1996 Seattle Mariners season

The Seattle Mariners 1996 season was their 20th since the franchise creation, and ended the season finishing second in the American League West,with a record of 85-76, five games behind the first place Texas Rangers. The Mariners scored more runs during the 1996 regular season (993) than any other MLB team. In addition, four Mariners scored at least 100 runs and four drove in at least 100 runs.

Offseason

• November 29, 1995: Mike Blowers was traded by the Mariners to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Willis Otañez and Miguel Cairo.^[1]
• January 23, 1996: Aaron Small was selected off waivers by the Mariners from the Florida Marlins.^[2]
• January 29, 1996: Aaron Small was selected off waivers from the Mariners by the Oakland Athletics.^[2]
• March 25, 1996: Ricky Jordan was purchased by the Seattle Mariners from the California Angels.^[3]

Regular season

Season standings

Notable transactions

• April 13, 1996: Félix Fermín was released by the Mariners.^[4]
• June 4, 1996: 1996 Major League Baseball Draft
  • Gil Meche was drafted by the Mariners in the 1st round (22nd pick). Player signed June 9, 1996.^[5]
  • Juan Pierre was drafted by the Mariners in the 48th round, but did not sign.^[6]
  • Sean Spencer was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 40th round of the 1996 amateur draft. Player signed August 26, 1996.^[7]
• August 1, 1996: Greg Pirkl was selected off waivers from the Mariners by the Boston Red Sox.^[8]
• August 14, 1996: Roger Blanco (minors) was traded by the Mariners to the Atlanta Braves for Mark Whiten.^[9]
• August 22, 1996: Luis Sojo was selected off waivers from the Mariners by the New York Yankees.^[10]
• August 29, 1996: The Mariners traded a player to be named later to the Minnesota Twins for Dave Hollins. The Mariners completed the deal by sending David Ortiz to the Twins on September 13.^[11]

Roster

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

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Other pitchers

Relief pitchers

Awards and honors

Alex Rodriguez became the first shortstop in 56 years to win the American League Batting Crown.^[12]

• Alex Rodriguez, American League Batting Champion

Farm system

^[13]

References

1. ^ Mike Blowers page at Baseball Reference
2. ^ ^{a b} Aaron Small page at Baseball Reference
3. ^ http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jordari02.shtml
4. ^ Félix Fermín page at Baseball Reference
5. ^ Gil Meche page at Baseball Reference
6. ^ Juan Pierre page at Baseball Reference
7. ^ http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/spencse01.shtml
8. ^ Greg Pirkl page at Baseball Reference
9. ^ Mark Whiten page at Baseball Reference
10. ^ Luis Sojo page at Baseball Reference
11. ^ David Ortiz page at Baseball Reference
12. ^ Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p.371, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, NY, ISBN 978-0-451-22363-0
13. ^ Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 2nd and 3rd editions. Durham, N.C.: Baseball America, 1997 and 2007

External links

• 1996 Seattle Mariners
• 1996 Seattle Mariners team page at www.baseball-almanac.com