Mariners Memories: This Date In Mariners History, Eric Wedge Hired

Welcome to a new segment on Sodo Mojo, which expands a bit on our Throwback Thursday series. We will, as often as possible, take a look at this date in Mariners history.

And starting with today’s date, we take a look back in the not-so-distant past as on this date in 2010, the Mariners hired Eric Wedge to be the new manager of the club.

The former Cleveland Indians skipper was the 2007 AL Manager of the Year while leading the Indians to a 96-66 season. In 2009 however, the fortunes had reversed and the Indians were 65-97.

The Indians fired Wedge after the ’09 season.

Was Don Wakamatsu unfairly treated by Jack Z? Credit: @DEgan4Baseball

He was hired by the Mariners to replace Daren Brown, the interim manager put in place on August 9th of that season once the M’s fired Don Wakamatsu.

Some people still feel that Wakamatsu was unfairly treated, that it wasn’t his fault the team was having such a hard time. Perhaps they are right.

But Wedge was the guy the M’s wanted and they got him.

In 2011, Wedge’s first season, the team finished with a 67-95 record. Wedge led the Mariners to an eight-game improvement in 2012 (75-87) and fans were hopeful for a winning 2013.

But it wouldn’t happen. The Mariners were 71-91 in 2013 and Wedge missed 28 games in July after suffering a stroke.

Wedge informed the club prior to the final weekend of the 2013 season that he would not be coming back to manage the club.

News later spread about clashes with management, GM Jack Zduriencik and others.

Needless to say, Wedge was either not the right man for the job, or the job wasn’t right for Wedge. Either way, it was a brief three year contract that began on this day, four years ago.

Tomorrow, we take a look back at a guy that walked away from almost $16 million. See you then.