The 1977 Seattle Mariners season was the first season in franchise history, which was established via the 1977 Major League Baseball expansion. The creation of the Mariners brought baseball back to Seattle, which had been without a major league team since the Seattle Pilots left for Milwaukee to become the Brewers in April 1970.
The Mariners ended the season by narrowly avoiding last place (held by the Oakland Athletics), finishing sixth in the American League West with a record of , 38 games behind the AL West champion Kansas City Royals.
Offseason
September 3, 1976: Former Red Sox manager Darrell Johnson is hired to be the team's first manager. Lou Gorman, Seattle's director of baseball operations, states that Johnson will help in scouting players for the upcoming expansion draft.Stars and Strikes: Baseball and America in the Bicentennial Summer of '76, Dan Epstein, New York: St. Martin's Press, 2014. October 1, 1976: Dave Johnson was purchased by the Mariners from the Baltimore Orioles.Dave Johnson page at Baseball-Reference October 22, 1976: Diego Seguí was purchased by the Mariners from the San Diego Padres.Diego Segui page at Baseball Reference November 5, 1976: The 1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft was held. The Mariners (along with their expansion partners, the Toronto Blue Jays) selected 30 players to fill their major league roster. April 1, 1977: Mike Kekich was purchased by the Mariners from the Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredo.Mike Kekich page at Baseball-Reference
Regular season
The first game
Linescore April 6, Kingdome, Seattle, Washington Team123456789RHECalifornia112210000791Seattle000000000092W: Frank Tanana (1–0) L: Diego Seguí (0–1) HRs: Joe Rudi (1)
Boxscore
Batting California AngelsABRHRBISeattle MarinersABRHRBIRemy, 2b3100Collins, DH4000Grich, ss4000Báez, 2B4020Bonds, rf5100Braun, LF3010Baylor, dh3111Stanton, RF4010Rudi, lf5134Stein, 3B4020Solaita, 1b5010Meyer, 1B4000Bochte, cf 3220Jones, CF4000Chalk, 3b5010Stinson, C3010Humphrey, c4112Reynolds, SS4020Totals37797Totals34090
Pitching California AngelsIPHRERBBSOSeattle MarinersIPHRERBBSOTanana, W, (1–0)9.090029Seguí, L, (0–1)3.256433Montague5.141133Totals9.090029Totals9.097566 Game log for April 6, 1977
Other notable events April 10, 1977: Designated hitter Juan Bernhardt hit the first home run in team history.Griffeys made home run history in '90 | Mariners.com: News April 13, 1977: The first extra innings game in team history resulted in a 3–2 win over the Minnesota Twins. May 19, 1977: The first shutout win in team history was a 3–0 victory over the Oakland Athletics. July 1, 1977: The Milwaukee Brewers played their first game in Seattle since 1969, when they were the Seattle Pilots. The Brewers beat the hometown Mariners, 2–1. July 8, 1977: Scored the most runs of the season in a 13–11 win against the Minnesota Twins.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Notable transactions April 20, 1977: Pete Broberg was traded by the Mariners to the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named later. The Cubs completed the deal by sending Jim Todd to the Mariners on October 25.Jim Todd page at Baseball Reference May 2, 1977: Dave Johnson was purchased from the Mariners by the Minnesota Twins. June 7, 1977: Tony Phillips was drafted by the Mariners in the 16th round of the 1977 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign.Tony Phillips page at Baseball Reference July 27, 1977: Dave Pagan was traded by the Mariners to the Pittsburgh Pirates for a player to be named later. The Pirates completed the deal by sending Rick Honeycutt to the Mariners on August 22.Dave Pagan page at Baseball Reference August 2, 1977: Stan Thomas was traded by the Mariners to the New York Yankees for future considerations.Stan Thomas page at Baseball Reference September 9, 1977: Bill Laxton and cash were traded by the Mariners to the Cleveland Indians for Ray Fosse.Ray Fosse page at Baseball Reference
Roster 1977 Seattle Mariners Roster Pitchers Catchers
Infielders Outfielders Manager
Coaches (Bullpen) (Third Base) (First Base/Hitting) (Pitching)
Game log Regular season Legend Mariners win Mariners loss Postponement Eliminated from playoff race BoldMariners team member
