Mariners Third Base: Bill Stein to Kyle Seager

1981-1989

In 1981, the baseball season was shortened because of a strike so the Mariners used several players at third base. One of those was veteran infielder Lenny Randle. He was a guy who once punched out his manager before coming to Seattle. While playing for the Mariners in 1981 he got down on his knees when a bunt occurred and he blew it foul. During 1981, he started 59 games. He batted only .231 with four home runs and 25 RBIs. In 1982, he started the season with the Mariners in a reserve role playing in only 30 games hitting .174. He was released by the Mariners on June 28, 1982. This was the end of Lenny Randle’s career.

Before the 1982 season, the Mariners acquired Manny Castillo from the Kansas City Royals. He was the starting third baseman that year for the Mariners playing in 130 games. He spent 1983 with the Mariners as well but only started 46 games. His batting average in 1982 was .257 however he only hit three home runs while driving in 49 runs. In 1983, he had no home runs. He was released the following year during spring training.

Jamie Allen, whom the Mariners drafted in the 2nd round of the amateur draft in 1979, was brought up in 1983 from Triple-A to play third base. He had some impressive minor league numbers though he didn’t hit a lot of home runs. He batted .223 for the Mariners along with four home runs. He spent two more years in Triple-A for the M’s; however, he never was called up again.

In 1984 the Mariners had three different players playing third base, including Jim Presley, who was drafted in the fourth round in the same year as Allen. The other two players who spent time at third base were Darnell Coles – another young player – and veteran Larry Milbourne.

Presley was a rookie that year. He hit .227 in 70 games; however, the next three years he hit with power and average. His batting average in 1985 was .275 while he hit 28 home runs while driving in 84. In 1986, he had 27 home runs with 107 RBIs. He had another outstanding year in 1987 where he hit 24 home runs and 88 RBIs. His batting average did go down to .247. His last two years with the Mariners 1988 and 1989 his power numbers did decrease. He was traded to the Atlanta Braves after that season.