On This Date: Mariners Play Inaugural Game
Throughout the 2017 season, the Mariners will commemorate the 40th anniversary of the club’s inception in 1977, celebrating four decades of team and individual accomplishments. From the Corner of Edgar & Dave will bring you a historical perspective of significant dates in Mariners history. We invite you to share your favorite memories of Mariners Baseball on social media this season using #Mariners40.
On this date 40 years ago, Major League Baseball returned to the Pacific Northwest.
The first Mariners game in Seattle was played on April 6th, 1977, in front of a sellout crowd of 57,762. In an historic twist Diego Segui was the opening day starter for the Mariners. On October 1st, 1969, Segui pitched the 9th inning of what would be the final game in Seattle Pilots history.
When the Mariners arrived on the baseball scene in April of 1977 they had a lot going for them. They played games in a nearly brand new stadium called the Kingdome. The building opened in 1976 and featured a thin shell dome that was the largest self-supporting concrete roof in the world allowing fans to watch their new team in climate controlled comfort.
U.S. Senator Henry M. Jackson threw out the ceremonial first pitch and Marni Nixon Jackson sang the National Anthem.
Once the game started, it didn’t take long for the club to collect it’s first hit in franchise history as second baseman Jose Baez laced a one-out single to right field off California left-hander Frank Tanana. Unfortunately, the Mariners had to wait for another day to collect their first win in team history.
Here’s a look back at a video that was produced before the 2016 opener.
With Darrell Johnson at the helm, this was the starting lineup that took the field for the Mariners inaugural Opening Night:
- Dave Collins DH
- Jose Baez 2B
- Steve Braun LF
- Leroy Stanton RF
- Bill Stein 3B
- Dan Meyer 1B
- Ruppert Jones CF
- Bob Stinson C
- Craig Reynolds SS
SP. Diego Segui
