With the Major League Baseball postseason just around the corner, I thought I would celebrate each of the franchise’s and their storied pasts by selecting an All-Time Team for every club.
The teams consist of one player per infield position (1B, 2B, SS, 3B, C), three outfielders, three starting pitchers, and two relief pitchers. Each American League squad also consists of a designated hitter.
The All-Time Teams will be in order, starting with baseball’s newest clubs (Rays and Diamondbacks) and conclude with the oldest franchise, the Atlanta Braves. Without further ado, here is part six of a 30-part series documenting each franchise’s all-time greats.
Seattle Mariners
First Base: Alvin Davis 1984-91
One of the Mariners first stars, Davis broke onto the scene during a phenomenal rookie year. He was named an All-Star for the only time during that 1984 campaign, winning the AL Rookie of the Year. After his career, Davis was inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame in 1997.
Second Base: Harold Reynolds 1983-92
During a 10-year career in Seattle, Reynolds became one of the top defensive players in the AL. He was named an All-Star for the first time in 1987, leading the AL in stolen bases. He was again named an All-Star again in 1988 while taking home his first Gold Glove Award. Reynolds won Gold Gloves in 1989 and 1990 and the Roberto Clemente Award in 1991 before leaving the Mariners after the 1992 season.
Shortstop: Alex Rodriguez 1994-00
One of the top players in MLB history got his start in Seattle, playing his first seven seasons there. During his second season, Rodriguez helped the Mariners win the AL West title and reach the playoffs for the first time. In 1996 he was named an All-Star and won a Silver Slugger while winning the AL batting title. Rodriguez helped Seattle win the AL West again in 1997, being named an All-Star for the second straight year. He was named an All-Star and won a Silver Slugger in 1998 and won another Silver Slugger in 1999. During his final season, Rodriguez helped the Mariners win the AL Wild Card title, being named an All-Star and winning his fourth Silver Slugger Award.
Third Base: Kyle Seager 2011-present
Currently in his eighth season with the Mariners, Seager had a career year in 2014, being named an AL All-Star and winning a Gold Glove Award.
Catcher: Dan Wilson 1994-05
One of just three players in team history to be a member of all four Mariners playoff teams, Wilson played 12 years with Seattle. He helped the Mariners win the AL West championship in 1995, 1997 and 2001 and the AL Wild Card in 2000, being named an AL All-Star in 1996. Following his career, Wilson was inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame in 2012.
Outfield: Ken Griffey Jr. 1989-99, 2009-10
Considered one of the greatest players of all-time, Griffey became a star during his first 11 seasons in Seattle. From 1990-99, he was named to 10 consecutive AL All-Star teams, winning 10 straight Gold Glove Awards and Seven Silver Sluggers (1991, 1993-94, 1996-99). Griffey won four home run crowns (1994, 1997-99), hitting a career-high 56 home runs in back-to-back seasons in 1997 and 1998. He was named the All-Star Game MVP in 1992, and also won four Home Run Derby titles at the All-Star Game. During a career year in 1997, Griffey led the AL in runs (125), total bases (393), slugging percentage (.646), home runs (56) and RBI (147), taking home the AL Most Valuable Player Award and helping the Mariners win the AL West. He also helped Seattle win their first AL West title in 1995. After being traded to Cincinnati, Griffey returned for the 2009 season, playing parts of two seasons before retiring. The Mariners all-time leader in home runs (417) was inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame in 2013 and had his famous No. 24 jersey retired in 2016. Griffey was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016, receiving the highest amount of votes (99.32%) in history.
MLB All-Star Game: Home Run Records Set, AL Beats NL 8-6 In Extra Innings
Outfield: Ichiro Suzuki 2001-12, 2018
Suzuki started his career off with a bang, winning the 2001 AL Rookie of the Year and MVP Awards, while winning a Gold Glove, Silver Slugger and being named an All-Star, leading the AL in stolen bases and batting average while helping the Mariners win the AL West championship and set an MLB single season wins record (116-46). He became one of baseball’s best players over the next decade, garnering nine straight All-Star selections and nine straight Gold Glove Awards until 2010. Ichiro also won two Silver Slugger Awards (2007, 2009) and three Fielding Bibles (2006, 2009-10), winning a second batting title in 2004 and breaking the MLB single-season hits record in 2005 (262). After being traded during the 2012 season, Suzuki returned to Seattle for part of the 2018 season before retiring.
