Opening Day Roster:
In 1977, the first-year Mariners were saved from the typical last-place finish that's more or less expected of expansion teams by the hapless Oakland A's - Seattle finished with 64 wins, the same amount the expansion Pilots had won in 1969. They entered 1978 with manager Darrell Johnson predicting 70+ wins. It wasn't unreasonable - they dealt with injuries all through 1977, for 1978 they had signed Bruce Bochte, John Hale, Leon Roberts and Bob Robertson, all of whom were expected to add to a solid offensive attack, and they featured a number of promising young pitchers. However, although their pitching was decent, their offense was absent for much of the year (their team batting average was on the south side of .250 for most of the year). The team endured several long losing streaks and could never get something going. In the end, they finished a very disappointing 56-104, 35 games behind the Royals in last place. At the gate, they drew nearly half a million fewer fans to the mausoleum-like Kingdome, partly because of poor play but also because they had raised ticket prices after 1977. Team investor Danny Kaye admitted that was a mistake, and the team committed to lowering some prices for 1979.
In their minor league system, Dave Valle, who would become a fixture behind the plate in Seattle in the late 80s and early 90s, was in his first year of pro ball at short-season single-A Bellingham, and future Red Sox hero Dave Henderson was playing ball at single-A Stockton.
Darrell Johnson won the pennant as manager of the Red Sox in 1975, and was probably excited at the prospect of taking over a new team in 1977. 1978 must have tried his soul. Shoulders he could cry on included his hitting and 1st base coach Vada Pinson, his pitching coach Wes Stock, his 3rd base coach Jim Busby and his bullpen coach Don Bryant.
Glenn Abbott, SP:
The team's leading winner in 1977 with 12, Glenn predicted he'd win 15 or more in 1978. He won on opening day, but on April 21 had to go to the DL with a pulled groin. He returned on May 11, but wouldn't register another W until June 18 when he halted an M's 10-game losing streak by beating the Red Sox in Boston (in between he missed 2 starts due to a pulled groin and a sprained ankle he got while playing with kids in his neighborhood). He followed up the Boston win with his best start of the season: a 4-hit complete game shutout in Milwaukee. Still, he finished the year a very disappointing 7-15 with a 5.27 ERA.
Tom House, SP:
Tom started 1978 in the rotation because Mike Parrott was on the DL. He made 3 starts, going 1-2, and was relegated to the pen when Parrott returned on April 20. He also spent time in the rotation when Rick Honeycutt was on the DL in May and June. In all, he made 9 starts and 26 relief appearances, going 5-4, including two complete game wins, with an ERA of 5.66. His final major league appearance came September 29 against the Rangers.
Rick Honeycutt, SP:
In his first full big league season, Rick went 5-11 with a 4.89 ERA in 24 starts. He lost an entire month to the DL (May 25 through June 27) due to elbow tendinitis. On July 24 in Toronto he authored the club's finest ever pitching performance to date by shutting out the Blue Jays, 1-0, on a complete game 3-hitter which featured 4 Ks and no walks. Rick would go on to enjoy a successful and long career as a starter with Seattle, the Dodgers and the Rangers, and as a left-handed relief specialist on Tony LaRussa's dominant A's teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Paul Mitchell, SP:
Paul led the Mariners in starts (29) and innings pitched (168), and he led the starters with a 4.18 ERA. He tossed a complete game 7-hit shutout on May 6 against Toronto, and authored a complete game 4-hit shutout against the Yankees in the Bronx on September 1. It was the first time the Mariners had ever won in New York. Paul finished the year at 8-14, a record which was at least partly due to poor run support.
Dick Pole, SP:
In his second year in the Mariners' rotation, Dick made 18 starts, and compiled a 4-11 record with a 6.48 ERA. He was hit hard by the lack of a Mariners' offense - he tossed two complete games in which he got losses, one of which was a 4-hitter in which he surrendered just 2 runs. In early July he was sent to the pen, and on July 21 was designated for assignment (he subsequently reported to San Jose on July 29). His final major league appearance came on July 18 against the Blue Jays. He threw a single inning of relief, gave up 3 runs on 3 hits and took the loss in the Mariners' 13-12 defeat.
John Montague, RP:
At one point in 1977, John retired 33 straight batters, tying an AL record. Nothing as notable awaited him in 1978. After just 4 appearances, he was forced to go to the DL on April 16 with a bruised hip. He returned on May 25, but was still plagued by hip pointer issues. After two ineffective appearances in late July that saw his ERA go from 4.54 to 6.18, he was sent back to the DL on the 28, where remained the rest of the year. He made only 19 relief appearances, totaling just 43.2 innings. His record, ERA and strikeout-to-walk ratio were among the worst on the team.
