Top 25 Best Mariners Players of All Time

Hey there, baseball fan! Let me tell you about the Seattle Mariners. They’re a baseball team that plays in Seattle, Washington.

The team started playing in 1977, which means they’re not super old compared to other teams.

Even though the Mariners have never won a World Series, they’ve had some absolutely amazing players wear their uniform.

These players made fans jump out of their seats with excitement! They hit huge home runs, made incredible catches, and pitched like superstars.

Seattle fans love their Mariners, and they especially love remembering the legends who made the team special. Some of these players are in the Baseball Hall of Fame!

Best Mariners Players of All Time

Others are heroes who gave everything for Seattle. Today, we’re going to talk about the 25 greatest Mariners players ever. Get ready for some awesome baseball stories!

Top 25 Best Mariners Players of All Time

Rank	Player Name	Position	Years Played	Notable Achievements
1	Ken Griffey Jr.	Outfielder	1989–1999, 2009–2010	MVP, 10× All-Star, 10× Gold Glove
2	Ichiro Suzuki	Outfielder	2001–2012, 2018–2019	MVP, Rookie of the Year, 10× Gold Glove
3	Edgar Martinez	DH/3B	1987–2004	2× Batting Titles, 7× All-Star
4	Felix Hernandez	Pitcher	2005–2019	Cy Young Winner, 6× All-Star
5	Randy Johnson	Pitcher	1989–1998	Cy Young, 2,000+ Strikeouts
6	Alex Rodriguez	Shortstop	1994–2000	Batting Title, 4× All-Star
7	Jamie Moyer	Pitcher	1996–2006	145 Wins with Mariners
8	Robinson Cano	Second Base	2014–2018	.296 Avg, 4 Strong Seasons
9	Jay Buhner	Outfielder	1988–2001	300+ HRs, Seattle Legend
10	Adrian Beltre	Third Base	2005–2009	2 Gold Gloves
11	Alvin Davis	First Base	1984–1991	Rookie of the Year
12	Mark Langston	Pitcher	1984–1989	Led AL in Strikeouts 3×
13	Kyle Seager	Third Base	2011–2021	All-Star, 35+ HR Season
14	Bret Boone	Second Base	2001–2005	2× All-Star Games
15	Freddy Garcia	Pitcher	1999–2004	2× All-Star
16	Mike Cameron	Outfielder	2000–2003	2 Gold Gloves
17	Nelson Cruz	DH/OF	2015–2018	163 HRs, 3× All-Star
18	Julio Rodriguez	Outfielder	2022–Present	Rookie Star, All-Star
19	Cal Raleigh	Catcher	2020–Present	Broke Playoff Drought
20	John Olerud	First Base	2000–2004	3 Gold Gloves
21	Hisashi Iwakuma	Pitcher	2012–2017	All-Star, 2.66 ERA Season
22	Erik Hanson	Pitcher	1988–1993	21 Complete Games
23	Harold Reynolds	Second Base	1983–1992	3 Gold Gloves
24	Joey Cora	Second Base	1995–1998	Fan Favorite, .300 Season
25	Raul Ibanez	Outfielder	1996–2013	3 Seasons 100+ RBIs

Greatest Mariners Players of All Time

Ken Griffey Jr. – Rank #1

Ken Griffey Jr. is the greatest Seattle Mariner ever, and maybe the most fun player to ever play baseball! He made baseball cool and exciting in Seattle. Everyone called him “The Kid” because he played with so much joy and smiled all the time.

He hit home runs that flew so far, people couldn’t believe it. His backward hat became famous everywhere. He could catch any ball in the outfield, even jumping into the wall to steal home runs from other teams!

Quick Facts:

• 10× All-Star with the Mariners
• 10× Gold Glove Winner (best defensive outfielder)
• 1997 MVP Award
• 417 Home Runs for Seattle
• Saved baseball in Seattle when the team almost moved away

Fans still love him today. Many people think he’s the best player to never win a World Series. He’s in the Baseball Hall of Fame now!

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Ichiro Suzuki – Rank #2

Ichiro came from Japan and became a superstar instantly! In his very first season with Seattle, he won both the Rookie of the Year AND the MVP award. That’s super rare!

Ichiro was a hitting machine. He got hits almost every single game. In 2004, he broke a record that was 84 years old by getting 262 hits in one season! No one thought that record could ever be broken.

