The 1969 Seattle Pilots: Major League Baseball's One-Year Team

by Kenneth Hogan

The Mariners were not Seattle's first major league baseball team. In 1937, Seattle businessman Emil Sick bought the city's failing Pacific Coast League team, the Indians, renamed them the Rainiers and constructed a new, state-of-the-art stadium. Over the next few decades, at least two teams--the Kansas City A's and the Cleveland Indians--would consider relocating to Seattle, and both PCL president Dewey Soriano and Cleveland Indians owner William Daly lobbied to bring a major league team to the booming city. Their efforts paid off in 1967, when despite shrinking Rainiers attendance figures, Seattle was awarded the second of two American League expansion teams. For one season--1969--Sick's Stadium became the home of the Seattle Pilots. From the earliest days of the franchise through their final move, this book tells the story of the first one-year team in the American or National League since 1901 (when, ironically, the Milwaukee Brewers left town after the AL's first year of major-league status). After a concise discussion of Seattle's amateur and minor league history, the main text provides a detailed account of the efforts to bring major league baseball to town, the first team draft, the 1969 spring training and regular season, the attempt to save the team, and finally the move to Milwaukee. Brief interviews with fourteen players round out the text. Tables including a team roster, final league standings, wins and losses and player stats are also provided.

Genres: Baseball, Sports, History

204 pages, Paperback

First published November 27, 2006

Reviews

[Stoney Setzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the most obscure team in the history of Major League Baseball, the 1969 Seattle Pilots are mainly known for two things: 1) being the focal point of Jim Bouton's controversial tell-all "Ball Four," and 2) only playing one year before a bankruptcy forced them to relocate to Milwaukee, where they became the Brewers. The Pilots weren't completely devoid of talent--their leadoff hitter led the Majors with 73 stolen bases, and their first baseman clubbed 25 homers--but pitching woes and injuries eventually mired them into last place. What really did them in, however, was profound mismanagement that kept the roster in in continuous transition and also wrecked the team's finances.

Kenneth Hogan clearly did his research, judging from the bibliography, statistical information, and player interviews he incorporates into the book. On the downside, he could have used a proofreader; a number of grammatical errors can be found, particularly in punctuation. If you can overlook this, however, then this book is an informative look into a team whose legacy is a matter of baseball trivia.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1969 I was a chubby little 11-year-old super fan of the Pilots from across town in Northeast Seattle, got Dad to take me to a few games, still remember my favorites from that summer and have my Tommy Harper souvenir bat and a big ol’ red Pilots pennant.

So I really wanted to give this one five stars. But the unprofessional editing with typos and grammar errors threw me off. And the author proved he’s from New York when he said you could see “the Rainier Mountains” from the stadium. Sorry, nope.

A-grade effort on detailed accounts of each game. Loved the interviews with the players at the end, especially Mike Marshall’s monosyllabic answers. Hilarious and totally in character, from what I recall of Bouton’s descriptions of Marshall in Ball Four.

Nothing wrong with being from NY, sir. Just don’t misstate local geography. Good book, could have been way better.

Go Go You Pilots!
https://youtu.be/gPAkO-pV-jM?si=CCI2X...

[Hank · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Interesting Book

A good read if you are a baseball fan. I was too young (age 7) to remember this team. Always wondered why this team was only in existence for 1 season.

[Eric Berg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun tour of the tram, players, management, owners. season, and stadium. The book is put together in the way you’d expect, mostly game-by-game but held my attention.

[Bennett Oden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A team born to die

A good history of a team born to die. Didn't really have a chance. The first MLB team in Seattle.

[Joshua Pechthalt · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun read

This is a book for a narrow audience but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love reading about the ball players I grew up watching. Any book that has Tommy Davis is worth reading.