The Seattle Mariners baseball franchise originated in 1977. The early days were tough for the Pacific Northwest team. In fact, they didn't have their first winning season until 1991. Still, the Mariners have been home to some of the league's best players over the last few decades.
Ken Griffey Jr., one of the most popular players in baseball history, of course, stands out. There have been other fun stars as well. Here are some of the most collectible cards of players who have suited up for Seattle.
Edgar Martinez 1988 Fleer Glossy
Edgar Martinez came up through the ranks as a third baseman, but it was clear early on that he wasn't a good enough fielder to man the hot corner. That ended up not mattering at all as the Mariner soon proved himself to be one of the best hitters in the major leagues. Appearing mostly as a DH, Martinez would go on to make 7 All-Star teams and win 5 Silver Slugger Awards.
Initially, Martinez wasn't inducted into the Hall of Fame as voters punished him for being a full-time DH. But he was eventually voted into the Hall in 2019. Edgar's best rookie card is his 1988 Fleer Glossy which sells for around $175 in PSA 10 condition.
Ken Griffey Jr. 1989 Upper Deck
As noted earlier, the Mariners did not have their first winning season until 1991. That also coincided with Ken Griffey Jr.'s ascension into superstardom. The young centerfielder would spend his first 11 seasons in Seattle and most of them as the best player in the entire sport.
Griffey, who finished his career with 630 home runs, was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016. Griffey's Upper Deck rookie card was sought after by anyone collecting in the 1990s and remains very popular to this day. A PSA 9 copy of the card will sell for around $200.
Ichiro 2001 Bowman Chrome
In the 1990s, a Japanese group associated with Nintendo purchased a majority share of the Mariners. In 2001, Ichiro Suzuki, one of the best players in the world, announced that he wanted to play in the MLB. Thanks in part to the Mariners' connection with Japan, they were able to sign the outfielder.
Ichiro spent the first 12 of his Hall of Fame years in Seattle. His cards are collectible not only in the U.S. but overseas as well. One of his most sought-after rookie cards comes in the 2001 Bowman Chrome set. The card sells for around $500 in PSA 9 condition.
Felix Hernandez 2004 Bowman Chrome Auto
The Mariners of the 90s featured several star pitchers like Randy Johnson, Mark Langston, and Jaime Moyer. But the best starting pitcher the Seattle ball club ever developed themselves was Felix Hernandez. Signed out of Venezuela at the age of 16. "
King Felix" threw a perfect game in 2012, won the American League Cy Young Award in 2010 and made 6 All-Star games. Hernandez has several rookie cards, with his 2004 Bowman Chrome Auto among his most popular. The card sells for between $150 and $300 depending on the condition.
Julio Rodriguez 2019 Bowman Chrome Auto
Like Hernandez, Julio Rodriguez signed with the Mariners when he turned 16. It didn't take long for the Dominican slugger to become one of Seattle's best prospects. In 2022, the Mariners had Rodriguez start the year in the big leagues. The decision looked brilliant when J-Rod became an All-Star and won AL Rookie of the Year.
As a modern player, Rodriguez's most sought-after rookie card is a Bowman Auto. This particular card can cost over a grand depending on grade and variant.
*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.