Before the Mariners took on the Tigers in Game 1 of the American League Division Series, they brought back a trio of figures from the 2001 M's team, and also brought back Seattle SuperSonics legend Gary Payton.
SEATTLE -- The Seattle Mariners welcomed back a quartet of Seattle sports legends on Saturday afternoon for Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers.
In an effort to pump up a frenzied T-Mobile crowd, the M's brought out former outfielder Mike Cameron and former utility player Mark McLemore from the 2001 team that won 116 games as well as former manager Lou Piniella. He threw out the ceremonial first pitch to current M's manager Dan Wilson, who was also part of that 2001 team that Piniella managed.
They also had former Seattle SuperSonics star Gary Payton come out, and he brought the house down with an impassioned pre-game message to the crowd.
Cameron and McLemore
The duo came out with an American flag and recreated the moment from 2001 in which the Mariners won the American League West crown. That division title was clinched just days after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Cameron is one of the more popular Mariners players in the last quarter century. He spent four years in Seattle, helping the M's reach the American League Championship Series in 2000 and 2001. He made the All-Star Game in 2001 and captured Gold Glove Awards in 2001 and 2003.
As for McLemore, he was with the Mariners from 2000-03, playing an integral role on those same 2000 and 2001 teams.
Piniella's first pitch
In 10 years at the helm of the M's, Piniella guided some of the best teams in franchise history and helped Seattle to its first playoff berth in 1995. He won 840 career games and took the M's to the postseason four times ('95, 1997, 2000 and 2001). He also managed the likes of Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, Jay Buhner, Randy Johnson and Ichiro Suzuki.
'The Glove' shows love
A 17-year NBA veteran, Payton spent 13 years in Seattle, leading the Sonics to the NBA Finals in 1995-96. A standout defensive player, he was a nine-time All-Star, a nine-time All-NBA selection, and a nine-time member of the All-Defensive team.
He's a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Up next
The Mariners will finish out Game 1 and then they'll be back for Game 2 on Sunday afternoon at 5:08 p.m. PT.
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