Bellingham Mariners

Minor league baseball team (1977–1994) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Bellingham Mariners were a Minor League Baseball team in the Class A-Short Season Northwest League, based in Bellingham, Washington. The club served as the Seattle Mariners' short-season affiliate from 1977 to 1994.

Quick Facts Minor league affiliations, Class ...
Bellingham Mariners
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass A-Short Season
LeagueNorthwest League
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsSeattle Mariners (1977–1994)
Los Angeles Dodgers (1973–1976)
Minor league titles
League titles (4)
  • 1977
  • 1980
  • 1986
  • 1992
Division titles (7)
  • 1977
  • 1980
  • 1981
  • 1983
  • 1986
  • 1992
  • 1993
Team data
Previous names
Bellingham Dodgers (1973–1976)
ColorsNavy blue, silver, northwest green
     
BallparkJoe Martin Field
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Bellingham
Bellingham
Location in the United States

History

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Major League Baseball returned to Seattle in 1977 with the expansion Mariners of the American League. Bellingham signed a player development contract with Seattle and adopted their parent club's identity, taking the name Mariners.[1] Bellingham had an agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1973 to 1976 and was called the Bellingham Dodgers.

Also referred to as Baby M's, the team would serve as Seattle's only affiliate in their inaugural season.[2] The Northwest League had two divisions, one for teams with affiliations and the other for independents. Bellingham won the affiliate division with a 42–26 record and played the Portland Mavericks for the league championship. In a best of three series, Bellingham and Portland split the first two games. The Baby M's held off the Mavericks by a score of 4–2 in the decisive game to claim the 1977 Northwest League crown.[3] Bobby Floyd earned the league's manager of the year award.[4] The Mariners continued their on-field success with nearly identical records, going 41–30 and 41–31 in 1978 and 1979, respectively.

In 1980, Bellingham amassed a 45–25 en route to a North Division title. The Baby M's faced the Eugene Emeralds in the league championship series, which they split during the first two games. The decisive third game was cancelled due to rain; as a result, the Mariners and Emeralds were named Northwest League co-champions.[5] The club witnessed a significant jump in attendance, with 42,292 passing through the turnstiles.

Seeking to repeat as league champions, the Baby M's claimed the north division in 1981. Bellingham faced the Medford A's in the championship series but were swept in two games. Two seasons later in 1983, with a roster that included future Hall of Famer Edgar Martinez, the Mariners claimed the division title with a 40–28 record. Bellingham was again defeated by a large margin by Medford in the championship series. In 1984 and 1985, the Baby M's posted mirror finishes at 39-35 taking second in the Washington division standings.

In 1987, 17-year-old Ken Griffey Jr. hit his first professional home run while on the road at Everett Memorial Stadium on June 18.[6] A plaque was placed on the sidewalk outside the stadium where the ball landed.[7]

Despite on-field success and a steady stream of Mariners prospects, the club struggled with poor attendance. Following the 1994 season, the Mariners ended their relationship with Bellingham.[8] Seattle moved their affiliation south to Everett were the team assumed a new identity as the Everett AquaSox. Everett, who had been affiliated with the San Francisco Giants, swapped with Seattle and moved their short-season affiliation to Bellingham. Bellingham assumed their parent club's moniker to become the Bellingham Giants in 1995.[9] The city government demurred on funding $100,000 in renovations to the team's ballpark amid the affiliation change.[10]

Ballpark

Bellingham played at Joe Martin Field, a venue with a seating capacity near 1,600. Since 1999, the ballpark serves as the home of the Bellingham Bells of the collegiate summer West Coast League.[11][12]

Season-by-season record

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More information Season, PDC ...
Season PDC Division Finish Wins Losses Win% Post-season Manager Attendance
Bellingham Mariners
1977 SEA Affiliate 1st 42 26 .618 Defeated Portland in championship series 2-1[13] Bobby Floyd 36,730
1978 North 3rd 41 30 .577 Bob Didier 29,739
1979 North 2nd 41 31 .569 Jeff Scott 31,741
1980 North 1st 45 25 .643 Tied Eugene 1–1 (Game 3 cancelled due to rain) 42,292
1981 North 1st 39 31 .557 Lost to Medford in championship series 2-0 21,390
1982 North 2nd 33 37 .471 17,211
1983 Washington 1st 40 28 .588 Lost to Medford in championship series 2-0 12,944
1984 Washington 2nd 39 35 .568 Gary Pellant 15,812
1985 Washington 2nd 39 35 .541 18,343
1986 Washington 1st 45 29 .608 Defeated Eugene in championship series 1–0 Sal Rende 14,916
1987 South 4th 30 46 .395 Rick Sweet 22,183
1988 North 4th 25 51 .329 15,015
1989 North 3rd 32 43 .427 31,685
1990 North 3rd 32 44 .421 52,461
1991 North 2nd 37 39 .487 Dave Myers 60,484
1992 North 1st 43 33 .566 Defeated Bend in championship series 2–0 68,928
1993 North 1st 44 32 .579 Lost to Boise in championship series 2-0 Mike Goff 74,900
1994 North 2nd 42 34 .553 71,256
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Source: Baseball Reference[14]

Division winner League champions

Hall of Fame alumni

Notable players

The following MLB all-stars played for Bellingham:

See also

References

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