When Ken Griffey Jr. enters the Mariners Hall of Fame Saturday, in a ceremony at Safeco Field prior to the first pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers, he will become the seventh individual inducted, following prior enshrinees Alvin Davis (1997), Dave Niehaus (2000), Jay Buhner (2004), Edgar Martinez (2007), Randy Johnson (2012) and Dan Wilson (2012).
Question is, who will be next? Each of the individuals listed below made major contributions to the Mariners franchise. Examine their brief bios — listed alphabetically — and let us know which player or manager should be enshrined next.
BRET BOONE (1992-93, 2001-05): During his second stint with the Mariners, Boone made two All-Star teams (2001, 2003) and nearly won the American League MVP award in 2001 when he hit .331 with 37 home runs and a league-leading 141 RBIs. He ranks seventh all-time on the Mariners list with 143 home runs and sixth all-time in slugging percentage (.478). His most notable game occurred June 4, 2001, when he went 4-for-5 with a career-high seven RBIs in an 11-6 win over Texas at Safeco Field.
MIKE CAMERON (2000-03): Cameron had the unenviable assignment of replacing franchise icon Ken Griffey Jr., in center field, but handled the job adroitly. An All-Star in 2001, he delivered his biggest game for Seattle May 2, 2002, when he tied the major league record with four home runs at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Another signature moment: On Aug. 1, 2000, Cameron ended a 19-inning contest with Boston at Safeco Field with a walk-off home run off former Mariner Jeff Fassero, giving Seattle a 5-4 victory.
FREDDY GARCIA (1999-04): “The Chief” still ranks fourth in franchise history with 76 victories and is only one of only three Mariners pitchers (also Randy Johnson and Felix Hernandez) to lead the American League in earned run average (3.05 in 2001). Garcia made two All-Star teams with Seattle (2001-02) and was on the mound for the American League in 2002 when Commissioner Bud Selig called the game when both teams ran out of pitchers. The game ended in a controversial 7-7 tie.
MARK LANGSTON (1984-89): After finishing second to teammate Alvin Davis in the 1984 American League Rookie of the Year voting, Langston went on to post 74 wins in a Seattle uniform, still the fifth-highest total in club history. Langston led the AL in strikeouts three times — 1984 (204), 1986 (245) and 1987 (262). Langston, fourth all-time on the Mariners single-season strikeout list, won a career-high 19 games in 1987, when he represented Seattle in the All-Star Game.
JAMIE MOYER (1996-06): Acquired by the Mariners at mid-season in 1996 for outfielder Darren Bragg, Moyer went on to win more games (145) than any pitcher in franchise history. He is the only pitcher in club annals to twice win 20 games (20-6 in 2001; 21-7 in 2003) and in 2003, at age 40, became the third-oldest first-time All-Star in major league history. Moyer ranks first on the Mariners list in starts (323) and innings pitched (2,093) and third in strikeouts (1,239) and winning percentage (.625).
JEFF NELSON (1992-95, 2001-03, ’05): One of a handful of players to log three stints with the Mariners, Nelson appeared in 432 games, more than any other pitcher. Nelson represented the Mariners in the 2001 All-Star Game at Safeco Field and still ranks No. 3 all-time in career ERA (behind J.J. Putz and Felix Hernandez) with a minimum of 300 innings pitched, 3.26.
JOHN OLERUD (2000-04): Olerud hit .285 with 72 home runs and 405 RBIs in 702 games covering five seasons. Olerud put together his two best seasons for the Mariners in 2001-02 when he hit a combined .301 with 43 home runs. In two of his Seattle years, 2000 and 2002, he drove in more than 100 runs. One of Olerud’s notable performances occurred June 17, 2001, at San Diego when he hit for the cycle, concluding his big night with a dramatic, two-run, 464-foot home run in the ninth inning in Seattle’s 9-2 victory.
LOU PINIELLA (1993-02): By far the most popular manager in Mariners history, Pinella directed the club through its most successful stretch — 1995 through 2002 — when they made all four of their playoff appearances (1995, 1997, 2000, 2001). His 1995 club made up a 13-game August deficit to reach the postseason for the first time in franchise history, and his 2001 club won an American League record 116 games. Pinella won a record 842 games as Seattle’s manager and endeared himself to fans throughout the Pacific Northwest for his colorful and hilarious “meltdowns.”
HAROLD REYNOLDS (1983-92): One of seven players to appear in more than 1,000 games, Reynolds hit .260 over the course of his decade in Seattle, but mainly excelled defensively, winning Gold Gloves in 1988, 1989 and 1990. A two-time Mariners All-Star representative, Reynolds ranks third all-time in club history with 228 stolen bases. He holds the distinction of being the only No. 9 hitter in baseball history to lead a league in stolen bases — 60 in 1987.
KAZUHIRO SASAKI (2000-03): Seattle’s all-time saves leader with 129, Sasaki won the American League Rookie of the Year award in 2000 when he saved a franchise-record 37 games, a total he topped in 2001 when he saved 45 for the 116-win Mariners. Signed by Seattle in 1999 as an international free agent, the Tokyo native twice represented Seattle in the All-Star Game, 2001, 2002.
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15 Comments
Come ON, anything Brett Boone did in 2001 has to to be highly suspect.
No kidding. He turned into a suddenly high acheiving Big Head Todd, didn’t he?
Obviously, you’re right. But never prosecuted, much less proved.
It’s been kind of awkward to see Aaron Boone on ESPN offering opinions about the latest PED scandal hasn’t it? I realize he’s not responsible for his brother’s suspected transgressions but still……
Rick Rizzs
An argument can be made for all listed here and I’d love to see Langston and Reynolds. Get some players outside of the Pinella era in their HOF and both were solid contributors as well but of this list Lou deserves it the most. He got Seattle to think World Series. Something unheard of before her came here. Since Cammy’s last contract was with the M’s I’d say he’ll eventually get in also.
It would be nice to see some pre-1995 players, such as Langston and Reynolds make it, the guy who most deserves to go in next is Pinella.
Hate to say it but Lou and Moyer are the only two on that list that are worthy in my opinion. Some were just popular players and others were here for too short a time.
Truth be told, anyone after Piniella and Moyer should NEVER be in the Hall of Fame. The order needs to be: Piniella, then Moyer, then Ichiro, then Felix, then probably some new guy or some guy who has yet to even put on a Mariners uniform …
The only reason we didn’t include Ichiro and Felix is that they are still active.
Ichrio should definitely be on this list. Maybe Norm Charlton as well. The man had three stints as an M and was even a bullpen coach. He could play and was loyal to the club.
We limited it to retired players only. Of course, Ichiro will get in, as will Felix.
Ichiro should definitely NOT be on this list. By the Mariners own rules, he is not yet eligible for their Hall of Fame. This is a list, as you can see, of retired, eligible players. When Ichiro has been retired for three years, then he will be eligible and will be a worthy inductee.
Since this is only speculation and not anything official and we know Ichiro will eventually go and the fact his career is winding down I don’t see why not but that’s just quibbling. After listening to last nights game and hearing Rick Rizz emulate Tom Hutler’s introductions for the HOF entrants I’m wondering if the M’s might include him someday? His voice is synonymous with all things Mariners and he’s been there for like FOREVER.
“. . . But never prosecuted, much less proved.”
Correct, but certainly suspect. And this concept is why I’m surprised that memebers of the Players Union have taken so long to wake up to the fact the same brush is used to paint legitimate achievements as that of users. We won’t know about Brett or about a lot of the players that mey or may not have used. I think that is the ultimate tragedy of this era in baseball.