02 October 2012

The night where everybody scored: The Seattle Mariners' first playoff appearance, part 1.

17 years ago today, October 2, 1995, the Seattle Mariners would engage in a one game playoff with the then-California Angels. Both were tied for first place for the American League Western Division. It was basically do or die. One team would go home, and the other would clinch the the Western Division title. The California Angels had not been in the playoffs since 1986, and Seattle never had been to the playoffs before 1995.

Luis Sojo of the Seattle Mariners was up to bat. He hit a broken bat shot into right field off of Mark Langston, one run scores as the Angels try to find the ball, next comes Tino, then Joey Cora, and then the final nail in the coffin for the Angels: Luis Sojo scores. Everybody scored. An inside the park grand slam.

The game would end with Randy Johnson getting in one last strike out, clinching the division for the Seattle Mariners. October 2, 1995, a banner night for the Seattle Mariners.

1995 kind of represents a return to so many things well and good. In 1994, Major League Baseball was in a player's strike from August 1994 to April 1995. 1994 was like watching something great go to dust. 1995 was like watching something come back from the dead. 1994, the Mariners were not doing so well, then the strike happened. 1995 was like a phoenix rising out of the ashes of the 1994 strike. Players like Ken Griffey Jr, Randy Johnson,etc made the game fun to watch.It would be Seattle's first appearance in the playoffs ever. The night where EVERYBODY scored, and the Seattle Mariners went to the playoffs for the very first time. It means alot to me because as a Mariners fan, it was the first time my team got to shine. Coming off of the ashes of a strike shortened season, and having never gone to the playoffs before, it was a great night for baseball.


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