In 1984, the Mariners attempted to win their fourth straight championship. The exhibition season started out well, with two lopsided victories in a span of just a few days.
First, a 24-0 massacre of the White Sox on March 4:
And then a 24-1 stomping of the Indians on March 8:
The regular season also went well, as the team won a new record of 126 games, finishing an amazing 90 games over .500! They won the AL West by a whopping 40 games over the Royals. Angelo Perez had an MVP caliber season with .278-39-138 numbers, just missing out on winning the trophy, finishing third to the Yankees' Don Mattingly. Jim "Melody" Denton also had a great year at the plate, posting a .314-36-126 line to finish as runner-up to Mattingly. SS Raul Trevino had a career year, hitting .301-21-103 and winning one of two Gold Gloves for the Mariners this season (Catcher Anthony Miller had the other). Trudel got hurt and lost his job, while Griffin continued his sad decline, hitting only 2 HR on the season and losing his job at 1B early in the season to rookie Alvin Davis.
Bill Hudson won the Cy Young with an incredible 26-2 mark, winning his first 18 decisions. He posted a 1.79 ERA and 304 Ks, winning the pitching version of the Triple Crown. Nolan Ryan was not far behind, going 22-9 with 216 Ks and a 3.65 ERA. Blyleven was once again awesome, winning his 300th game late in the season and putting up a 25-5 mark with a 2.99 ERA & 202 Ks. John Drake made an easy transition from the bullpen to the rotation, going 20-6, 3.08, 179. 5th starter Jim Beattie just missed giving the Mariners a record five 20-game winners, going 19-9. Jensen saved 44 games with a sparkling 1.52 ERA.
In the playoffs, the Mariners met their 1977 expansion mates, the Toronto Blue Jays, who finally broke through with a division title, edging out the always-dangerous Tigers by one game. The M's made short work of them in the ALCS, however, dispatching them in three straight. In the NL, in a case of OOTP imitating real life, the Cubs made their first playoff appearance in eons, beating the Cardinals in a one-game playoff for the NL East title. But also like in real life, they couldn't make it to the World Series, as the Giants beat them in the NLCS, 3 games to 1.
The Mariners then swept the Giants in the World Series for their fourth straight Championship! Dynasty!
Game 4 box score:
1984 AL Standings:
1984 AL Award Winners:
1984 AL Batting Leaders:
1984 AL Pitching Leaders:
1984 NL Standings:
1984 NL Award Winners:
1984 NL Batting Leaders:
1984 NL Pitching Leaders:
1984 Seattle Mariners Team Stats:
