Mariners Opening Day: A Quick History Lesson

Happy Day After Mariners fans! With all of the pomp and circumstance behind us we walk into the always awkward post-Opening Day off day. All of the excitement of the start of the year comes to a crashing halt with no game on the calendar. At least this year we do so with a share of the A.L. West Division lead.

A vintage performance by “the King” and a 2-run Boomstick big fly off of defending Cy Young winner, Corey Kluber, earned the M’s a check mark in the WIN column last night. Edwin Diaz did what he does from time to time gave us a heart attack. But he eventually shut the door and just like that, the 2018 season is underway.

As I watched last night, I couldn’t help but think back on the many memorable Opening Day experiences I’ve had as a Mariners fan. No matter how good or bad the team was expected to be, excitement filled the air on each of those days. Hope was never absent. Just as the flowers would regain their blooms and come to life with the coming of spring, so too would the game of baseball.

Many of the recent memories involve “the King.” Eleven to be exact. In fact, all my four kids know about Opening Day is Felix will be on the bump. I refuse to acknowledge the fact Erik Bedard was ever a Mariner… especially when Adam Jones hits walk off home runs like he did last night. As for me, the fondest memories I have involve “the Kid.”

15 Jul 1997: Center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. of the Seattle Mariners swings at the ball during a game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum. /

If you’ve been a Mariners fan as long as I have, you likely know (or maybe not) we own a piece of MLB Opening Day history here in Seattle. Well, maybe “we” don’t, but the greatest player to dawn a Mariners jersey does. Our beloved Ken Griffey Jr sits atop the record books for the most Opening Day home runs hit by a single player. Just as fellow record holders Frank Robinson and former Cincinnati Reds teammate Adam Dunn did, Junior walked to the plate eight times on Opening Day only to send a souvenir into the bleachers. “The Kid” loved that first day of the season.

Ironic side note: Griffey could have been all alone at the top of that list had his first home of the 2004 season come on Opening Day. Instead, he was not in the Cincinnati Reds Opening Day lineup that year, then homered in game 2, his first game of the season.

As Mariners fans, we’d love to see Junior up there on his own with that 9^th Opening Day home run. But consider this; all eight of his Opening Day home runs came as a Mariner, so this is one piece of Ken Griffey Jr history – and MLB history – we don’t have to share with Cincy (or the White Sox).

Now I have to admit, I didn’t come up with the idea of this article all by myself. MLB.com put out a piece yesterday on the best Opening Day moment for each ball club. For the Mariners they came up with Griffey’s record tying eighth Opening Day blast that came on April 6, 2009. Reason they considered it number one for the Mariners was that it just so happened to be Junior’s first game back in Seattle after a 9-year hiatus in Cincinnati and Chicago. If only it had been a home game, right?

An incredible moment none-the-less, one that will likely keep Griffey in the record books for a very long time. However, it got me thinking – what about the other seven home runs? Can you remember all of them? Well, here is a look at the other seven Opening Day long balls.

No. 1: April 9, 1990 @ California Angels

In his second MLB season, the 20-year-old Griffey and his Mariners were matched up against future Hall of Famer, Bert Blyleven. Hitting in the 2-hole between Harold Reynolds and Alvin Davis, Junior had himself a day. 4-for-5 with 3 singles and a 5^th inning, go-ahead 3-run home run that would prove to be a game winner.

No. 2: April 6, 1993 vs Toronto Blue Jays

After going hitless in his previous two Opening Days, Griffey stepped to the plate against another future Hall of Famer, Jack Morris. Now hitting in the 3-hole, Junior jump started the Mariners with a 3-run dinger in the bottom of the first inning. It was his only hit of the day, but that was all Mariners starter, Randy Johnson, needed as the M’s went on to win 8-1. Interested in Randy’s performance? How about 8 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, and 14 SO!

No. 3: April 27, 1995 vs Detroit Tigers

The 1994 baseball season was cut short due to a players strike that carried into the early part of the 1995 season as well. Despite the time away from the field, when things got going again in late April, Griffey did what he had grown accustomed to do. Facing Sean Bergman, Junior sent a 5^th inning pitch into the right field bleachers of the Kingdome giving the Mariners a 3-0 lead. The game would eventually end with the same score as “the Big Unit” once again pitched a gem (6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 SO).

No. 4 and No. 5: April 1, 1997 vs New York Yankees

This would be the only time Griffey jumped yard multiple times on an Opening Day. Going 2-for-4 on the day, a first inning solo shot and a third inning 2-run job led the Mariners to a 4-2 Opening Day victory over David Cone and the Yankees. Cone was the victim of both Junior blasts. Jeff Fassero got the win for the M’s while Norm Charlton got the save.

No. 6: March 31, 1998 vs Cleveland

In what would be the first time the Mariners lost when Griffey hit an Opening Day home run, “the Kid” sent another 5^th inning pitch into the seats. This one came off of right-hander, Charles Nagy. It wound up as his only hit on a night that saw a combined 19 runs scored between the two teams. Randy Johnson gave up six of the 10 runs scored by the Indians in his worst Opening Day outing as a Mariner.

No. 7: April 5, 1999 vs Chicago White Sox

In the final Opening Day game to ever be played in the Kingdome, the Mariners lost 8-2 facing James Baldwin (it was the only Opening Day start of his career). Junior however, continued his Opening Day home run streak and for the third year in a row he initiated a fireworks show high in the Kingdome rafters. Quick side note: On July 15, 1999 the Mariners had another Opening Day when they played the San Diego Padres in the first ever game at Safeco Field. Junior recorded one hit in that game – a double.

No. 8: April 6, 2009 @ Minnesota Twins

Before we get to the game itself, we have to look at February 10, 2000. Not a game day, but a painful day in my childhood. This was the day the Mariners traded Griffey to the Reds. I can think back and remember how heartbroken I was thinking I would never get to see Griffey in a Mariners uniform again. He was the greatest ballplayer of my generation. He was OUR ballplayer. Why did he have to go?

Fast forward to nine years later though, and all of us lifelong Mariners fans were treated to one more day in the sun with our “Kid.” Sure, the goatee was graying. The pant size was a little bigger – okay, a lot bigger. Scoring from first on a double down the line was a thing of the past. But the swing. The swing was still sweet. After nearly a decade away, Junior picked up right where he left off. In the 5th inning he took a Francisco Liriano 2-2 breaking ball over the tall right field fence of the old Metrodome. It would mark the fourth consecutive Opening Day as a Seattle Mariner that Junior would hit a home run and would tie the record for most home runs on Opening Day. /

So there you have it. Opening Days are special and often times special players perform well on the grand stage. Ken Griffey Junior was one of those players. “The Kid” I grew up watching provided many memorable moments. On days like yesterday, I enjoy reflecting back on my childhood remembering the excitement I felt on Opening Day. I also enjoy seeing my own kids watching their childhood heroes, creating memories with them that will forever live in our hearts.

Next: Felix, Mariners Win on Opening Day

Opening Day is more than just the start to a baseball season. It is a moment shared with friends, family, a community and heroes we call baseball players. As you slog through today, an off day for your Mariners, think back on your best memories as a fan of the game and be thankful we get to have days like yesterday.

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