Seattle Mariners: Top 50 players of all time
By Nick Lee
9. Jay Buhner (1988-2001)
Jay “Bone” Buhner came over to Seattle in a deal with the Yankees in 1988. This would be one of the bigger trades in franchise history.
His Mariners career really took off in 1991, when he hit 27 home runs. He went on to have seven 25+ home run seasons as a Mariner.
Buhner’s best season came in 1996, when he hit career-highs with 44 home runs and 138 RBI. He made strides as an overall hitter, walking 84 times with a .369 on-base percentage.
He also reached career highs in hits (153) and runs scored (107). He would earn an All-Star selection and a Gold Glove that year.
Buhner was a part of all four postseasons in Mariners history. He hit .306 with eight home runs in those postseason appearances.
He hit three home runs in the 1995 ALCS against the Indians. Buhner also hit for the cycle on June 23rd, 1993 against the Oakland Athletics. It took until his triple in the 14th inning to complete it.
Buhner ended up playing 14 seasons with Seattle and becoming a fan-favorite. He would be inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame in 2004. Buhner has his name all over the Mariners record books.
Only Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez hit more home runs and had more RBI as a Mariner than Buhner. He finished his Mariners career after the 2001 season with 1,273 hits, 310 home runs and 965 RBI, as well as 22.9 WAR (sixth best in franchise history).
[Editor’s note: Buhner was also famous for his ‘Buhner Buzz Cut Night,’ a style I have never deviated from since Kindergarten.]