Jim Todd, RP:
Jim arrived in Seattle in October of 1977 as the PTBNL in a trade which began before the 1977 season started. In 1978, he was a workhorse for the Mariners, appearing in 49 games and throwing 106.2 innings. He put together a decent record of 3-4 with a 3.88 ERA and was credited with saves in 3 of the 25 games he finished out.
Kevin Pasley, C:
As the Mariners' designated back-up catcher for 1978, Kevin had appeared in just 10 games, and sported a .115 average, when he was shipped down to San Jose in exchange for Bill Plummer on May 7. He was recalled on August 21 when Bob Stinson was sent the DL. He remained with the team for the rest of the season, and saw his final major league action on October 1. He hit a 2-run HR in his final big league at-bat against the Rangers.
Jose Baez, IF:
Jose spent much of the first couple weeks of the year starting at second, but the job quickly became Julio Cruz' to keep. After getting into just 23 games, and hitting only .160, Jose was sent, by special agreement, on June 16 to the Cardinals' AAA club at Springfield. Thereafter he was traded to St. Louis properly on June 26. His final major league appearance came on June 6 against the Yankees - he entered the game as a pinch-runner in the bottom of the 9th in a 3-3 tie, and wound up scoring the game-winning run.
Steve Burke, RP:
In 18 relief appearances covering 49 innings pitched, Steve accumulated a 1-4 record with a 3.49 ERA. He struck out only 16 batters, but walked 24. He was sent down to San Jose on June 8 to accomodate Danny Meyer's return from the DL, and never surfaced again in the majors. His final appearance came on June 2 against the Orioles when he scattered 3 hits over 2 innings of decent relief work.
Shane Rawley, RP:
Shane was one of the most effective and reliable pitchers in the Mariners' pen in 1978. He made his major league debut on April 6 against the Twins, throwing 4 innings of scoreless ball, scattering 3 hits and striking out 3. In a total of 50 relief appearances, spanning 111.1 innings, he went 4-9 with an ERA of 4.12, 66 strikeouts and 4 saves.
Enrique Romo, CL:
Enrique was a 10-year veteran of the Mexican League when he was purchased by the Mariners before the 1977 season. In 1978, as the Seattle closer, he had a record of 11-7 with 10 saves to go with an ERA of 3.69. He struck out 62 in 107.1 innings. In the early part of the year, when the Mariners were looking to add a bat via trade, it was Romo other teams were asking for, but the team refused to part with him. In September, after a game in New York, he was mugged in Spanish Harlem - he suffered bruises and was maced in his face. After the season ended, he was traded to the Pirates and was part of that team's "We Are Family" championship season in 1979. The Mariners received Mario Mendoza in return. 'Nuff said.
Bob Stinson, C:
"Thank God for expansion" Bob was quoted as saying by The Sporting News early in 1978, and with good reason. But for being drafted by the Mariners in 1976, he'd still have been be buried on the Royals roster, or worse, instead of starting in Seattle. He got off to a good start, earning AL Player of the Week honors on April 17. While many of his teammates' offensive numbers were down in in '78, Bob had career-highs with 11 HRs and 55 RBI. A bruised left knee forced him to the DL from August 21 through September 7.
Julio Cruz, IF:
In 1978, Julio settled into the Mariners' second base position, where he would remain until being dealt to the White Sox during the 1983 season. He vowed at the start of the season that he'd steal 50 bases, and in the end he tallied 59. He had a streak of 15 consecutive successful attempts at one point, and on August 12 he set the club record at the time with 3 stolen bases in a single game. On top of this, he led all major league second basemen in fielding.
Dan Meyer, IF:
1978 was the second of 4 straight years with Dan as the Mariners' starting first baseman. In 1977, he had been one of the team's most productive hitters but, like some of his teammates, he fell off considerably in 1978 - down in HR from 22 to 8, in RBI from 90 to 56, and in hitting from .273 to .227. He was on the DL from May 24 through June 8 with a pulled right rib cage muscle.
Larry Milbourne, IF:
Larry was the Mariners' all-purpose infield reserve, splitting 70 games between third, second and short. In the opinion of Darrell Johnson he was one of the finest utility men in the game. Larry credited his faith with allowing him to be able to accept his role as a second-stringer when, like most, he'd rather have been starting.
