This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Shipwrecked-- A Peoples' History of the Seattle Mariners

A book review of the newely released book on the Seattle Mariners.

I was asked by Patch Editor, Lauren Padgett if I would like to do a book review on the new book "Shipwrecked," by Jon Wells who is editor and publisher of "The Grand Salami" (an independent monthly Mariner magazine that is sold outside of Safeco). I am by no means a speed reader but found myself not wanting to put the book down.  There was a few nights I was up past midnight still reading.  With the book being released on April 1, I managed to read all 272 pages in just 9 days. 

This book is for any long-time Mariner fan, it helps to fill in the missing pieces of why trades were made, players were signed or not re-signed. Mr. Wells does a great job going through the Mariner seasons and dissecting the personnel moves of the players, managers and general managers. As you go along, you start to realize the long-lasting, negative impact Mariners' Chairman Howard Lincoln and team President Chuck Armstrong have had on the franchise. Stated a few times in the book is how no one holds Lincoln and Armstrong accountable for their actions. 

I have to admit I am a little bit of a seam-head (someone who follows statistics in baseball) and this book was right up my alley. Mr. Wells looks at how trades and signings effected the Mariners and the teams players went onto play for. One of the telling pages of the book is the complete All-star team comprised of former Mariners. 

Find out what's happening in Bonney Lake-Sumnerwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The other important aspect of the book is how Mariners' ownership runs the franchise more like a business then a baseball team. When the team lost over a 100 games, yet still had the fourth highest attendance in the American League.  What does ownership do but raise ticket prices and lower payroll.

After finishing the book, it left me contemplating which will come first the retirement of Chuck Armstrong and Howard Lincoln or the Mariners winning a World Series.  

Find out what's happening in Bonney Lake-Sumnerwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Bonney Lake-Sumner