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The Seattle Mariners need to retire number 51 … twice

By Noah Yingling

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Randy Johnson winds up in the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles during the fourth game of the American League Division Championship Series in Baltimore, MD, 05 October. Johnson lost for the fourth time to the Orioles, 3-1, as the Orioles clinched the division series. AFP PHOTO/Ted MATHIAS (Photo by TED MATHIAS / AFP) (Photo credit should read TED MATHIAS/AFP via Getty Images)
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Randy Johnson winds up in the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles during the fourth game of the American League Division Championship Series in Baltimore, MD, 05 October. Johnson lost for the fourth time to the Orioles, 3-1, as the Orioles clinched the division series. AFP PHOTO/Ted MATHIAS (Photo by TED MATHIAS / AFP) (Photo credit should read TED MATHIAS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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The Seattle Mariners have only retired two numbers in their franchise history: number 11 for Edgar Martinez and number 24 for Ken Griffey Jr. There are a few numbers that should definitely be up for retirement consideration but there is one that is so obvious that it’s mind-boggling that it hasn’t been retired (officially): number 51.

Hall of Famer Randy Johnson wore number 51 with the Mariners from 1989 through 1992 and again from 1993 through 1998 (he wore two numbers in between). Nobody wore the number for two seasons after he was traded to Houston in 1998 but they re-issued it … to future Hall of Fame outfielder Ichiro Suzuki.

The Seattle Mariners should officially retire #51 for both Randy Johnson and Ichiro.

Since Ichiro retired with the Seattle Mariners, they have not re-issued number 51 but it is an absolute travesty that they haven’t retired the number.

Johnson entered the Hall of Fame in the Class of 2015. He played two more seasons (10 total) with the Mariners than he did with the Arizona Diamondbacks (eight seasons). However, he was much more successful with the D-Backs as he won four straight Cy Young Awards with them from 1999 through 2002 and he came in 2nd in the Cy Young Award voting in 2004. He also won the World Series (and was World Series co-MVP) in 2001.

Johnson made it to the playoffs with Seattle just twice in 10 years and won one Cy Young Award (1995) and had four more top 10 votes (three top 5).

The Mariners have not re-issued number 51 after Ichiro wore it from 2001 through 2012 and again in 2018 through 2019.

While with Seattle, Ichiro was an All-Star and won a Gold Glove 10 times. In 2001, he won the MVP award and Rookie of the Year Award. He also won three Silver Sluggers (2001, 2007, 2009), two batting titles (2001, 2004), and ranked in MVP voting eight other times.

Later in 2022, Ichiro will be inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame so that would be a perfect time for them to retire the number. Johnson, who is already in the Mariners Hall of Fame, maybe in town for the event anyways.

Next. What's on the Mariners post-lockout to-do list?. dark

It is a travesty that number 51 isn’t already officially retired but the Mariners can right that wrong this season and make a special weekend even more special.

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