Craig Reynolds, IF:
Craig finished second on the Mariners with a .292 average (after having hit above .300 for a majority of the year). He he led the team in hits with 160, and authored a 16-game hitting streak in May and June. He was selected to be the Mariners' sole representative at the All Star Game in San Diego, but after the season he was traded to Houston for Floyd Bannister. For the next decade, he was a fixture in the Astros' line-up, including their two NL West Division winners in 1980 and 1986.
Bob Robertson, OF:
A veteran of the great Pirates teams of the early 1970s, Bob spent 1977 out of baseball after undergoing back surgery. He was signed by the M's for his bat and to provide veteran leadership in the clubhouse. In 64 games of playing first, DH and pinch-hitting, he hit 8 HR and drove in 28 runs. He was on the DL from May 7 through May 24 with back pain. Released by the Mariners in January of 1979, he spent part of that season providing a veteran presence for their expansion counterparts in Toronto, but was released by the Jays in July and was done with the major leagues.
Bill Stein, IF:
Another big offensive performer in 1977, Bill was signed to a 3-year deal before the 1978 season got underway. As the starting third baseman, he hit .261 with 4 HR (down from 13) and 37 RBI (down from 67). He'd play another year in Seattle, and then would spend the final several years of his career as a reserve with the Rangers.
Bruce Bochte, OF:
Signed from Cleveland as a FA after the 1977 season, Bruce began 1978 as the Mariners' regular left fielder, and was expected to provide some offensive pop to the line-up. When Ruppert Jones went on the DL in June, Bruce played some centerfield. By August, he was bothered by sore knees and spent the remainder of the year at DH. Altogether, Bruce hit 11 HR with 51 RBI and posted a .263 average.
Steve Braun, OF:
Steve had a disappointing 1977, but came to camp in 1978 feeling better due, in part, to a course of acupuncture he had undergone. He was used as an outfield reserve and pinch-hitter until he was traded to the Royals on June 1 for Jim Colborn. He won a ring with the 1982 champion Cardinals.
John Hale, OF:
John was acquired from the Dodgers in the off-season to shore up the offense and outfield defense. He began the season platooning in right with Leon Roberts. Despite an incredibly weak bat (he was hitting all of .100 on May 10), he remained in the platoon because of his glove. By mid-June, with his average still well below .200, Johnson was forced to sit him in favor of Roberts on a full-time basis. He spent the rest of the season as an outfield reserve, often being used as a defensive replacement. He finished the year with 4 HR, 22 RBI and a .171 average.
Ruppert Jones, OF:
After an outstanding rookie campaign in 1977, "Rupe" worked hard during spring training to become a complete player - he concentrated on bunting and base stealing. An emergency appendectomy while on the road in Boston forced the Mariner center fielder to the DL from June 16 through July 21. The time off, plus maybe a bit of a sophomore slump, caused his numbers to dip from 1977 - 24 to 6 HR, 76 to 46 RBI, and a .263 average to just .235. The spring practice helped his base running, though, as he went from 13 to 22 SB.
Leon Roberts, OF:
Leon, who had split the previous four seasons between the Tigers and the Astros, had a break-out year in 1978. He platooned in right with John Hale through May, but in June was given the job full-time. He led the team in batting average at .301, in HR with 22, and in RBI with 92. It didn't last, though. After two seasons of declining numbers in Seattle, he played the next four seasons in limited capacities for the Royals, Rangers and Blue Jays before leaving the major leagues for good in 1984.
Leroy Stanton, OF:
Lee entered 1978 recovering from a broken ankle he had suffered in the last week on 1977. He had been the team's power king in 1977, but saw his numbers decline significantly in 1978. He started the season as the DH. He covered left when Bochte filled in for Jones in center, and then filled in some in left once Bochte moved to DH in August. In all, he made it into 93 games, and saw his offensive totals from 1977 drop from 27 to 3 HR, 90 to 24 RBI, and a .275 average to .182. His final major league appearance came September 30 against Texas - he went 0-3.
In-Season Moves:
Mike Parrott, SP:
Acquired from the Orioles for Carlos Lopez, Mike had gone 15-7 at Rochester in 1977, and was named the Most Valuable Pitcher in the International League. An injury to his right shoulder forced Mike to start the year on the DL. He was activated April 20, and was in the rotation until he had to go back to the DL on May 3. He was unable to return until July 16, and when he did he made a few spot starts, but was essentially limited to relief work for the rest of the season. On the year, he was 1-5 with a save and a 5.14 ERA.
