WHEREAS, The Seattle Mariners joined Major League Baseball's American League in 1977 as an expansion franchise; and

WHEREAS, The Mariners' first winning season came in 1991, when they finished 83-79; and

WHEREAS, The 1995 Mariners reached the MLB playoffs for the first time, led by eventual Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, and Randy Johnson; and

WHEREAS, The 1995 Mariners forever earned a place in Pacific Northwest sports lore when they rallied from two games down to beat the New York Yankees in five games, capped by Edgar Martinez's double down the left-field line to score Joey Cora and a sliding Ken Griffey Jr. as fans in the Kingdome roared; and

WHEREAS, The Mariners reached the playoffs in 1997, 2000, and 2001, with attendance averaging over three million fans in each of those three seasons; and

WHEREAS, The Mariners then experienced a playoff drought lasting two decades; and

WHEREAS, The 2021 Mariners rekindled hope among fans by finishing the season with a 90-72 record and barely missing the playoffs; and

WHEREAS, The 2022 Seattle Mariners overcame a slow start early in the season to win 14 straight games in July and finish the season with another 90-72 record, but this season had a happier finish; and

WHEREAS, On September 30, 2022, the Mariners ended their playoff drought and clinched an American League wild card berth when Cal Raleigh hit a walk-off home run at T-Mobile Park to defeat the Oakland Athletics 2-1; and

WHEREAS, During the 2022 playoffs, the Mariners defeated the Toronto Blue Jays two games to none in the wild card round before being swept by the eventual 2022 World Series champion Houston Astros in three close games, including a marathon 18-inning, 1-0 Game 3 loss in Seattle; and

WHEREAS, The Mariners' 2022 season highlights included the exciting play of American League Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez, who finished with 28 home runs and 25 stolen bases in addition to his Griffey-esque play in center field; and

WHEREAS, The 2022 Mariners' pitching staff, from its starters to its relievers, earned a reputation as one of the best in the American League; and

WHEREAS, Hope and expectations are high among fans as the Mariners begin the 2023 season;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate congratulate the Seattle Mariners on reaching the 2022 American League playoffs and ending their 21-year postseason drought; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate wish good luck to the Mariners on their 2023 season and that it ends with a long-awaited World Series championship. Go M's!