Mariners’ fandom at an all-time high ahead of playoff appearance
Oct 6, 2022, 4:39 PM
With the Mariners celebrating their first playoff appearance in 21 years, former catcher Dan Wilson hoisted the team flag upon the Space Needle for all to see on Thursday morning.
“The extra hype, the extra emotion behind this time of year just makes it all that much better,” Wilson said atop Seattle’s iconic landmark. “The Mariners are going to come home for baseball. I don’t know how it’s all going to turn out, but they’re going to figure out a way to bring a Division Series back here.”
The last time Seattle was in the postseason, Wilson was behind the plate for the Mariners, catching fastballs from the likes of Freddy Garcia, Jamie Moyer, and John Halama.
The return of (meaningful) October baseball has led to a busy day for shoppers at the Mariners Team Shop at T-Mobile Park. Seattleites are stocking up on gear ahead of Friday’s Wild Card bout with the Toronto Blue Jays.
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October Rise playoff hats and shirts are among the most popular items flying off the shelves. Jerseys are also a hot buy, with M’s rookie phenom Julio Rodríguez as the most popular uniform.
For those chasing a Rodríguez rookie card, more than $6 million worth of Rodríguez cards have sold on eBay over the past 12 months — nearly 90,000 cards in all. Some have sold for more than $20,000.
A lot of postseason merchandise has even sold out at the Mariners Team Store, but shipments to restock inventory are set throughout the team’s playoff run.
The Mariners take on the Blue Jays at 1:07 p.m. Friday, with the game airing on Seattle Sports 710 AM as part of a best-of-three wildcard series.
