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Ranking the Best Center Fielders in Seattle Mariners History

By Christopher O'Day

17 Oct 1995: Oufielder Ken Griffey Jr. of the Seattle Mariners watches his shot during a game playoff game against the Cleveland Indians at the Kingdome in Seattle, Washington. The Indians won the game 4-0.
17 Oct 1995: Oufielder Ken Griffey Jr. of the Seattle Mariners watches his shot during a game playoff game against the Cleveland Indians at the Kingdome in Seattle, Washington. The Indians won the game 4-0. /
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Mariners Dave Henderson
CHICAGO – 1986: Dave Henderson of the Seattle Mariners looks on during an MLB game against the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois during the 1986 season. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

Mariners #5: Dave “Hendu” Henderson – 7.4 fWAR

A lot of Mariners fans will know Dave Henderson, or “Hendu”, as a longtime Mariners announcer prior to his passing in 2015. This is another case of going back and wondering how nice it would have been to have them spend their entire career in Seattle, especially with how good he got after he left in 1986.

Af playing with Seattle, Boston, and the Giants in 86 and 87, Hendu would settle in Oakland and put up seasons of 6.2, 4.2, 4.4, and 4.9 fWAR. Unfortunately for Mariners fans, he was never able to do anything like that early in his career, although he still had some decent seasons with the team.

HIs first full season, 1982, shows as his best fWAR because of the strong defensive numbers (8.9 DEF) that he put up that year. He still hit well, going.253/.327/.441 with 14 HR in just 104 games, and a 2.2 fWAR. He only had a 107 WRC+ that season, and his best offensive season would come two years later.

In 84, he hit .280/.320/.466 with a 114 WRC+, lowering his K rate to just 15% and hitting 14 HR once again. Hendu was a decent CF with the Mariners, and would likely slot into second if he spent his entire career with the team.

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