Classic Mariners Games: Mariners 116th Win in 2001
Tune in to ROOT SPORTS tonight at 7:00 PM for an encore broadcast of the Mariners record-setting 116th win in 2001
Tonight’s featured Mariners Classics game is the Mariners 116th win in 2001 — October 6 vs. Texas. Follow the game tonight at 7:00 pm on ROOT SPORTS NW. A full schedule of classic broadcasts is available at Mariners.com/Classics.
On October 6, 2001, the Mariners accomplished a feat matched only one other time in baseball history — earned 116 wins in a single season.
With the 1–0 win over the Rangers, the Mariners matched the 1906 Chicago Cubs for the most wins ever in a season. The Mariners 116 wins set an American League record, surpassing the 1998 New York Yankees (114).
“And now Sasaki is set, and now the right-hander is to the plate with the 0–2 to A-Rod. Swing and a foul tip into the glove of Dan Wilson, who hangs onto it. And no baseball team in history has ever won more games than the Seattle Mariners!” — Dave Niehaus
Bret Boone belted his 37th home run of the season in the bottom of the 1st inning, and that proved to be all the offense the Mariners needed. It also marked Boone’s league-leading 141st RBI.
Denny Stark, Paul Abbott, Joel Piñeiro, Jeff Nelson and Kazuhiro Sasaki combined to shut out the Rangers while allowing only two hits. It was the only time the Rangers were held scoreless during the 2001 season.
The Mariners had one regular season game remaining after their 116th win, but let’s take a look at some of the records they set during the historic 2001 campaign, under the direction of ninth-year manager Lou Piniella.
The Mariners led the American League in batting, pitching and fielding, becoming the first team to lead the league in all three categories since the 1948 Cleveland Indians. The Mariners hit to the tune of a .288 team average while posting a 3.54 ERA and a .986 fielding percentage.
The Mariners led the Majors with 927 runs scored, while allowing just 627 runs, the fewest in the Majors. They became the third club in the last 13 seasons to lead the Majors in runs scored, while allowing the fewest runs in the league, joining the 1998 New York Yankees and the 1995 Cleveland Indians.
The Mariners were in first place all season, becoming the eighth Major League team ever to lead their respective division wire-to-wire, including the first in the AL West. Piniella became the first manager in baseball history to lead two wire-to-wire leaders (also: 1990 Reds).
Starting Lineup
- Stan Javier (S) LF
- Mike Cameron CF
- Bret Boone 2B
- Edgar Martinez DH
- Ed Sprague 1B
- Jay Buhner RF
- Dan Wilson C
- David Bell 3B
- Mark McLemore (S) SS
Denny Stark RHP