Quick Facts:

• 10× All-Star
• 10× Gold Glove Winner
• 2001 MVP and Rookie of the Year
• 262 hits in 2004 (MLB record!)
• 2× Batting Champion

He was so fast that he could beat out ground balls to the infield. His arm was like a rocket—runners were scared to run on him. Ichiro made baseball popular around the world!

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Edgar Martinez – Rank #3

Edgar Martinez is the best designated hitter (DH) in baseball history. A DH is someone who only bats and doesn’t play defense. Edgar was so good at hitting that they named an award after him!

He wasn’t fast or flashy, but man, could he hit! He studied pitchers like he was doing homework. Edgar knew exactly what pitch was coming and where to hit it.

Quick Facts:

• 7× All-Star
• 2× Batting Champion
• 309 career home runs
• Most RBIs in Mariners history
• Most doubles in Mariners history

Seattle fans have a special name for one of his most famous hits—”The Double.” In the 1995 playoffs, he hit a ball that scored two runs and sent Seattle to the next round. Fans still get goosebumps thinking about it!

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Felix Hernandez – Rank #4

Felix Hernandez had a nickname: “King Felix.” And he was the king of Seattle, pitching for many years! He threw the ball so hard and had such tricky pitches that batters looked silly trying to hit against him.

Felix was loyal to Seattle even when the team wasn’t winning much. He could have left for other teams, but he loved Seattle and stayed.

Quick Facts:

• 6× All-Star
• 2010 Cy Young Award Winner (best pitcher)
• 2× ERA Champion (fewest runs allowed)
• Perfect game in 2012
• 2,524 strikeouts with Seattle

His perfect game in 2012 was magical. That means no batter reached base the entire game—not one hit, walk, or error. Only 23 pitchers in history have done that! King Felix will always be Seattle royalty.

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Randy Johnson – Rank #5

Randy Johnson was TALL—like really, really tall. He stood 6 feet 10 inches! Batters were terrified to face him because the ball came from so high up and so fast. His nickname was “The Big Unit.”

When Randy wound up to pitch, his long arms and legs made him look like a scary giant. He had wild hair and threw the ball over 100 miles per hour!

Quick Facts:

• Cy Young Award winner with Seattle
• 2,162 strikeouts in Seattle
• 130 wins for the Mariners
• 5× All-Star
• Led the league in strikeouts 4 times

Randy became even more famous after he left Seattle, but Mariners fans remember when he was theirs. He was one of the most intimidating pitchers ever. Some batters didn’t even want to step into the batter’s box against him!

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Alex Rodriguez – Rank #6

Alex Rodriguez—or “A-Rod”—was incredibly talented. He could hit for power, hit for average, run fast, and play amazing defense at shortstop. He was like a superhero on the baseball field!

When A-Rod played for Seattle as a young player, he was one of the most exciting players in baseball. He made difficult plays look easy.

Quick Facts:

• 4× All-Star with Seattle
• 1996 Batting Champion
• .309 batting average
• 189 home runs in Seattle
• Signed the biggest contract in baseball history when he left

A-Rod later got in trouble for breaking baseball rules with other teams, which made people sad. But when he played for Seattle, he was electric and fun to watch. He showed the world how special he was as a Mariner.

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Jamie Moyer – Rank #7

Jamie Moyer wasn’t a power pitcher. He didn’t throw 100 miles per hour. Instead, he was super smart! He outsmarted batters by changing speeds and hitting the corners of the strike zone perfectly.

Jamie played baseball for a LONG time—until he was 49 years old! He pitched for Seattle for 11 seasons and won 145 games for them.

Quick Facts:

• 145 wins with the Mariners
• Made his only All-Star game at age 40!
• Pitched until he was 49 years old
• Helped Mariners win 116 games in 2001
• One of the oldest players ever

Kids loved Jamie because he showed that you don’t have to throw hard to be great. You just need to be smart, work hard, and never give up. Jamie was proof that age is just a number!

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Robinson Cano – Rank #8

Robinson Cano was smooth. Everything he did looked effortless and cool. He had one of the prettiest swings in baseball—like he was dancing while hitting the ball.

Seattle signed Cano to a huge contract, hoping he’d help them win. He played really well for four seasons before getting in trouble for breaking baseball rules.

Quick Facts:

• .296 batting average with Seattle
• 271 extra-base hits
• 4 strong seasons
• 2× All-Star with Mariners
• Second baseman with great defense

Even though his time ended badly, Cano gave Seattle fans some exciting moments. His swing was so smooth that other players tried to copy it. He made the hard parts of baseball look super easy!

