The Seattle Mariners are an American professional
baseball team based in Seattle, Washington, United States. The
Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League
Baseball's American League. Since July 1999, their home stadium
has been Safeco Field; from their 1977 inception until June 1999,
the club's home park was the Kingdome.
The "Mariners" name originates
from the prominence of marine culture in the city of Seattle.
They are nicknamed "the M's", a title featured in their
primary logo from 1987 to 1992. The current team colors are navy
blue, "northwest green" (teal), and metallic silver,
after having been royal blue and gold from 1977-1992. Their mascot
is the Mariner Moose.
An expansion franchise, the Seattle Mariners
made their debut in 1977. The organization did not field a winning
team until 1991, however, and any real success eluded them until
1995 when they won their first division championship and defeated
the New York Yankees in the ALDS. The game-winning hit in Game
5 clinched a series win for the Mariners, and has since become
an iconic moment in team history. The Mariners share the record
for most wins in a single season with 116, which they achieved
in 2001. Despite their successes since winning their first division
title, they have never won a league championship and remain one
of four teams never to have played in a World Series.