Remembering the 1995 ALDS: The Seattle Mariners and the New York Yankees

Sporting News ranked the top 10 MLB Playoff moments of the last 25 years this week. And guess which moment clocked in at number 5? The ‘double’, the ‘slide’, whatever you want to call it in the 1995 divisional series between the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners.

In the bottom of the 11th inning, the Mariners facing elimination, Joey Cora and Ken Griffey, Jr. are on third and first base, respectively. Edgar Martinez is at the plate. He rips a double down the left field line. Cora scores. Griffey rounded third and slid into home, just beating the throw and advancing the Mariners to the American League Championship series.

Really anything I say doesn’t do justice, watch the bottom of the 11th inning right now. I’ll wait. Also, if you have the time, listen to the Dave Niehaus tribute where he makes the call on the play at the plate. Even more, listen to My Oh My! by Macklemore and you can get chills for a third time in the last ten minutes.

In my unbiased opinion this moment in postseason history should be top 2 in the last 25 years. Not necessarily for its on-field implications (which were monstrous) but for that game’s, and that season’s impact on the Seattle Mariners organization.

The lease on the Kingdome was expiring, and the Seattle Mariners ownership was not willing to invest in the commissioning and building of a new ball park. At the end of that season, it seemed likely the Mariners would be moved across the country to Tampa Bay– they would’ve become the Devil Rays before the Devil Rays existed.

But this organization-defining series swaying the King County vote, and the city of Seattle approved the tax and the building of a new stadium: Safeco Field.

If it weren’t for this moment in postseason history: the double, the slide, the Kingdome, the Mariners wouldn’t be playing in Seattle anymore.

So many people refer to Safeco as the “house that Griffey built,” precisely because his game-winning run resurrected a relegated franchise.

My Oh My is right, Dave Niehaus. This playoff moment saved baseball in Seattle.