|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || April 6 || || California Angels || 0–7 || Tanana (1–0) || Segui (0–1) || || || 57,762 || 0–1 || L1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || April 7 || || California Angels || 0–2 || Ryan (1–0) || Romo (0–1) || || || 10,144 || 0–2 || L2 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 3 || April 8 || || California Angels || 7–6 || Laxton (1–0) || Verhoeven (0–1) || || || 11,845 || 1–2 || W1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 4 || April 9 || || California Angels || 5–1 || Wheelock (1–0) || Simpson (0–1) || Montague (1) || || 27,668 || 2–2 || W2 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 5 || April 10 || || California Angels || 5–12 || Tanana (2–0) || Abbott (0–1) || || || 10,405 || 2–3 || L1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 6 || April 11 || || Minnesota Twins || 3–12 || Zahn (1–0) || Segui (0–2) || || || 8,979 || 2–4 || L2 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 12 || || Minnesota Twins || 2–3 || Schueler (1–1) || Laxton (1–1) || Burgmeier (2) || || 8,589 || 2–5 || L3 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 8 || April 13 || || Minnesota Twins || 3–2 || Moore (1–0) || Burgmeier (0–1) || || || 11,635 || 3–5 || W1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 9 || April 14 || || Minnesota Twins || 4–3 || Wheelock (2–0) || Redfern (0–2) || Montague (2) || || 9,167 || 4–5 || W2 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 10 || April 15 || || @ California Angels || 0–7 || Ryan (2–1) || Abbott (0–2) || || || 34,654 || 4–6 || L1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || April 16 || || @ California Angels || 4–6 || Hartzell (1–0) || Montague (0–1) || Kirkwood (1) || || 19,690 || 4–7 || L2 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 12 || April 17 || || @ California Angels || 11–7 || Kekich (1–0) || Monge (0–1) || Pagan (1) || || 13,813 || 5–7 || W1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 13 || April 18 || || Texas Rangers || 8–6 || Thomas (1–0) || Alexander (1–1) || Laxton (1) || || 9,535 || 6–7 || W2 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 14 || April 19 || || Texas Rangers || 1–3 || Lindblad (1–0) || Wheelock (2–1) || || || 10,947 || 6–8 || L1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 15 || April 20 || || Texas Rangers || 2–5 || Briles (1–0) || Montague (0–2) || Devine (1) || || 10,763 || 6–9 || L2 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || April 22 || || Royals || 5–6 || Littell (2–1) || Pagan (0–1) || Gura (2) || || 19,756 || 6–10 || L3 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 17 || April 23 || || Royals || 6–8 || Leonard (1–0) || Segui (0–3) || Gura (3) || || 22,685 || 6–11 || L4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 18 || April 24 || || Royals || 1–16 || Colborn (3–1) || Wheelock (2–2) || — || || — || 6–12 || L5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 19 || April 24 || || Royals || 4–2 || Montague (1–2) || Splittorff (1–1) || — || || 21,734 || 7–12 || W1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 20 || April 26 || || @ Minnesota Twins || 3–5 || Burgmeier (2–1) || Thomas (1–1) || Johnson (2) || || 3,422 || 7–13 || L1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || April 27 || || @ Minnesota Twins || 3–5 || Johnson (3–0) || Moore (1–1) || Burgmeier (3) || || 3,170 || 7–14 || L2 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 22 || April 28 || || @ Minnesota Twins || 4–3 || Montague (2–2) || Goltz (0–2) || || || 3,766 || 8–14 || W1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 23 || April 29 || || @ New York Yankees || 0–3 || Guidry (2–0) || Thomas (1–2) || Lyle (5) || || 15,284 || 8–15 || L1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 24 || April 30 || || @ New York Yankees || 2–7 || Figueroa (2–2) || Wheelock (2–3) || || || 19,525 || 8–16 || L2
