Seattle Mariners All-Time Lineup: The Best (and Worst) in M's History

There's no doubt about this one. Griffey is the greatest Mariner of all-time; a superstar who revitalized Seattle sports and pushed the Mariners to playoff success.  Griffey hit 398 homers in Seattle (tops in Mariners history) and ranks second in runs and RBI.  He made the All-Star Game 10 straight times in a Seattle uniform, won the 1997 MVP award with 56 homers and 147 RBI, and put the Mariners on the map.

Griffey's time with the Mariners ended somewhat acrimoniously, but chances are he'll always be the best player in Mariners history.  He will be a first ballot Hall of Famer.

Honorable Mention: Mike Cameron

Dishonorable Mention: Jeremy Reed.  Reed was a highly touted prospect when he came over from the White Sox in the Freddy Garcia trade and tantalized Mariners fans by hitting .397 over 18 games in September 2004.  Deemed the starting centerfielder for 2005, Reed hit just .254 for the season, and then struggled to a .217 mark halfway through 2006 before being banished to the minors.

Reed reappeared in Seattle this year and is hitting decently, so there is still hope for him to be the best product of the Garcia deal (though with Olivo and Mike Morse the other two prospects, that's not saying much).

LF: Raul Ibanez

Ibanez has actually played the most games at left field of anyone in Mariner history and is eighth in total games played for Seattle.  For years the Mariners struggled to find somebody to consistently complete the outfield along with Griffey and Jay Buhner: Kevin Mitchell, Rich Amaral, Glenallen Hill, Brian Hunter, and so on... They had a good shot with Jose Cruz Jr., but we all know how that turned out.

In 2004 the Mariners brought Ibanez back, and he's provided a steady bat—if not a real steady glove.  He ranks seventh all-time for the Mariners in home runs and RBI, plus ninth in runs scored and hits.

Honorable Mention: Phil Bradley.  In five years with the M's (1983-1987), Bradley hit .301, scored 346 runs, stole 107 bases, and even made the All-Star team in '85.  Not bad for a guy that I'd never heard of before today.

Dishonorable Mention: Al Martin, in yet another possibly unfair slight.  Martin is another player who came to the M's as a successful major leaguer and immediately slumped for the duration of his career in Seattle.

Martin was a deadline day pickup for the Mariners in 2000 but hit just .231 down the stretch.  He played a similarly ineffective season for Seattle in 2001.  Nothing's as maddening as mediocrity from a supposedly talented player.

DH: Jay Buhner

Lame, I know, but I had to do it.  I just couldn't leave Buhner off the team.  Bone was the fire on the Mariners and a powerful part of the offensive juggernaut of the '90s.  Buhner, third all-time in games played for Seattle, ranks third in home runs and RBI, as well as fourth in hits and runs scored.  He possessed the cannon arm in right field before passing the torch to Ichiro.

Honorable Mention: Ken Phelps.  He's the reason the Mariners got Jay Buhner.  Thanks Ken!

Dishonorable Mention: Jose Vidro.  Thank God that's over.

SP: Randy Johnson

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