Open for just over two decades in the Pacific Northwest, T-Mobile Park is home to the Seattle Mariners. In just the third game at what was then known as Safeco Field, third baseman Russ Davis hit the park's first homerun only to be outdone innings later when Raul Ibanez hit the first grand slam at Safeco in the same game. Fireworks to mark the dawn of a new era of baseball in Seattle and hopefully fireworks to cap off this 2023 season as the Mariners begin their campaign to win the AL East and more.
Just two years after the park opened, the 2001 Mariners set an American League record and tied an MLB record for the most wins in a single season with 116. The roster was bolstered with Mike Cameron after the departure of the beloved Ken Griffey Jr. and the emergence of international superstar, Ichiro Suzuki bursting onto the MLB scene after already dominating for years in Japan. The 2001 Mariners unfortunately joined the 1906 Cubs (also 116-game winners) as both teams failed to win the World Series to cap off their historic seasons.
The Tender Moments are ripe in Seattle, with icons like Ichiro and Ken Griffey Jr. getting carried off the field on Mariners teammates' shoulders at the end of the 2009 season. Mariners fans also have had other electric stars to root for in the time since. King Felix, Felix Hernandez, had his own section in the King’s Court where fans received K’s to flaunt the King’s numerous strikeouts throughout his thrilling starts. In 2022, the Mariners had perhaps one of the more exciting rookies in Julio Rodriguez and gives the M’s faithful more to cheer for as their team recently broke their postseason drought, playing playoff baseball for the first time since 2001. The 2023 season looks promising with young stars and Tenders helping chef up delicacies around the stadium.
The M’s look to return to the postseason and advance to the World Series this year. Their 2022 campaign ended against the hated albeit star-studded Houston Astros. We hope that working with our Tenders is just the edge the Mariners need to push themselves over the edge and etch themselves in postseason history, forever intertwined with Seattle, glory, & championships.