|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || May 1 || || @ New York Yankees || 2–5 || Holtzman (2–1) || Abbott (0–3) || Lyle (6) || || 20,477 || 8–17 || L3 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 26 || May 3 || || @ Boston Red Sox || 10–8 || Montague (3–2) || Wise (1–2) || Pagan (2) || || 12,422 || 9–17 || W1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || May 4 || || @ Boston Red Sox || 2–5 || Cleveland (2–2) || Thomas (1–3) || Campbell (3) || || 11,408 || 9–18 || L1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 5 || || @ Boston Red Sox || 2–5 || Jenkins (4–1) || Segui (0–4) || || || 10,358 || 9–19 || L2 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 6 || || @ Baltimore Orioles || 1–4 || Grimsley (3–1) || Abbott (0–4) || || || 4,402 || 9–20 || L3 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 30 || May 7 || || @ Baltimore Orioles || 2–4 || May (3–3) || Jones (0–1) || Flanagan (1) || || 16,212 || 9–21 || L4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 31 || May 8 || || @ Baltimore Orioles || 4–6 || Palmer (5–1) || Pole (0–1) || McGregor (1) || || 9,638 || 9–22 || L5 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 32 || May 9 || || @ Toronto Blue Jays || 4–10 || Singer (2–4) || Thomas (1–4) || || || 11,680 || 9–23 || L6 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 33 || May 10 || || @ Toronto Blue Jays || 3–9 || Garvin (5–0) || Montague (3–3) || || || 13,017 || 9–24 || L7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 34 || May 11 || || New York Yankees || 5–2 || Laxton (2–1) || Holtzman (2–2) || Romo (1) || || 23,978 || 10–24 || W1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 35 || May 12 || || New York Yankees || 8–6 || Moore (2–1) || Hunter (1–2) || || || 42,132 || 11–24 || W2 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 13 || || Boston Red Sox || 5–7 || Willoughby (3–0) || Romo (0–2) || Campbell (4) || || 20,523 || 11–25 || L1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 37 || May 14 || || Boston Red Sox || 4–8 || Stanley (3–0) || Thomas (1–5) || Campbell (5) || || 52,485 || 11–26 || L2 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 38 || May 15 || || Boston Red Sox || 4–5 || Lee (1–0) || Jones (0–2) || Campbell (6) || || 47,353 || 11–27 || L3 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 39 || May 16 || || Baltimore Orioles || 8–3 || Abbott (1–4) || Palmer (5–3) || Kekich (1) || || 10,388 || 12–27 || W1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 40 || May 17 || || Baltimore Orioles || 10–2 || Romo (1–2) || May (4–4) || || || 10,920 || 13–27 || W2 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 41 || May 19 || || @ Oakland Athletics || 3–0 || Pagan (1–1) || Langford (3–3) || || || 2,179 || 14–27 || W3 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 42 || May 20 || || @ Oakland Athletics || 5–14 || Medich (3–2) || Jones (0–3) || || || 2,660 || 14–28 || L1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 43 || May 21 || || @ Oakland Athletics || 7–6 || Kekich (2–0) || Lacey (1–1) || || || 3,230 || 15–28 || W1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 44 || May 22 || || @ Oakland Athletics || 6–2 || Pole (1–1) || Blue (3–4) || Romo (2) || || 3,138 || 16–28 || W2 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 45 || May 24 || || @ Cleveland Indians || 5–7 || Waits (2–0) || Romo (1–3) || Kern (4) || || 5,576 || 16–29 || L1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || May 25 || || @ Cleveland Indians || 1–2 || Eckersley (4–3) || Laxton (2–2) || || || 4,516 || 16–30 || L2 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 47 || May 27 || || @ Detroit Tigers || 2–1 || Abbott (2–4) || Fidrych (0–1) || Kekich (2) || || 44,207 || 17–30 || W1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 48 || May 28 || || @ Detroit Tigers || 3–1 || Pole (2–1) || Rozema (4–2) || Laxton (2) || || 15,820 || 18–30 || W2 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 49 || May 29 || || @ Detroit Tigers || 6–4 || Thomas (2–5) || Foucault (3–2) || || || 11,778 || 19–30 || W3 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 50 || May 30 || || @ Texas Rangers || 7–4 || Romo (2–3) || Blyleven (4–6) || Laxton (3) || || DH || 20–30 || W4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 51 || May 30 || || @ Texas Rangers || 9–3 || Montague (4–3) || Perry (4–5) || Segui (1) || || 17,844 || 21–30 || W5
|- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"