Mariners mourn the passing of one of the franchise’s most significant players

On December 19, the Seattle Mariners announced the passing of former pitcher Mike Campbell. He was 61 years old; a Seattle Native and the type of "local kid makes it" story that fans never forget.

Campbell grew up in West Seattle, attended West Seattle and Newport High School and went on to attend the University of Hawaii before being drafted by the Mariners with the No. 7 overall pick in the 1985 MLB Amateur Draft. Campbell was selected one pick after Barry Bonds, who went sixth overall. The 1985 draft class is commonly cited as one of the greatest of all time. So when the Mariners took Campbell seventh in the first round, it came with high expectations — and plenty of hometown pride in Seattle.

The Mariners say goodbye to Mike Campbell, a name woven into franchise history

Campbell reached the majors in 1987 and pitched for Seattle in parts of the 1987, 1988, and 1989 seasons. His big-league career ended up being shorter than people hoped with shoulder issues becoming a major obstacle. But he still got to live the dream, and he did it with the hometown team on the front of his jersey. For fans, that’s what sticks: a local taking the ball for Seattle.

He finished with 51 MLB appearances over six seasons, including time with the Mariners, Rangers, Padres, and Cubs. The numbers (12–19, 5.86 ERA) don’t really capture why his name still resonates locally. For many, the memory isn’t one line in a stat log — it’s the promise, the prospect status, and the hope that he’d be part of the next good Mariners team.

Campbell is also connected to one of the most important moves in franchise history: the 1989 deal that brought Randy Johnson to Seattle. The trade began with Mark Langston heading to Montreal, and it included a player to be named later — and that “later” became Campbell.

It’s a strange footnote on paper, but it matters. Campbell’s life will always be remembered not just for where he pitched, but for what he represented: a Seattle kid who reached the majors, wore the uniform, and left a mark on the team’s story.