Memories of a Mariner Fan Trivia Quiz

Answer: Edgar Martinez

"The Double" is so significant that it has its own Wikipedia article. Not only did it win a playoff series for the Mariners, but it likely saved major league baseball in Seattle. The M's had already lost the Pilots after only one year, and recent team owners had constantly talked about moving or selling the team. The Kingdome was grayer than a Seattle winter's day, and the long tradition of losing was bringing about increasing apathy among the fan base.

In 1992 Nintendo of America purchased the team, then demanded a new stadium or they would sell the team--the same threat the fans had heard for years. To make matters more dicey, on September 19, 1995, a sales tax increase to fund a stadium was voted down. Nintendo announced the team would be put up for sale on October 30 if a stadium funding plan was not in place.

After "The Double" (October 8, 1995), the fan base was energized and within a couple days, the state legislature held a special session and developed a funding package that led to the construction of Safeco Field.

Answer: Mario Mendoza

Although the "Mendoza Line" is considered to be a flat .200 batting average, Mariner shortstop Mario Mendoza actually hit .215 for his career (thanks largely to two good years towards the end of his career). The term was coined in 1979, after Mendoza had hit .198 and had a career .201 batting average. According to Mendoza, Mariners Tom Paciorek and Bruce Bochte were making fun of Kansas City third baseman George Brett, who was off to a slow start.

They joked, "You're going to sink below the Mendoza line if you're not careful." Brett relayed the joke to ESPN sportscaster Chris Berman, and the term stuck.

Answer: Gorman Thomas

Mariner fans remember Gorman Thomas as a lumbering designated hitter who hit a ton of homers and struck out a lot. Although he was a skilled center fielder in his younger days, he generally was not seen as quick or nimble. Thus it might come as a surprise that when he was drafted, he was a shortstop.

Answer: They both are third-generation major league players

In his 1992 debut with the Mariners, Bret Boone became the first third-generation player, the son of catcher Bob Boone and grandson of outfielder Ray Boone. In 1995 David Bell, playing for the Cleveland Indians, became the second, the son of third baseman Buddy Bell and grandson of outfielder Gus Bell. In addition, Boone's brother Aaron and Bell's brother Mike also played in the majors.

Answer: It broke up a perfect game with 2 outs in the 9th

On April 20, 1990, Brian Holman was pitching the game of his life. He retired the first 26 hitters and would only need to get pinch hitter Phelps to not only have the first Mariner no-hitter, but only the 11th perfect game of the 20th century. Alas, Phelps smashed the first pitch over the right field fence to be the 8th batter to end a perfect game bid as the 27th batter.

It would be 22 years later when Felix Hernandez finally got the Mariners' first perfect game. Sadly, Holman's career would end after the next year, a promising career cut short by an arm injury at age 26.

Answer: Diego Segui

Diego Segui played in the first game for both franchises. For the Pilots in 1969, he came into the game in relief and earned the save, while in 1977 he started the opener and picked up the loss. The 1969 season was possibly his best, as he won a career high 12 games and saved a career high 6, being named the team's MVP. Alas, 1977 was his worst, as the 39-year old went 0-7, 5.69 ERA and closed out his career.

His son, David Segui, later played first base for the Mariners in 1998 and 1999.

Answer: 1-16

After winning the opening game, Parrott reeled off 16 straight losses, finishing 1-16, 7.28 ERA for a team that went 60-102. A good indication of how weak the team was is that Parrott pitched for the M's the next season as well, going 3-6, 5.08.

Answer: Alvin Davis

Alvin Davis, known as "Mr. Mariner" for his time with the team, didn't even make the team out of spring training. Ken Phelps, the opening day first baseman, broke his hand in the third game of the season. Davis, in only his third season of minor league ball, went 2 for 3 with a walk in his first AAA game when he got the call. He homered in each of his first two major league games and hit three doubles in his third game and never looked back. He finished the season hitting .284, 27 home runs, 116 RBIs.

Answer: 15

They started play in 1977 and did not finish above .500 until the 1991 team went 83-79. Obviously this change in quality of play alarmed the front office, as they immediately fired manager Jim Lefebvre. Under the new leadership of manager Bill Plummer, the M's played 1992 to a more typical 64-98.

Answer: Hit back-to-back home runs twice in the same inning

On May 2, 2002, Mike Cameron became only the 15th player in major league history to hit four homers in a game (and narrowly missed becoming the first to hit five, as in his last at bat he hit the ball to the warning track).

In the top of the first, Bret Boone, batting second, hit a home run off starter Jon Rauch, scoring Ichiro Suzuki. Cameron, hitting third, followed it with a solo shot. After Rauch went through the entire Mariner lineup getting only one out, the White Sox brought in Jim Parque to pitch. Parque retired Suzuki for the second out, then re-lived Rauch's nightmare, giving up solo shots to Boone and Cameron before finally getting the third out, the M's up 10-0 en route to a 15-4 win.