential yet.
I also feel for Expos fans. They lost alot of star guys to free agency too.
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Nathan Blunck 10 months ago
when did vizquel play short for the mariners? i thought he went from cleveland to san francisco
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Mosang Miles 10 months ago
Vizquel played for Seattle for five years ('89-'93) and started his run of nine straight Gold Gloves in Seattle before getting traded to Cleveland for Felix Fermin and Reggie Jefferson.
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Nathan Blunck 10 months ago
wow. thanks for the info. learn something new everyday.
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Frank 10 months ago
I have to agree that Boone's stats may be a little questionable. What happened to him the year after 116? So if Beltre could actually get a hit, and you had to put Edgar in the DH (where he should be) what would you do about Buhner? Putting him at DH...come on.
Best at-bat song "Pasame la Botella" I forgot whose it is though
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Kevin Cacabelos 10 months ago
Who is better? Buhner or Ichiro? Ichiro. I think you could move Ibanez out and put Buhner in Left. And then put Edgar in his rightful place at DH. Who takes third base? The best option would be Adrian Beltre..
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Mosang Miles 10 months ago
Definitely Kevin, that would've been a good option—sort of an all-star "outfielder" approach. I just liked the idea of having an all-time left fielder who actually had played in left, due to the constant search for one over the years. Ibanez just seemed like the most consistent guy.
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Scott Taylor 10 months ago
I would put Vince Coleman on the team for being the fastest player ever in Ken Griffey Jr. winning run for i think Super nintendo. He didn't even play with Seattle the year the game went out but helped me win like 120 games with them
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Mosang Miles 10 months ago
I never considered that criteria...
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Amanda Erickson 10 months ago
wow!! Super great article! Always a pleasure to read your thoughtful and clear stories!
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Amanda Erickson 10 months ago
Hey Great Article Mosang! Sounds like a real dream team!
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karuna erickson 10 months ago
thanks for writing an interesting and entertaining article, even for someone who knows very little about sports!
Karuna
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Greg Buschow 6 months ago
Good article. Sorry if this opens some wounds, but I am a Redsox fan. How bout an article about best and worst trades in Mariner history? It could be headlined by the Jason Varitek and Derrick Lowe for Heathcliff Slocomb! Just kidding you man, Good stuff.
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Mosang Miles 6 months ago
Thanks Greg. Don't even get me started on bad Mariner trades. That Varitek & Lowe for Slocumb trade definitely was a terrible one and still makes me cringe. I just hope last year's Erik Bedard deal doesn't turn out to be the worst yet!
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Andy Purvis 6 months ago
Hey Mosang,
Nice article, POTD
Don't even question yourself putting Edgar Martinez on this list. Big baseball fan here, long time player and coach here. Edgar was one of the finest right handed hitters I have ever seen. Sweet swing, great eye, great plate discipline, hit for power, hit to all fields, just the EPITOME OF A PROFESSIONAL HITTER!
Much to admire about Edgar and I hear he is an even better guy than baseball player.
I would pay money to watch him hit. Never did get the chance though.
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Mosang Miles 6 months ago
Thanks Andy for the comment and the pick! I agree, Edgar definitely belongs on this list. My only question was whether to put him at third base or DH. Either way, professional hitter definitely describes him. Luckily I got to see him a few times before he retired.
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