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Jay Buhner – Rank #9

Jay Buhner was a Seattle legend! He was a tough, bald guy who crushed baseballs and dove all over the outfield. Fans called him “Bone,” and they loved his hard-working style.

Between 1995 and 1997, Jay helped Seattle have their best years ever. He hit huge home runs and wasn’t afraid of anything.

Quick Facts:

• 310 home runs with Seattle
• 965 RBIs (third all-time for Mariners)
• Hit 40+ home runs three times
• Fan favorite for his toughness
• Played his entire career in Seattle

Jay once shaved his head completely bald, and it became his signature look. Kids in Seattle wanted to be just like Bone! He showed that playing with heart and hustle makes you a hero.

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Adrian Beltre – Rank #10

Adrian Beltre was one of the best third basemen in baseball history. He had an awesome glove and could hit for power, too. He played for Seattle for five seasons.

Beltre’s defense was incredible. He made diving stops and threw runners out from crazy angles. He won Gold Gloves awards with Seattle, showing he was one of the best fielders.

Quick Facts:

• 2 Gold Glove Awards with Seattle
• Great defense at third base
• Hit 48 home runs in 2004
• Later made the Hall of Fame
• Played until age 40

Beltre had a funny thing—he HATED when teammates touched his head! If someone touched his head, he’d get mad, but in a funny way. He was serious about baseball but fun in the clubhouse. Seattle loved having him!

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Alvin Davis – Rank #11

Alvin Davis was the first really good player the Mariners ever had! When Seattle was a new team and losing a lot, Alvin gave fans hope. He won Rookie of the Year in 1984.

Fans called him “Mr. Mariner” because he represented everything good about the team. He worked hard every day and never complained.

Quick Facts:

• 1984 Rookie of the Year
• Played his entire career in Seattle
• .280 batting average
• First Mariners All-Star in 1984
• True Mariners pioneer

Alvin wasn’t flashy, but he was steady and reliable. He showed young fans that you can be a star by just doing your job well every single day. The Mariners needed someone like Alvin in those early years!

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Mark Langston – Rank #12

Mark Langston was the first great pitcher in Mariners history. Before Randy Johnson, there was Mark! He had a blazing fastball and struck out tons of batters.

Mark led the American League in strikeouts three different times. That means he was the best strikeout pitcher in half of Major League Baseball!

Quick Facts:

• Led AL in strikeouts 3 times
• All-Star in 1987
• 1,078 strikeouts with Seattle
• Excellent left-handed pitcher
• Gave Seattle fans hope early on

Mark pitched in the late 1980s when Seattle wasn’t very good. But fans came to the ballpark just to watch him pitch! He made Mariners fans believe they could have great players too.

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Kyle Seager – Rank #13

Kyle Seager played his entire career with Seattle and became a fan favorite. He was a gritty player who worked hard every single day. Kyle played third base and was very consistent.

He wasn’t the flashiest player, but he showed up and gave his all for 11 seasons. Seattle fans respected his loyalty and effort.

Quick Facts:

• 2014 All-Star
• Hit 35 home runs in 2016
• Gold Glove winner
• .251 career average
• Played 11 seasons, all with Seattle

Kyle’s brother Corey also played in the big leagues, so baseball talent runs in the family! Kyle represented Seattle pride—he never gave up even when the team was struggling. That’s what made him special!

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Bret Boone – Rank #14

Bret Boone had an amazing 2001 season—one of the best seasons any second baseman ever had! He hit 37 home runs and drove in 141 runs. The Mariners won 116 games that year!

Bret came from a baseball family. His dad and grandfather both played in the major leagues too. Baseball was in his blood!

Quick Facts:

• 2× All-Star with Seattle
• 141 RBIs in 2001
• 37 home runs in 2001
• 3× Gold Glove winner
• Key part of 116-win season

That 2001 season was magical for Seattle fans. Bret was a huge reason why! He could hit for power, play great defense, and was a leader in the clubhouse. Those were special times in Seattle!

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Freddy Garcia – Rank #15

Freddy Garcia had big shoes to fill—he came to Seattle after the Mariners traded Randy Johnson! That’s a lot of pressure for a young pitcher. But Freddy handled it well.

As a 22-year-old rookie, Freddy pitched 200 innings. That’s a lot of work for someone so young! He showed he was tough and could handle the big leagues.

