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Where does this season rank all-time for the Mariners?

Christopher O'Day|
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Freddy Garcia hurls in the first inning of game two of the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees 18 October 2001 at Safeco Field in Seattle, WA. The Yankees lead the best-of-seven game series 1-0. AFP PHOTO/John MABANGLO (Photo by JOHN G. MABANGLO / AFP) (Photo by JOHN G. MABANGLO/AFP via Getty Images)
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Freddy Garcia hurls in the first inning of game two of the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees 18 October 2001 at Safeco Field in Seattle, WA. The Yankees lead the best-of-seven game series 1-0. AFP PHOTO/John MABANGLO (Photo by JOHN G. MABANGLO / AFP) (Photo by JOHN G. MABANGLO/AFP via Getty Images)
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Mariners in 1997
Seattle Mariners Ken Griffey Jr. watches his second home run sail out of the park 22 September against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, CA. The home run gave Griffey 55 home runs so far this season and only six short of tying the record of 61 in a season by New York Yankees player Roger Maris in 1961. The Mariners defeated the A’s, 4-2. AFP PHOTOS John G. MABANGLO (Photo by JOHN G. MABANGLO / AFP) (Photo credit should read JOHN G. MABANGLO/AFP via Getty Images)

#5: 1997 Mariners

I know that there are a lot of other Mariners fans in the same boat as me. I’m 33, so I’m the age where I actually got to grow up and see the Mariners being a good team and a semi-successful franchise. Remember, from 1995-2001, they made the playoffs in four of seven seasons.

We will get to 1995 later (sorry for the spoiler), but 1997 will always hold a special place in my heart. I can remember going out in the morning and standing in line to wait for playoff tickets with my dad. We went to the first two games in Seattle that year, watching Randy Johnson and Jamie Moyer pitch against the Orioles. I know we were rooting hard for the O’s over the last month, but I sure disliked those birds as a kid.

Even though they lost both of those games, it was one of the experiences that get burned into your memory. Something that will last your entire life, and cements fandom into your being. Has it been tough being a fan? Of course. Would I change it for anything? Nope. Not a chance.

This was the home run season. They broke the record for the most hit in a season, with every starter hitting 10+. When Joey Cora hits 11 homers in a season, you know something special is going on. Griffey won his sole MVP, Edgar hit .330/.456/.554, and the trio of Randy Johnson, Jamie Moyer, and Jeff Fassero went 53-18, with a combined 3.24 ERA.

Fassero kept the series going in game three by preventing the sweep, but during game four the offense failed to show up, and they lost 3-1 as their season came to an end.

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