Seattle Mariners: Power Ranking Each of the Uniforms in Team History

It's been a long season in Seattle, as the Mariners have tried to kick-start the rebuilding process once again, but thus far have experienced mixed results.  

On a day-to-day basis, it's proven challenging to keep hope in the ballclub, read stories on the team or listen to the experts on the radio.  You try not to let the negativity get to you, but every so often someone says something that gets your attention. 

When Jay Buhner spoke on Tuesday to ESPN 710 on the Brock and Salk show to discuss the potential of resigning Ichiro after this season, Bone didn't pull any punches in declaring...  

"I'd vomit,'' Buhner said. "I mean, really, no offense. No offense, we've got to get this organization turned around. You can't be spending all the money on one guy.''

Fair point, but perhaps a bit over the top?

At any rate, Buhner shared a few other choice words in his discussion, but one particular statement struck a chord with me... 

"You need some people in there with a chip on their shoulder. Some people in there that are proud to wear the Seattle Mariners uniform. And I'm not seeing that as much anymore. Guys that are going in, heart breaking up. I mean, just play with an attitude, man, that's what I want to see. Guys that are enjoying what they're doing, playing with an attitude and getting better. Just get better. Show me some signs.''

It was the kind of statement that really cut to the heart of the matter with the current state of the M's.

What does it mean to wear the uniform?

As a change of pace I figured it might be interesting to power rank each of the Mariners uniforms throughout their history.  

Alternate Green: Present

Let's start at the bottom and work our way up, shall we?

Understand that this is my personal list.  I'm more than happy to debate the order of how I have each Mariners jersey listed, but this...this is worst.  

When I think of the color teal, it takes me back to junior high school.  A time and place most of us would prefer not to revisit for a variety of reasons, but one vivid memory is how so many teams during the early 90s decided this color was going to be distinctive.  

The Mariners, in keeping with the times, decided to join the fray by introducing their own teal jersey and wore it during a portion of the teams' glory years during the mid-1990s.  

Then, before long it was gone, until recently when the team decided to bring it back to use on occasion.

I'd hoped to never see it again, but can only hope that much like the last time, the team soon decides to bury it once more and hopefully for good.     

Away: 1987-1992

In 1987, the Mariners were only 10 years old when they made their third major change to their logo and uniforms.  

Up to that point, the M's had put together some colorful looks that depending on your perspective could either be seen as garish or stylish.

To me, the change in '87 was simply blah and largely forgettable.

While it was unique for the M's not have Seattle on the front of their jerseys, to me it looked like they didn't put much effort into the design.    

Home: 1987-1992

By comparison to their road equivalents, the home jerseys of the late '80s and early '90s looked a little bit sharper?

If it weren't for Ken Griffey Jr. wearing these unis during his early years, there probably wouldn't be too many fond memories of these jerseys.  

Beyond the Mariners lettering across the chest, which really popped against the white, there isn't too much to get excited about as the numbers were a flat blue on both the front and back with just a few thin stripes down the middle and on the pants.    

Away: 1977-1980

The original away uniform to me is a decent start for an expansion team entering the league in the late 1970s.

At the time, uniforms were really starting to get colorful and creative as teams moved away from the traditional white and gray.  

The baby blue with yellow accents, along with Seattle in a funky font done up in royal blue somehow works.  

Away: 1981-1984

In 1981, the Mariners' away uniform continued to evolve by taking the original look and amplifying the colors a bit more.  

To me, this is what you would expect of the mid-'80s with the bright yellow and baby blue working nicely together.  A few years later, the M's would abandon these for a gray version of the home uniform, but this is the uniform that most of us remember.   

Today, it looks ridiculous, but at the time I loved it.  

Alternate Navy Blue: Present

I love this uniform as an alternate in both the Seattle and Mariners versions the team has used in recent years.

It's almost a happy compromise of the past and present, as the M's go retro with a top that isn't white or gray, but stays tasteful within the team's current color spectrum and fonts on the letters and numbers.  

I'd seriously be tempted to push this up higher.

Road: 1993-Present

When the M's changed uniforms back in 1993, it finally seemed like the organization had grown up with a more sophisticated look.

It's kind of like when a friend of yours finally gets his act together by wearing clothes that look and fit right, thanks largely to someone either motivating or helping him to improve.  

It's not like you didn't root for him before, but now it's a little different and at the risk of sounding superficial you suddenly pay greater attention to him.   

The font, the colors and the logo were all a huge change at the time and while I'm still not a fan of teal, now almost 20 years later, for the M's it still works.  

Not sure how long the Mariners will keep this look, but I have yet to tire of it... 

Home: 1977-1980

For a sentimental fool, the original home uniform still works.

It's simple for the late 1970s, but from a nostalgia standpoint I like the trident, the lowercase letters and the numbers.  

Home: 1993-Present

The home uniform for the past 20 years has a clean and classic look.

At this point, I can't picture the M's making any major changes, but perhaps if and when the team is sold we will see a new look?

We've enjoyed some good times with these uniforms, yet after 20 years you have to wonder...

Home: 1981-1986

Okay, so they look ridiculous now, but I love them just the same.

This was the uniform I grew up with as a kid and it's still my favorite.

The fonts, the stripes and the hat are completely over the top, as if they took the original expansion uniforms and pumped them up with steroids by adding another layer of everything. 

While I would never advocate the Mariners go back to them full-time, I always enjoy when the team breaks them out on throwback nights.