: The "Big Unit" dominated the mound during the 1990s, winning the franchise's first Cy Young Award in 1995.
The momentum reached a new peak in , when the Mariners won their first AL West title in 24 years. Cal Raleigh had a historic campaign, setting a new single-season home run record for catchers and switch-hitters with 60 blasts . The team pushed to within eight outs of the World Series before falling in a heartbreaking seven-game ALCS. The 2026 Outlook
The Seattle Mariners: A 50-Season Voyage from Expansion to Contender seattle mariners
As the Seattle Mariners navigate their historic in 2026, the franchise stands as a testament to both the "blinding power of affection" from its fans and a legacy defined by some of baseball’s most iconic individuals. From the lean expansion years of the 1970s to the record-shattering 2001 squad and the modern "Julio Generation," the M’s have carved out a unique identity in the American League West. A Legacy of Icons
After enduring a 21-year postseason drought—at the time the longest in North American major sports—the Mariners returned to the playoffs in 2022. This breakthrough was fueled by catcher , whose walk-off home run ended the drought, and center fielder Julio Rodríguez , the 2022 AL Rookie of the Year. : The "Big Unit" dominated the mound during
: "The Kid" arrived in 1989, instantly transforming the team’s culture with his backward cap and effortless swing.
Though the Mariners remain the only active MLB franchise to have never appeared in a World Series, they have been home to a staggering amount of Hall of Fame talent: The team pushed to within eight outs of
: His walk-off "Double" in the 1995 ALDS not only defeated the Yankees but is widely credited with saving baseball in Seattle by securing public funding for a new stadium.