For Seattle Mariners fans, hope is a familiar yet fleeting companion—and 2025 was no exception. Once again, the dream of a championship slipped through their fingers, leaving a bittersweet taste of disappointment. On October 16, 2025, as the Toronto Blue Jays dominated the Mariners 8-2 in the eighth inning of Game Four of the ALCS, the mood at T-Mobile Park was somber. Families like Benji King and his parents, Stephen and Mary, began to exit the stadium early, prioritizing a good night’s sleep for their 10-year-old over the slim chance of a ninth-inning miracle. “This is the type of thing the Mariners do every year,” Benji remarked. “They get your hopes up, then let you down.”
But here’s where it gets controversial: Is it fair to call the Mariners perennial underachievers, or are fans simply setting unrealistic expectations? Since their inaugural season in 1977, the team has lost more games than they’ve won—4,022 losses to be exact—earning them the eighth-worst record in Major League Baseball. They remain the only team never to have reached the World Series. Yet, despite this history, fans like 89-year-old Sandy Gillis, who has rooted for the Mariners since their inception (and the Seattle Rainiers before them), remain fiercely loyal. Gillis stood for every pitch of the Mariners’ 15-inning Division Series win against the Detroit Tigers, calling it “incredible.”
This year marked only the team’s sixth postseason appearance, following a 20-year playoff drought that ended in 2022. For fans like Sophia Rice, 33, the Mariners are “a hard team to get invested in.” Yet, after a rocky first half of the season, a stellar September reignited hope. Rice and her boyfriend, Connor Lawson, 33, spent $700 on bleacher seats for Thursday’s game, daring to dream this could be Seattle’s year. Even after two disappointing losses, their optimism remains. “If the Mariners make it to the World Series, I’ll fly back from Mexico City for those games,” Rice declared.
And this is the part most people miss: The Mariners’ story isn’t just about losses—it’s about resilience, loyalty, and the enduring power of hope. But is blind faith enough to carry a fanbase, or is it time for the team to rewrite their narrative? Let’s spark a debate: Are the Mariners a team of untapped potential, or are they destined to remain baseball’s lovable underdogs? Share your thoughts below—we want to hear from you!
