Amid rumors that the team would be sold and/or relocated, the Mariners—who had produced only two winning seasons (1991 and 1993) since beginning play in 1977—mounted a late-season comeback in 1995 to clinch their first postseason appearance in franchise history. They then mounted a series of comebacks in the ALDS, first overcoming a 2-game series deficit to force a deciding Game 5, then tying Game 5 in the 8th inning to force extra innings, and finally a one-run 11th inning deficit that was overcome by the Double.
The hit is regarded as the defining moment of Martinez's 18-year Hall of Fame career.[1] Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus' call of the play—which is equally memorable to Seattle fans as the play itself—is also regarded as the highlight of his career. The play is also credited with keeping a Major League Baseball team in the city of Seattle, as it helped garner support for a new taxpayer-funded stadium for the Mariners.[2][3] That stadium, known today as T-Mobile Park (it was originally known as Safeco Field through the end of the 2018 season), opened in 1999, with the Double depicted in a mural as part of the stadium's art collection.
Background
The Kingdome, the Mariners' home stadium from 1977–1999, and site of The Double.
Relocation rumors
For several years the Mariners had been dogged by rumors that the team's ownership group led by Jeff Smulyan had been considering selling and/or relocating the team to a different city.[4][5] This was primarily due to low attendance and revenue[4] caused by the team's losing ways (prior to 1995, they only had two seasons with a winning percentage over .500).[6] In addition, the Kingdome was known for its drab baseball environment and it was beginning to fall apart, causing Mariners games to require rescheduling in 1994.[7]
In 1992, Smulyan's ownership group sold the Mariners to the Baseball Club of Seattle, a consortium led by Hiroshi Yamauchi[8] and later Nintendo of America.[9] Almost immediately, the new ownership group began campaigning with local and state governments to gain public funding for a new stadium. (In 2016, Nintendo of America sold most shares of Seattle Mariners ownership held by it to a new ownership group, though Nintendo retained a 10% ownership of the team after the sale was completed.[10])
In an election held on September 19, 1995, the residents of King County voted against a 1-percentage-point sales tax increase to fund the building of a replacement stadium.[11][12] As a result, the ownership group set an October 30 deadline for local leadership to come up with a plan to finance a new stadium, or they would put the team up for sale.[13]
Mariners make the postseason
After being as many as 13 games out of first place at the beginning of August,[14] the Mariners mounted a late-season comeback that, coupled with a late-season collapse by the California Angels,[15] forced a tiebreaker between the two teams. The Mariners won the tiebreaker, 9–1,[16] winning their first division title and postseason trip in franchise history.
In the ALDS, the Mariners quickly fell into a 2–0 deficit to the heavily favored Yankees in the best-of-five series.[17] However, the Mariners won the next two games and forced a "winner-takes-all" Game 5 at the Kingdome.[17]
In the bottom half of the inning, Yankees aceJack McDowell, who had entered the game in the 9th inning for a rare relief appearance, faced Joey Cora, Ken Griffey Jr., and Edgar Martínez—the second, third, and fourth batters in the Mariners' order, respectively.[18]Second baseman Cora dragged a bunt down the first base line and reached first base safely on an infield hit.[18] Yankees manager Buck Showalter argued the call, believing Cora should have been called out for running off the baselines; however, the umpires' ruling stood. Center fielder Griffey singled to short right-center field, allowing Cora to reach third base.[18]Designated hitter Martinez then doubled down the left field line, scoring Cora with the tying run and Griffey with the winning run.[18] The Mariners' dugout emptied and mobbed Griffey, Martinez, and Cora on the field in celebration of the franchise's first ever playoff series victory.
Dave Niehaus's radio call of the Double is as memorable to Seattle fans as the play itself and became one of the hallmarks of Niehaus's Ford C. Frick Award-winning career:[19]
Right now, the Mariners looking for the tie. They would take a fly ball; they would love a base hit into the gap and they could win it with Junior's speed. The stretch and the 0–1 pitch on the way to Edgar Martínez; swung on and lined down the left field line for a base hit! Here comes Joey! Here is Junior to third base, they're going to wave him in! The throw to the plate will be...LATE! The Mariners are going to play for the American League Championship! I don't believe it! It just continues! My oh My! Edgar Martínez with a double ripped down the left field line and they are going crazy at the Kingdome![20]
No balls and a strike to Martínez. Line drive, we are tied! Griffey is coming around! In the corner is Bernie. He's going to try to score! Here's the division championship! Mariners win it! Mariners win it!
Musberger's call, dramatic as it was, incorrectly implied that Bernie Williams fielded the double in left. Bernie was playing center field at the time. Gerald Williams was in left field playing the ball and making the late throw back to the infield.
The 0-1; the pitch...LINED...base hit down the left field line! The tying run scores! Griffey heads towards third...he's being sent in! The throw home is...not in time! Seattle wins! Seattle wins the Division Series on a double by Edgar Martínez!
Off-field significance and legacy
T-Mobile Park (formerly Safeco Field), home of the Mariners since 1999. The Double is credited with helping to spur public funding for it.
Keeping the Mariners in Seattle
The Mariners' late season comeback, their first division title in franchise history, and ultimately the Double, brought the Seattle fan base back to life and sparked a desire to keep the team in town. Lou Piniella, the Mariners' manager from 1993 to 2002, called Martínez's hit and the 1995 postseason "the hit, the run, the game, the series and the season that saved baseball in Seattle."[1] Soon after the events of October 8, the Washington State Legislature held a special session and approved an alternative funding package to enable the building of a new ballpark, which culminated in the construction of Safeco Field.[11][12] Since 2019, the ballpark has been known as T-Mobile Park.[24]
The Double is regarded by Seattle fans and Martínez himself as the defining moment of Martínez's 18-year Major League Baseball career – which was played exclusively with the Mariners[1][25] – and was one of several highlights of Mariners franchise history in which Martínez played a major role.[2] In 2004, the city of Seattle renamed a street near T-Mobile Park "Edgar Martínez Drive" to honor Martínez's contributions to the Mariners, including his double that "saved baseball in Seattle."[26] Martínez was inducted into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame in 2007, and he was subsequently inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019.[27][28]
In 2007, when Griffey returned to Seattle for the first time since his 1999 trade to the Cincinnati Reds, the image of him at the bottom of the dog-pile after scoring the winning run was included in a photo collage of highlights of Griffey's Mariners career.[25] It was presented to him by former teammates Martínez and Jay Buhner (both retired by then).[29]
The image of Griffey sliding into home plate has been immortalized at T-Mobile Park in a mural created by Thom Ross called The Defining Moment.[30]
The game would be Buck Showalter's last as Yankees manager and Don Mattingly's final game as a player before his retirement. During the offseason the Yankees would acquire Mariners first baseman Tino Martinez, who would go on to be part of the Yankees'1996 World Series winning team, their first under new manager Joe Torre.
The play is featured prominently in SB Nation's third episode of Dorktown: The History of the Seattle Mariners.[32]
^ abLicata, Nick (1999-06-27). "Urban Politics #66". Office of Seattle City Councilmember Nick Licata. Archived from the original on June 3, 2010. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
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