Quick Facts:

• 2× All-Star
• Pitched 200 innings as a 22-year-old
• Won 76 games for Seattle
• Part of a great pitching staff
• Helped in the 2001 playoff run

Freddy wasn’t as dominant as Randy, but he was solid and reliable. He gave the Mariners good starts and helped them win games. Sometimes being steady is just as valuable as being spectacular!

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Mike Cameron – Rank #16

Mike Cameron had one of the hardest jobs in baseball history—replacing Ken Griffey Jr. in center field! Nobody could actually replace Junior, but Mike did an excellent job trying.

Mike was super fast and could catch anything in the outfield. He covered so much ground that it seemed like there were two center fielders out there!

Quick Facts:

• 2 Gold Glove Awards
• All-Star in 2001
• Hit 4 home runs in one game!
• Great speed and defense
• Hit 87 home runs with Seattle

In 2002, Mike hit four home runs in a single game! Only a few players in history have ever done that. It’s one of the coolest things you can do in baseball. Mike made his own name in Seattle!

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Nelson Cruz – Rank #17

Nelson Cruz was a home run machine! He came to Seattle and just started crushing baseballs. He hit 163 home runs in only four seasons—that’s about 40 per year!

Cruz was a designated hitter, which meant he focused only on hitting. And boy, could he hit! Pitchers were scared when he came to the plate.

Quick Facts:

• 163 home runs with Seattle
• 3× All-Star
• 2× Silver Slugger Award
• .284 batting average
• Hit 44 home runs in 2015

When Nelson swung the bat, you heard a loud CRACK! Everyone in the stadium would watch the ball fly into the seats. He gave Seattle fans lots of exciting home run moments. Boom Stick!

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Julio Rodriguez – Rank #18

Julio Rodriguez is the future of the Mariners! He’s young, exciting, and super talented. In his rookie season in 2022, he was so good that he made the All-Star team!

Julio can do everything—hit for power, hit for average, run fast, and play great defense. He’s a five-tool player, which means he’s good at all parts of baseball.

Quick Facts:

• 2022 All-Star as a rookie
• AL Rookie of the Year runner-up
• 28 home runs in rookie season
• Exciting young superstar
• Could be top 5 someday!

Julio has a huge smile and loves playing baseball. He does cool celebrations when he hits home runs. Kids love him because he plays with joy—just like Ken Griffey Jr. did! The future is bright with Julio!

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Cal Raleigh – Rank #19

Cal Raleigh is a big, strong catcher who hits home runs. But he’s most famous for ONE special home run—the one that sent Seattle to the playoffs in 2022!

The Mariners hadn’t made the playoffs in 21 years. That’s a really long time! Cal hit a walk-off home run (game-winning home run) to end that drought. Seattle went crazy!

Quick Facts:

• Hit the home run that ended a 21-year playoff drought
• One of the best catchers in baseball now
• 30+ home run seasons
• Great at catching and calling pitches
• Seattle hero forever

Cal’s nickname is “Big Dumper”—it’s a funny nickname that fans love! He’s become one of Seattle’s favorite players because of that magic moment. Sometimes one swing changes everything!

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John Olerud – Rank #20

John Olerud was one of the smartest hitters in baseball. He didn’t hit a ton of home runs, but he got on base and rarely struck out. He was a hitting professor!

John played first base and was excellent at defense, too. He won three Gold Gloves with Seattle, showing he could do both—hit and field.

Quick Facts:

• 3 Gold Glove Awards
• All-Star in 2001
• .293 average with Seattle
• Rarely struck out
• Part of 116-win team

John wore a special helmet even when playing defense because of a health scare earlier in life. It made him unique! He was a key part of Seattle’s amazing 2001 season when they won 116 games!

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Hisashi Iwakuma – Rank #21

Hisashi Iwakuma came from Japan and became a fan favorite in Seattle! He didn’t throw super hard, but he had great control and mixed his pitches perfectly.

Iwakuma almost won the Cy Young Award in 2013. He finished third in voting after posting a 2.66 ERA. That means he gave up very few runs!

Quick Facts:

• 2013 All-Star
• 2.66 ERA in 2013
• Third in Cy Young voting
• Reliable starting pitcher
• Threw a no-hitter in 2015

In 2015, Iwakuma threw a no-hitter! That means no batter got a hit against him the entire game. It’s super rare and super exciting. Japanese fans loved seeing him succeed in Seattle!

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Erik Hanson – Rank #22

Erik Hanson pitched for Seattle in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Those were tough times for the Mariners—they lost a lot of games. But Erik was a bright spot!

