If you miss the playoffs for more than two decades, you should at least get back into them with a bang. (Well, and then do a deep run, but that’s for another day.)
The Seattle Mariners are finally returning to the playoffs, ending the longest active playoff drought in the sport. And the showstopper was a massive walk-off homer from Cal Raleigh:
This pinch-hit homer was indeed historic:
Cal Raleigh became the first player in MLB history to hit a home run with a pinch hit and a walk-off to earn his team a playoff berth.
h/t @EliasSports
— ESPN Statistics & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 1, 2022
His nickname is… Big Dumper?
Seattle grabbed the last AL wild card slot with the biggest home run for the Mariners in decades from a guy nicknamed Big Dumper. He’s had a great year. Mariners will be battling for seeding next week, with the 4 lining up the 5 and the 6 going to Central champion Cleveland.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 1, 2022
The clincher was all the more impressive considering how quickly the Mariners have risen this year:
The Seattle Mariners were 29-39 on June 20 (fourth worst record in AL).
They have since gone 57-31 (second-best record in AL) and potted their ticket to the playoffs for the first time in more than two decades. pic.twitter.com/l9Wu7NsvtR
— Danny Vietti (@DannyVietti) October 1, 2022
A little chronological context on the Mariners finally making the playoffs again:
It was also the same season that Barry Bonds hit 73 home runs, which for some reason probably crossed my mind this week.
Anyway, congratulations to the Seattle Mariners:
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