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Bellingham Mariners

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Bellingham Mariners
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass A-Short Season
LeagueNorthwest League
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsSeattle Mariners (1977–1994)
Los Angeles Dodgers (1973–1976)
Minor league titles
League titles (4)
  • 1977
  • 1980
  • 1986
  • 1992
Division titles (7)
  • 1977
  • 1980
  • 1981
  • 1983
  • 1986
  • 1992
  • 1993
Team data
Previous names
Bellingham Dodgers (1973–1976)
ColorsNavy blue, silver, northwest green
     
Previous parks
Joe Martin Field
Bellingham is located in the United States
Bellingham
Bellingham
class=notpageimage|
Location in the United States

The Bellingham Mariners were a Minor League Baseball team in the Class A-Short Season Northwest League, based in Bellingham, Washington. The club served as the Seattle Mariners' short-season affiliate from 1977 to 1994.

History

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Major League Baseball returned to Seattle in 1977 with the expansion Mariners of the American League. Bellingham signed a player development contract with Seattle and adopted their parent club's identity, taking the name Mariners.[1] Also referred to as Baby M's, the team would serve as Seattle's only affiliate in their inaugural season.[2] The Northwest League had two divisions, one for teams with affiliations and the other for independents. Bellingham won the affiliate division with a 42–26 record and played the Portland Mavericks for the league championship. In a best of three series, Bellingham and Portland split the first two games. The Baby M's held off the Mavericks by a score of 4–2 in the decisive game to claim the 1977 Northwest League crown.[3] Bobby Floyd earned the league's manager of the year award.[4] The Mariners continued their on-field success with nearly identical records going 41–30 and 41–31 in consecutive seasons.

In 1980, Bellingham amassed a 45-25 en route to a North Division title. The Baby M's faced the Eugene Emeralds in the league championship series, which they split during the first two games. The decisive third game was cancelled due to rain; as a result, the Mariners and Emeralds were named co-champions of the Northwest League.[5] The club witnessed a significant jump in attendance with 42,292 passing through the turnstiles.

Seeking to repeat as league champions the Baby M's claimed the north division. Bellingham faced the Medford A's in the championship series, but were swept in two games. Two seasons later in 1983, with a roster that included future Hall of Famer Edgar Martinez, the Mariners claimed the division title with a 40-28 record. Bellingham was again defeated by a large margin by Medford in the championship series. In 1984 and 1985 the Baby M's posted mirror finishes at 39-35 taking second in the Washington division standings.

In 1987, 17-year-old Ken Griffey Jr. hit his first professional home run while on the road at Everett Memorial Stadium on June 18.[6] A plaque was placed on the sidewalk outside the stadium where the ball landed.[7]

Despite on-field success and a steady stream of Mariners prospects, the club struggled with poor attendance. Following the 1994 season, the Mariners ended their relationship with Bellingham.[8] Seattle moved their affiliation south to Everett were the team assumed a new identity as the Everett AquaSox. Everett, who had been affiliated with the San Francisco Giants swapped with Seattle and moved their short-season affiliation to Bellingham. Bellingham assumed their parent club's moniker to become the Bellingham Giants in 1995.[9] The city government demurred on funding $100,000 in renovations to the team's ballpark amid the affiliation change.[10]

Ballpark

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The Bellingham franchise played at Joe Martin Field, a venue with a seating capacity near 1,600. Since 1999, the ballpark serves as the home of the Bellingham Bells of the collegiate summer West Coast League.[11][12]

Season-by-season record

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Season PDC Division Finish Wins Losses Win% Post-season Manager Attendance
Bellingham Mariners
1977 SEA Affiliate 1st 42 26 .618 Defeated Portland in championship series 2-1[13] Bobby Floyd 36,730
1978 SEA North 3rd 41 30 .577 Bob Didier 29,739
1979 SEA North 2nd 41 31 .569 Jeff Scott 31,741
1980 SEA North 1st 45 25 .643 Tied Eugene 1–1 (Game 3 cancelled due to rain) Jeff Scott 42,292
1981 SEA North 1st 39 31 .557 Lost to Medford in championship series 2-0 Jeff Scott 21,390
1982 SEA North 2nd 33 37 .471 Jeff Scott 17,211
1983 SEA Washington 1st 40 28 .588 Lost to Medford in championship series 2-0 Jeff Scott 12,944
1984 SEA Washington 2nd 39 35 .568 Gary Pellant 15,812
1985 SEA Washington 2nd 39 35 .541 Gary Pellant 18,343
1986 SEA Washington 1st 45 29 .608 Defeated Eugene in championship 1–0 Sal Rende 14,916
1987 SEA South 4th 30 46 .395 Rick Sweet 22,183
1988 SEA North 4th 25 51 .329 P. J. Carey 15,015
1989 SEA North 3rd 32 43 .427 P. J. Carey 31,685
1990 SEA North 3rd 32 44 .421 P. J. Carey 52,461
1991 SEA North 2nd 37 39 .487 Dave Myers 60,484
1992 SEA North 1st 43 33 .566 Defeated Bend in championship series 2–0 Dave Myers 68,928
Bellingham Mariners
1993 SEA North 1st 44 32 .579 Lost to Boise in championship series 2-0 Mike Goff 74,900
1994 SEA North 2nd 42 34 .553 Mike Goff 71,256
Division winner League champions

Hall of Fame alumni

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Notable players

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Lawrence, John (November 30, 1976). "Only one farm for the Mariners". The News Tribune. p. A14. Retrieved December 31, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Sandsberry, Scott (August 8, 1977). "How good should the Bellingham Mariners be?". The Bellingham Herald. p. 17. Retrieved December 31, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "M's dump Mavs for NWL title, 4-2". The Bellingham Herald. September 1, 1977. p. 11. Retrieved December 31, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Bellingham's Floyd manager of the year". Corvallis Gazette-Times. Associated Press. August 24, 1977. p. 18. Retrieved December 31, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Carberry, Jim (September 2, 1980). "M's, Emeralds named NWL co-champions". The Bellingham Herald. p. D1. Retrieved December 31, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Northwest League: Wednesday's results". The Spokesman-Review. June 19, 1987. p. 36 – via Google News Archive.
  7. ^ Baker, Geoff (August 29, 2008). "Fun is No. 1 at Everett AquaSox games". Seattle Times. Archived from the original on September 2, 2008. Retrieved November 1, 2008.
  8. ^ "Mariners drop Calgary, Bellingham". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. September 8, 1994. p. C3. Retrieved December 31, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Sleeper, John (January 8, 1995). "Giant changes in store". The Bellingham Herald. p. D1. Retrieved December 31, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Sheehan, Kathy (September 11, 1994). "Questions fall into council's lap". The Bellingham Herald. p. A8. Retrieved December 31, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Joe Martin Field". Bellingham Bells. Archived from the original on September 1, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  12. ^ "Minor League Baseball Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com". Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved November 8, 2008.
  13. ^ "Bellingham wins title". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. September 1, 1977. p. 22 – via Google News Archive.
Preceded by Northwest League franchise
1977-1994 		Succeeded by
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