He threw 21 complete games for Seattle. A complete game means the pitcher stays in for all nine innings. Nowadays, that rarely happens!

Quick Facts:

• 21 complete games in 5 seasons
• Pitched in a tough era for the Mariners
• Reliable starting pitcher
• 56 wins with Seattle
• Showed toughness and endurance

Erik represented old-school baseball when pitchers finished what they started. He gave his all for Seattle even when the team wasn’t winning. That’s what makes someone special!

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Harold Reynolds – Rank #23

Harold Reynolds was Seattle’s second baseman for many years in the 1980s. He was smooth and graceful in the field and won three Gold Gloves for his defense.

Harold played over 1,000 games for the Mariners and was a steady presence when the team was building. He made two All-Star teams!

Quick Facts:

• 3 Gold Glove Awards
• 2× All-Star
• Played 1,155 games for Seattle
• Excellent defender
• Mariners broadcaster after retiring

After Harold retired, he became a baseball announcer on TV! So Mariners fans got to see him and hear him even after his playing days. He loves Seattle and always represents the Mariners!

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Joey Cora – Rank #24

Joey Cora was small but mighty! He played second base and was incredibly popular with fans. In 1997, he hit .300 with 40 doubles—that’s really good!

Joey was part of Seattle’s exciting mid-1990s teams. He was scrappy, hustled on every play, and did all the little things that helped the team win.

Quick Facts:

• Hit .300 in 1997
• 40 doubles in 1997
• Fan favorite for hustle
• Part of 1995 playoff team
• Later became a coach

Joey showed that you don’t have to be big to be great at baseball. His energy and effort made fans love him. He proved that heart matters more than size!

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Raul Ibanez – Rank #25

Raul Ibanez played for Seattle THREE different times! The Mariners loved him so much they kept bringing him back. He was a steady outfielder and clutch hitter.

From 2006 to 2008, Raul drove in over 100 runs each season. That’s a lot of RBIs! He was reliable and came through when Seattle needed him.

Quick Facts:

• 3 straight seasons with 100+ RBIs
• Played for the Mariners 3 different times
• 156 home runs total with Seattle
• Fan favorite
• Loved the city of Seattle

Raul showed loyalty to Seattle and always played hard. Even when he got older, he could still hit! He’s a perfect example of a player who gave everything to one city. Seattle fans will always remember him!

FAQs:

• Who is the greatest Seattle Mariners player of all time?

Ken Griffey Jr. is widely seen as the greatest Mariner ever. He made baseball exciting in Seattle, won an MVP award, and earned 10 Gold Gloves. Fans still call him “The Kid,” and he saved baseball in Seattle when the team almost moved away. His joy for the game made everyone fall in love with baseball!

• Who holds the record for most hits in a season for the Mariners?

Ichiro Suzuki broke the MLB record with 262 hits in 2004! That record had stood for 84 years before Ichiro smashed it. He was a hitting machine who got on base almost every game. It’s one of the most amazing records in baseball history!

• Who was the best Mariners pitcher?

Felix Hernandez and Randy Johnson are the two best pitchers in Mariners history. Felix won a Cy Young Award and stayed loyal to Seattle for his entire career. Randy Johnson was intimidating and dominant, also winning a Cy Young. Both were incredible!

• Which young player is the future of the Mariners?

Julio Rodriguez is the brightest young star for Seattle! He made the All-Star team as a rookie in 2022 and can do everything on a baseball field. He hits home runs, runs fast, plays great defense, and has a huge smile. The future is bright with J-Rod!

• When did the Mariners last make the playoffs?

The Mariners ended their 21-year playoff drought in 2022! Cal Raleigh hit a walk-off home run to send them to the postseason. The whole city of Seattle celebrated—it had been way too long! Hopefully, there are many more playoff trips coming soon!

Conclusion:

The Seattle Mariners have been blessed with so many amazing players over the years.

From Ken Griffey Jr.’s backwards hat to Ichiro’s record-breaking hits, these legends made Seattle baseball special.

Baseball isn’t just about winning championships. It’s about the players who give their heart to the game and to the fans.

The Mariners may not have won a World Series yet, but they’ve had some of the greatest players in baseball history!

The future looks bright, too! Young stars like Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh are writing new chapters in Mariners history. Who knows—maybe in ten years, they’ll be at the top of this list!

Keep watching the Mariners, stay loyal to your team, and remember every game is a chance to see something magical. That’s what makes baseball the greatest game ever! Go Mariners!

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