Wednesday is the 30-year anniversary of the biggest moment in Seattle Mariners franchise history. Current skipper Dan Wilson was there for it, and he spent time talking about it before Game 4 of the American League Division Series.
DETROIT -- The Seattle Mariners will take the field on Wednesday afternoon with a chance to clinch their first trip to the American League Championship Series since 2001. They have a 2-1 advantage over the Detroit Tigers in the best-of-five American League Division Series and will send Bryce Miller to the mound in the clincher.
However, the M's will also take the field in the shadow of history. It was 30 years ago Wednesday that the organization clinched its first-ever trip to the ALCS as Hall of Famer Edgar Martinez delivered the biggest hit in franchise history.
Martinez hit a walk-off double in Game 5 of the ALDS against the New York Yankees in the bottom of the 11th inning to score Joey Cora and Ken Griffey Jr. 'The Double' and the subsequent pile-up at home plate are arguably the two most iconic moments ever for the M's.
Current Mariners manager Dan Wilson was the catcher for that Mariners team, and he spent some time reflecting on the memory before Game 4:
It seems crazy that's been 30 years, but, so many things, just coming back after being down there (in Game 5), and then just seeing (Ken Griffey) Junior running as fast as he was around second base, knowing he wasn't going to be denied scoring, and just the pile on. Not knowing whether you go to home plate, pile on Junior, or go out to second base to get Edgar. Just great moments, great memories. Just the sound, the noise in the Kingdome. Those are things you just, as a player, you never forget.
He also said that there are some parallels between that team's run and the run of the current Mariners.
I mean, yes, I think, just having been at home with T-Mobile as it was, and the volume there, and just again, how they kept us going and when they start that 'Go Mariners' chant, just how that just brings you back to so many memories. They give us so much energy. It's really, it's a cool feeling, I think, as a player, and we just appreciate how much they pour into our club.
The Mariners and Tigers will square off at 12:08 p.m. PT. Casey Mize will pitch for Detroit.
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