Byron McLaughlin, SP:
Byron was called up from San Jose when Glenn Abbott went on the DL on April 21. He went back to San Jose on June 27 when Rick Honeycutt came off the DL, but came back to stay on July 28 when John Montague went to the DL. In 17 starts, he compiled a record of 4-8, but somehow led the team in strikeouts with 87 while walking just 39 in 107 innings. After his playing career, he entered the lucrative counterfeit athletic shoe market, was eventually arrested, fled the country, and since the 1990s has been an international fugitive.
Bill Plummer, C:
Bill had backed up Johnny Bench in Cincinnati from 1972 through 1977, and contributed to Big Red Machine championships in 1975 and 1976. He was brought up from San Jose to back up Bob Stinson on May 7 when Kevin Pasley was sent down. He shared starting duties with Pasley when Stinson went down with a bad knee in August. He got into his final major league game on September 7 in Chicago.
Juan Bernhardt, IF:
Juan was summoned from San Jose on May 7 when Bob Robertson went on the DL. For the rest of the season, he provided back-up services at first, third and DH. In 54 games he hit .230 with 2 HR and 12 RBI.
Jim Colborn, SP:
Jim was acquired in a trade with Kansas City for Steve Braun on June 1. In 19 starts, he managed a record of 3-10, a 5.35 ERA and an upside down strikeout to walk ratio. He did manage to beat the Yankees 4-1 in a 3-hit complete game on August 19. His final major league action came as a 3-inning relief appearance against the Rangers on October 1.
Tom Paciorek, OF:
Released by Atlanta on May 23, Tom was ready to quit baseball until the Mariners signed him on May 31 and sent to San Jose. On June 16, he was brought to the Mariners when Ruppert Jones went on the DL. He initially was used as a reserve, but took over in left more or less full-time when Bruce Bochte move to DH in August. He credited M's hitting coach Vada Pinson with helping him improve his hitting, and wound up with a .299 average, the highest yet of his career.
Charlie Beamon, OF:
The son of Charlie Beamon, Sr., who pitched with the Orioles in the 1950s, Charlie Jr. was called up in September when rosters expanded. He made his major league debut on the 11th as a pinch-hitter against the Brewers, and got into a total of 10 games before the season ended.
Tom Brown, RP:
Tom had been a non-roster invitee to Mariner camp in the spring, but wound up spending the season in San Jose. He went 7-8 with a 3.70 ERA at AAA and was called up September. With the big club, Tom made 6 relief appearances, including his major league debut (September 14 against the White Sox) and his final major league appearance (October 1 against the Rangers, in which he threw 3 scoreless, hitless innings).
Rick Jones, SP:
Once a promising Red Sox prospect, Rick was brought up by Seattle in September and made three appearances. His last, on September 30, was his final major league action. He started, went 6, and took the loss against the Rangers.
Other 1978 Mariners Stuff:
Kingdome
201 S. King St.
Seattle, WA
Mariners' Coaches:
Ownership - Group of 6 investors, including Danny Kaye
General Manager - Dick Vertlieb
Director of Baseball Operations - Lou Gorman
Minor League Affiliates:
A (Short Season): Bellingham Mariners (NW League)
41-30, 3rd of 4
Manager: Bob Didier
Future Star: Dave Valle
A: Stockton Mariners (California League)
63-77, 2nd of 4
Manager: Bobby Floyd
Future Star: Dave Henderson
AA: N/A
AAA: San Jose Missions (Pacific Coast League)
53-87, 5th of 5
Manager: Rene Lachemann
Former Star: Mike Kekich
Don Bryant
Jim Busby
Summary of Roster Moves:
April 16 - Montague to DL (active roster to 24)
April 20 - Parrott from DL (active roster to 25)
April 21 - Abbott to DL, McLaughlin from San Jose
May 3 - Parrott to DL (active roster to 24)
May 7 - Pasley to San Jose, Plummer from San Jose
May 7 - Robertson to DL, Bernhardt from San Jose
May 11 - Abbott from DL (active roster to 25)
May 24 - Meyer to DL, Robertson from DL
May 25 - Montague from DL, Honeycutt to DL
June 1 - Braun to Royals for Colborn
June 8 - Meyer from DL, Burke to San Jose
June 16 - Baez to Springfield (active roster to 24)
June 16 - Ruppert Jones to DL, Paciorek from San Jose
June 27 - Honeycutt from DL, McLaughlin to San Jose
July 16 - Parrott from DL (active roster to 25)
July 21 - Pole designated for assignment,
Ruppert Jones from DL
July 28 - Montague to DL, McLaughlin from San Jose
August 21 - Stinson to DL, Pasley from San Jose
September 7 - Stinson from DL
September Call-Ups: Beamon, Brown and Rick Jones
Wes Stock
Vada Pinson
