Opening day is upon us.
The Seattle Mariners 2022 campaign will begin Friday in Minnesota, but Wednesday marks the 45-year anniversary of the Mariners’ first game in franchise history.
Seattle lost 7-0 to the California Angels in front of 57,762 people at the now blown up Kingdome, April 6, 1977.
The city of Seattle hadn’t had a professional baseball team since 1969. The Seattle Pilots had only played one season before moving to Milwaukee. For that eight-year stretch, the city was left with nothing.
An expansion franchise, the Mariners were made up of players from an expansion draft similar to how the Seattle Kraken roster was created in 2021.
Pitching for the Mariners was Diego Segui, making his 600th major league appearance. He was a member of the Seattle Pilots and the most valuable player for them in 1969, but by the time he was making his Mariners’ debut, it had been two years since he last pitched in the pros.
Pitching for the Angels was Frank Tanana, one of the top pitchers from the previous season.
The Angels took the lead immediately, plating a run in the top of the first inning.
The first hit in franchise history for the Mariners came in the bottom of the first inning when second baseman Jose Baez connected for a single to short right-center field.
It wasn’t long before the Angels extended their lead to 6-0 by the end of the fourth inning.
Seattle had its chances in the game to score the first run in franchise history, but the Mariners left runners stranded on base all game.
The Mariners had to wait two more days to get their first win in franchise history. It was a 7-6 win over the Angels.
Seattle’s first year as a franchise ended with 64 wins and 98 losses. Despite the losing record, the Mariners finished a half-game above the Oakland Athletics.
Story was updated at 8:40 p.m. April 6 to reflect a weather postponement of the Mariners’ opening game.
