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Ranking the Seattle Mariners greatest seasons ever by Hitters

By Christopher O'Day

Seattle Mariners' Edgar Martinez(C) grimaces after he is congratulated by teammates Ken Griffey, Jr.(L) and Alex Rodriguez(R) after Martinez hit a first inning, three-run homer, against the New York Yankees in Seattle 26 May. Seattle defeated New York, 4-3. AFP PHOTO (Photo by DAN LEVINE / AFP) (Photo by DAN LEVINE/AFP via Getty Images)
Seattle Mariners' Edgar Martinez(C) grimaces after he is congratulated by teammates Ken Griffey, Jr.(L) and Alex Rodriguez(R) after Martinez hit a first inning, three-run homer, against the New York Yankees in Seattle 26 May. Seattle defeated New York, 4-3. AFP PHOTO (Photo by DAN LEVINE / AFP) (Photo by DAN LEVINE/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Mariners: Ken Griffey Jr in 1997
8 Jul 1997: Center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. of the Seattle Mariners kneels with reporter during the MLB All-Star Game at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport /

#2: Ken Griffey Jr: 1997 w/7.6 oWAR. Also, 1993 w/8.3, 1998 w/6.9, 1996 w/6.6, 1991 w/6.5, 1992 w/6.2, 1999 w/6.2, 1994 w/5.9, 1990 w/5.2

There are few things in life that people can agree on. One of these things is that Griffey was amazing and a joy to watch. He ushered in a new aspect to the game of baseball. You didn’t have to be cocky or egotistical to have swagger. Pure love and passion could come out, and it was totally okay.

Did Griffey save baseball? Is that too much to say? Maybe. Maybe not. We can’t argue that baseball would’ve grown as much as it did and came back as fast after 1994 if it weren’t for Junior.

His 1993 season was his best, statistically. I don’t think it was his greatest though. That honor goes to 1997. Shoot, if they played all of 1994, maybe that would’ve taken the cake. After making the playoffs in 1995 and falling just short in 96, Griffey came out with a vengeance in 1997.

  • .304/.382/.646. 34 2B, 56 HR, 147 RBI, 125 R, 393 TB, 23 IBB. MVP, GG, SS, All-Star

It would be the first of three straight years where The Kid would lead the league in Homers. Even though he left Seattle, the new stadium was still the House that Junior built. Without him, it wouldn’t have been possible. He was a huge part of the Mariners first 90-win season, and it was also the first and only year that the Kingdome would see over 3 million fans, at a hair under 3.2 million.

I think 1997 played a massive part in everything that happened for the Mariners over the next few years. It also feels like his best and most impressive offensive season with the team. He played a pretty big part in the greatest season ever offensively by a Mariners hitter. It happened at home plate too. There were just a few more people involved.

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