Seattle Mariners Select Players In Expansion Draft

This date in Seattle Mariners history takes us to November 5th, 1976. On this day, 38 years ago, the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays each selected 30 players in the expansion draft.

The Mariners took outfielder Ruppert Jones from the Kansas City Royals with their first pick.

Jones batted .263 with 24 HR and 76 RBI in the inaugural campaign. He was also the Mariners’ representative in the 1977 All-Star Game. He was traded after the 1979 season and Jones – aside from one more All-Star season in 1982 – never really had the same type of success as he had in ’77.

More from Seattle Mariners History

• Why This 2022 Mariners Team Is Different Than Years Past
• Forgotten Mariners Friday: Outfielder Denard Span
• Forgotten Mariners Friday: First Baseman Bryan LaHair
• Forgotten Mariners Friday: Outfielder James Jones
• What If… The Mariners Didn’t Trade Michael Pineda?

The team as a whole, finished the 1977 campaign with a record of 64-98. They followed it up with a 56-104 season in 1978. Three of the club’s first seven season saw 100+ losses. It wouldn’t be until 1991 that the Mariners would have their first winning season and would wait until 1995 to make the playoffs for the first time.

Rumors of moving to Tampa and other locations popped up as early as 1983, reminding Seattle residents of what happened to the Seattle Pilots after their lone 1969 season in the Northwest.

But 38 seasons later, the Mariners are still in Seattle, still looking for their first World Series appearance. And fans are still hoping to taste a little of that success before the team turns 40.

But it all started, this day, in 1976. Tomorrow, we look back at a record-setting rookie.

Other things that happened on this day:

2013: Seems like yesterday, the Seattle Mariners name Lloyd McClendon as their next manager.

1996: Derek Jeter is unanimous Rookie of the Year winner.

2008: Greg Maddux wins his MLB-record 18th Gold Glove.