“The Mariners are going to play for the American League Championship. I don’t believe it. It just continues. My oh my,” former commentator Dave Niehaus said, exclaiming in excitement at the end of game five in the 1995 American League Divisional Series.
Now, 30 years later, the Mariners found a similar tribute.
“Line drive base hit right field, Jorge Polanco, with a walk-off single,” radio commentator Rick Rizzs said. “The Mariners will play for the American League Championship. The Mariners win the battle of Seattle.”
The Mariners continue to make history, and it means more and more to the Pacific Northwest. The team has historically been known as a bad franchise. They have had no success, and their biggest accomplishments are single-player achievements. Their greatest season was in 2001 when they got 116 wins, which didn’t mean much by the end due to the New York Yankees.
Randy Arozarena walking in the outfield of T-Mobile Park before a game on July 19, 2025.
All of their history of not being good won’t matter if the Mariners keep up the magical run they are having right now. On Oct. 5, the Mariners beat the Detroit Tigers and won game two of the ALDS, which was their first home playoff victory in 24 years. The emotion and excitement from within the crowd were shown on the TV broadcast. Many fans in the stands were ecstatic, but also emotional. A fan was seen tearing up, being comforted by his partner next to him.
To follow up this exciting matchup, in game five on Friday night, the Mariners paid homage to Edgar Martinez’ “The Double” from 30 years ago, hitting a walkoff single in the bottom of the 15th-inning. The energy, the emotion and the impact it had on the PNW are unmatched by other sports.
Going to the ALCS for the first time in a lot of fans’ lives, they are up against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays have been juggernauts in the AL, with many expecting them to pack up Seattle’s season early.
In the two games so far, the Mariners have upset the Jays on the road. Both in games one and two, the Mariners’ bullpen gave up zero runs to an offense that was expected to dominate.
Jorge Polanco and Luke Raley practicing base-running during pre-game batting practice on July 19, 2025.
Now only two games from going to the World Series, hope is growing stronger and stronger in the PNW.
It wasn’t just the fans at the games, fans of the Mariners here in Pullman also know how much this season means to them. Walking up and down the WSU campus, you can see many people wearing Seattle Mariners jerseys or hats.
“I’m praying and I’m hoping,” said Aidan Reister, a freshman at WSU.“If they don’t win it’ll hurt me.”
The difference between a lot of Mariners fans in Seattle and the ones on campus, is that most fans on campus have never seen success like this in their lifetime.
Even though the Mariners have had multiple superstars in their franchise history, along with playing very entertaining baseball with memorable moments, the fans have not seen any ounce of success in the postseason.
This 2025 Mariners team can do the impossible, and I think that they will. If they go on to win the World Series, it will change the way that baseball is perceived in Seattle sports.
In the past 20 years, the Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sounders, and Seattle Storm have all had major success, winning multiple championships between the three. The Seattle Mariners, on the other hand, have been the little brother of Seattle sports. The Mariners have only made it to the playoffs once since 2001, which is interesting to consider that a lot of seniors at WSU were born afterwards.
If the Mariners win the World Series, the city will view baseball differently, and it will bring team success along with more fans to come with it. And the feelings of each person who was loyal for all of these years of not being successful will feel even better as they have stuck around through it all. The feeling of watching a team that you have been so loyal to, who has been so disappointing your entire life, finally win it all could be considered one of the greatest feelings ever.
For the most recent ALDS series, the Mariners punched their ticket to the ALCS for the first time since 2001. After losing one in the ALDS, they had their back against the ropes against one of the greatest pitchers in the MLB, and they found a way to win. When everyone was doubting them once again, this 2025 Mariners squad not only elevated themselves, but the fan base.
Anywhere you go in Pullman, you’ll see someone wearing the Mariners with a happy look on their face. College students, Safeway workers, and even some professors are both proud and excited to be Mariners fans. If the Mariners continue on and even win the World Series, there will be a full celebration, not only in Seattle but the entire Pacific Northwest.
“I’ve been a fan my whole life, but the personality behind the team is something you can just get behind,” said Santino Charneski, a senior at WSU.
The next matchup for the Mariners and Blue Jays is Wednesday at 5 p.m. Round by round, step-by-step, the Mariners are doing their best to make these fans happy, and I believe they will.
