2001 Seattle Mariners season
The Seattle Mariners' 2001 season was the 25th since the franchise's inception. They finished with a 116–46 record, tying the List of best [Major League Baseball season won-loss records|major league record] for wins in the modern era since 1901, set by the 1906 Chicago Cubs, and setting the record for wins by an American League team.
Of the 116 wins, 59 were by four or more runs, setting a record that was later broken by the 2022 and 2023 Los Angeles Dodgers, each with 60 such wins. They also led the majors in both runs scored and fewest runs allowed. The 2001 Mariners hold the record for the most Wins Above Replacement by a team in a season in MLB history, with 50.4. Even the 1927 New York Yankees, often considered the greatest team of all time due to their elite "Murderers’ Row" lineup, fell short of the Mariners; they recorded 48.7 WAR, 1.7 less than the Mariners, the second-highest single-season total in MLB history.
On August 5, 2001, the Cleveland Indians accomplished a historic 12-run comeback, defeating the Seattle Mariners 15-14 in 11 innings, after trailing 14-2 in the 7th inning. This remarkable victory, known as the "Great Return," tied a major league record for the largest comeback in a game, featuring five runs with two outs in the ninth inning.
The 2001 season was also notable for the Major League debut of star Japanese outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, who led the league in batting average and won both the Major League Baseball [Rookie of the Year Award#American League winners (1949–present)|AL Rookie of the Year] and the Major League Baseball [Most Valuable Player Award|AL MVP] awards. Additionally, the Mariners hosted their second All-Star Game on July 10.
Winning the American League West, the 2001 season marked the first time the Mariners reached the postseason in consecutive seasons. The team defeated the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS in five games, but fell to the New York Yankees in five games in the ALCS. They became the first team in MLB history to win 110 or more regular season games and fail to reach the World Series. They would later be joined in this regard by the 2022 Los Angeles Dodgers.
Despite the record-setting win total, the Mariners would not reach the postseason again until 2022, which was the longest active drought in the four major North American sports. They would also not win the AL West or return to the ALCS again until the 2025 season.
Offseason
- November 7, 2000: Scott Podsednik was signed as a free agent with the Seattle Mariners.
- November 18, 2000: Ichiro Suzuki was signed as a free agent with the Seattle Mariners.
- December 22, 2000: Bret Boone was signed as a free agent with the Seattle Mariners.
All-Star Game
The Mariners hosted the 2001 Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 10, 2001 at Safeco Field. It was the second time the Mariners hosted the Midsummer Classic, and the first at Safeco Field. Eight Mariners were in the game, including four in the starting lineup. The game resulted in the American League defeating the National League by the final score of 4–1. This would be the final All-Star Game for Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn.Player stats
Batting
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI | SB |
| C | 123 | 377 | 100 | .265 | 10 | 42 | 3 | |
| 1B | 159 | 572 | 173 | .302 | 21 | 95 | 3 | |
| 2B | 158 | 623 | 206 | .331 | 37 | 141 | 5 | |
| 3B | 135 | 470 | 122 | .260 | 15 | 64 | 2 | |
| SS | 140 | 456 | 118 | .259 | 5 | 53 | 4 | |
| LF | 100 | 283 | 68 | .240 | 7 | 42 | 9 | |
| CF | 150 | 540 | 144 | .267 | 25 | 110 | 34 | |
| RF | 157 | 692 | 242 | .350 | 8 | 69 | 56 | |
| DH | 132 | 470 | 144 | .306 | 23 | 116 | 4 |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI | SB |
| 125 | 409 | 117 | .286 | 5 | 57 | 39 | |
| 89 | 281 | 82 | .292 | 4 | 33 | 11 | |
| 79 | 204 | 46 | .225 | 5 | 22 | 1 | |
| 45 | 94 | 28 | .298 | 2 | 16 | 0 | |
| 94 | 64 | 14 | .219 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
| 19 | 45 | 10 | .222 | 2 | 5 | 0 | |
| 17 | 35 | 8 | .229 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 9 | 17 | 3 | .176 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 10 | 15 | 5 | .333 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| 5 | 6 | 3 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | 6 | 1 | .167 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Pitching
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | GS | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
| 34 | 34 | 238.2 | 18 | 6 | 3.05 | 163 | |
| 34 | 33 | 215.0 | 15 | 5 | 3.60 | 114 | |
| 33 | 33 | 209.2 | 20 | 6 | 3.43 | 119 | |
| 28 | 27 | 163.0 | 17 | 4 | 4.25 | 118 | |
| 31 | 17 | 110.1 | 10 | 7 | 4.73 | 50 |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | GP | GS | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
| 17 | 11 | 75.1 | 6 | 2 | 2.03 | 56 | |
| 11 | 4 | 34.2 | 3 | 1 | 5.19 | 22 | |
| 4 | 3 | 14.2 | 1 | 1 | 9.20 | 10 |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; SVO = Save opportunities; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | SV | SVO | ERA | SO |
| 69 | 66.2 | 0 | 4 | 45 | 52 | 3.24 | 62 | |
| 38 | 78.1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3.56 | 60 | |
| 71 | 68.0 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 1.72 | 83 | |
| 69 | 65.1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 2.76 | 88 | |
| 44 | 47.2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3.02 | 48 | |
| 60 | 66.0 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4.36 | 46 | |
| 10 | 11.2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4.63 | 10 |
Postseason
Postseason rosters
- Pitchers: 48 Paul Abbott 37 Norm Charlton 34 Freddy García 54 John Halama 50 Jamie Moyer 43 Jeff Nelson 36 José Paniagua 53 Arthur Rhodes 22 Kazuhiro Sasaki 30 Aaron Sele
- Catchers: 17 Tom Lampkin 6 Dan Wilson
- Infielders: 25 David Bell 29 Bret Boone 5 John Olerud 10 Ed Sprague Jr. 13 Ramón Vázquez
- Outfielders: 19 Jay Buhner 44 Mike Cameron 1 Charles Gipson 28 Stan Javier 23 Al Martin 4 Mark McLemore 51 Ichiro Suzuki
- Designated hitter: 11 Edgar Martínez
- Pitchers: 48 Paul Abbott 37 Norm Charlton 34 Freddy García 54 John Halama 50 Jamie Moyer 43 Jeff Nelson 36 José Paniagua 38 Joel Piñeiro 53 Arthur Rhodes 22 Kazuhiro Sasaki 30 Aaron Sele
- Catchers: 17 Tom Lampkin 6 Dan Wilson
- Infielders: 25 David Bell 29 Bret Boone 8 Carlos Guillén 5 John Olerud
- Outfielders: 19 Jay Buhner 44 Mike Cameron 1 Charles Gipson 28 Stan Javier 23 Al Martin 4 Mark McLemore 51 Ichiro Suzuki
- Designated hitter: 11 Edgar Martínez
Awards and records
- Bret Boone, Most RBIs in one season by an American League Second Baseman
- Ichiro Suzuki, American League Most Valuable Player
- Ichiro Suzuki, American League Rookie of the Year
- Ichiro Suzuki, American League Batting Champion
- Ichiro Suzuki, American League Stolen Base Leader
- Freddy García, American League ERA Leader
- Lou Piniella, Manager of the Year
- John Olerud, first base, starter
- Bret Boone, second base, starter
- Ichiro Suzuki, outfield, starter
- Edgar Martínez, designated hitter, starter
- Mike Cameron, outfield, reserve
- Freddy García, pitcher, reserve
- Jeff Nelson, pitcher, reserve
- Kazuhiro Sasaki, pitcher, reserve