The Mariners sign Orix Blue Wave’s Ichiro Suzuki to a three-year deal making him the first Japanese position player in major league history. Seattle agrees to pay $13 million to his former team for the right to negotiate with Japan’s best hitter.
2000 – The New York Yankees batter the Seattle Mariners, 8 – 2, to take a 2 games to 1 lead in the ALCS. Bernie Williams and Tino Martinez hit back-to-back home runs in the 2nd inning for New York, while David Justice has three RBI. Mariano Rivera breaks Whitey Ford’s record for consecutive scoreless innings pitched in postseason play with 33 1/3 scoreless frames.
In the season finale, Kazuhiro Sasaki sets the rookie record for saves by notching his 37th when he tosses 1.2 innings of scoreless relief in the Mariners’ 5-2 victory over Los Angeles at Edison Field. The 32 year-old Japanese closer surpasses Todd Worrell’s mark established in 1986 when the right-handed reliever played for the Cardinals.
The Ranger-Mariner game is delayed by rain due to Safeco Field’s retractable roof failing to close. The contest is continued after 54 minutes, giving the roof time to overcome its electrical problem and providing the groundskeepers an opportunity to dry the field.
2000 – In just 17.6 seconds, the Kingdome is demolished into a mound of rubble over 65 feet high thanks to 21.6 miles of detonation cord and 5,800 holes filled with gelatin dynamite.
November 2, 1999 Ken Griffey Jr., who wants to be nearer his family in Orlando, asks the Mariners to move him to a team that is closer to Florida. The superstar outfielder will get his wish in February when Seattle trades him to the Reds for Mike Cameron, Antonio Perez, and Brett Tomko,…
Mariner Ken Griffey Jr. joins Babe Ruth, Ralph Kiner, Duke Snider, Ernie Banks, Harmon Killebrew, and Mark McGwire as the only players to hit 40 homers in four consecutive seasons.
At the Kingdome, Rangers’ starter Mike Morgan beats the Mariners for the first time since 1980 when he hurled for the A’s. The interval of 19 years, eight months, and nine days is the longest span of time a hurler has gone between victories over one team.
Dennis Martinez announces his retirement
Ken Griffey, Jr. hits his league-leading 56th homer of the season and 350th of his career, becoming the youngest player ever to reach the milestone. The 28 year-old outfielder drives in five runs in the Mariners’ 15-4 rout of Texas, who still manages to cop their second consecutive American League West Division title thanks to an Anaheim loss to Kansas City.
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