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Team Guide · AL West

Seattle Mariners

Ken Griffey Jr.'s first and last team — a guide to his Mariners-era cards, from the 1989 rookies to his 2009–2010 return, and how they fit next to his Reds-era cards.

City
Seattle
League
AL West
Founded
1977

The Seattle Mariners are where Ken Griffey Jr.’s story starts and ends. Seattle took him #1 overall in the 1987 draft, he debuted with the club in 1989, played there through 1999, and came back for 2009 and 2010 to finish his career. In 1990 he shared the Mariners outfield with his father, Ken Griffey Sr. — the reason father-son Griffey cards are a collecting niche of their own.

For collectors, the Mariners connection is most of the appeal: every one of his 1989 rookie cards is a Mariners card, from the 1989 Upper Deck #1 down, and his 1990s Seattle cards cover the decade he became the face of the sport, including his 1997 AL MVP season. His Cincinnati Reds cards (2000–2008) form a separate, generally more affordable chapter — see Mariners vs Reds-era cards for how the two compare.

Sources: the Mariners’ first season in 1977 per HistoryLink and Wikipedia’s 1977 Seattle Mariners season.

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Featured Seattle Mariners Players

Player Guide

Ken Griffey Jr.

Center Fielder (CF)

"The Kid" — Seattle Mariners center fielder, 630 career home runs, 1997 AL MVP and Hall of Famer with 99.32% of the vote. A guide to his cards, his 1989 rookies, autographs and how to research values.

Cards to Collect for Seattle Mariners Fans

Frequently Asked Questions

How long did Ken Griffey Jr. play for the Mariners?
Two stints: 1989 through 1999, then again in 2009 and 2010, when he returned to Seattle to finish his career. In between he played for the Cincinnati Reds (2000–2008) and briefly the Chicago White Sox (2008).
Which Mariners-era Griffey cards matter most?
His 1989 rookie cards — led by the 1989 Upper Deck #1 — are the anchor of his entire market, and every one of them pictures him as a Mariner. His 1990s Mariners cards and inserts, from the decade he won the 1997 AL MVP, are the next most collected group.
When did the Mariners start playing?
The Mariners joined the American League as an expansion team and played their first season in 1977.