Outfield: Jay Buhner 1988-01
A member of all four Mariners playoff teams, Buhner helped the team win the AL West championship in 1995, 1997, and 2001 and the AL Wild Card in 2000. He was named an All-Star in 1996, winning a Gold Glove Award. After a 14-year career in Seattle, Buhner was inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame in 2004.
Designated hitter: Edgar Martinez 1987-04
The longest tenured player in Mariners history, Martinez is first in team history in games (2,055), doubles (514) and runs (1,219), ranking second in hits, home runs and RBI and batting average. He was named an All-Star for the first time in 1992, winning a Silver Slugger and the AL batting title. He again was an All-Star, Silver Slugger winner and AL batting champion in 1995, helping Seattle win their first AL West championship. After another All-Star selection in 1996, Martinez was a Silver Slugger winner and All-Star in 1997 as the Mariners won the AL West title. He led the AL in RBI in 2000 while being named an All-Star and helping Seattle win the Wild Card. During the 2001 season, the Mariners broke the single-season wins record on their way to an AL West title, with Martinez garnering his sixth All-Star selection and fourth Silver Slugger. During the 2003 season he was named an All-Star and Silver Slugger winner for the final time and won the Roberto Clemente Award in 2004. A five-time winner of the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, the award was renamed the Edgar Martinez Award in 2004. Following his career, Martinez was inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame and his No. 11 jersey was retired.
Starting pitcher: Randy Johnson 1989-98
Before dominating the NL with Arizona, Johnson started in the AL with Seattle. He was named an All-Star for the first time in 1990, throwing a no-hitter against the Tigers on June 2, the first in Mariners history.. After All-Star appearances in 1993-94 and three straight AL strikeout titles from 1992-94, Johnson had a season to remember in 1995. Helping the Mariners win the AL West title, he was named an All-Star, leading the AL in strikeouts and ERA, winning the AL Cy Young Award. He was named an All-Star again in 1997, helping Seattle win the AL West before being traded during the 1998 campaign. After his career ended, Johnson was inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame in 2012.
Starting pitcher: Jamie Moyer 1996-06
Currently second on the Mariners all-time wins list (145), Moyer became one of the top pitchers in team history during an 11-year run. He helped the Mariners win the AL West in 1997 and 2001, setting the MLB single-season wins record (116-46) during the latter campaign. Moyer also helped Seattle win the AL Wild Card in 2000 and was named an All-Star in 2003 while being named the recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award. After his career, Moyer was inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame in 2015.
Starting pitcher: Felix Hernandez 2005-present
The Mariners all-time leader in wins (168), strikeouts (2,467), starts (403) and innings pitched (2,658), Hernandez has played his entire career in Seattle. He was named an All-Star for the first time in 2009, leading MLB in wins. Hernandez led the AL in ERA during the 2010 season, winning the AL Cy Young Award. He was named an All-Star every year from 2011-15, leading the AL in ERA again in 2014. Also, during the 2012 season, Hernandez threw a perfect game on August 15 against Tampa Bay, the first in club history.
Relief pitcher: Kazuhiro Sasaki 2000-03
The Mariners all-time saves leader (129), Sasaki made an immediate impact in Seattle, helping the team win the AL Wild Card in 2000, taking home the AL Rookie of the Year Award. Sasaki helped the Mariners win the AL West in 2001, setting the MLB all-time wins record, being named an All-Star for the first time. He was named an All-Star again in 2002 before returning to Japan following the 2003 campaign.
Relief pitcher: J.J. Putz 2003-08
Putz became one of the top relief pitchers in the AL during his six seasons in Seattle. During a career year in 2007, he led the AL in saves and won the AL Rolaids Relief Man Award.
Others considered: Robinson Cano, Mike Cameron, Mark Langston, Jim Presley
