The Seattle Mariners are playoff bound for the first time in 21 years.
And what an epic entrance into the postseason it was, too. Cal Raleigh hit a game-sealing homerun that also sealed the Mariners’ first playoff berth. It was such a fitting end to what has turned out to be a magical season for Seattle.
But, obviously, 21 years is a long time. That means the last time the Mariners made the playoffs was in 2001. Someone who hadn’t even been born yet might be able to legally drink a beer in that time span.
So we thought it’d be fun to take a look back and see what the world was like the last time the Mariners made the playoffs. Below is that list. And it’s almost certainly going to make you feel old, but it’ll also be a fun trip down memory lane.
Enjoy.
Ichiro was a rookie.
That’s right. Mariner legend Ichiro Suzuki had literally just started his career.
The last time the Mariners made the playoffs, in 2001, Ichiro Suzuki was a rookie 🤯 @BRWalkoff pic.twitter.com/Jo0nrFTYiv
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 1, 2022
Nearly 18 years later in 2019, he’d retire as an absolute legend and one of the best to ever do it in Seattle. You love to see it.
Julio Rodriguez was just 8 months old
Just like Ichiro was a rookie sensation the last time the Mariners made the playoffs, Julio Rodriguez is a rookie sensation now.
By the way, he was just 8 months old in October 2001.
The last time the Mariners were in the playoffs, star outfielder Julio Rodríguez was eight months old. pic.twitter.com/1zKZ80xmJ5
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 1, 2022
Let’s hope the drought doesn’t last this long again.
Albert Pujols has hit 664 home runs
A rookie Albert Pujols hit 37 homeruns for the Cardinals in 2001, which was the last time the Mariners made the playoffs. Since then, he’s smashed 664 balls out of the park.
Albert Pujols has 664 regular season home runs since the last time the Mariners made the postseason.
— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) October 1, 2022
Michael Jordan was playing basketball...for the Wizards
Yeah. Wizards Jordan. It was a thing. Jordan officially retired after the 2002-03 season.
The Seattle Mariners are going to the postseason for the first time since 2001.
Tom Brady hadn’t won a super bowl yet
Michael Jordan was on the Wizards
LeBron James was 16 years old
There was no such thing as Tesla, Facebook, iPhones or Twitter
— Ben Stinar (@BenStinar) October 1, 2022
What a time.
Tom Brady wasn't a starter for the Patriots
Not only did Tom Brady still play for the Patriots back in 2001, but he also wasn’t a starter. He was still behind Drew Bledsoe on the depth chart.
11. Speaking of Gisele, the last time the Mariners clinched a playoff spot, the statement “Tom Brady is Starting at Quarterback for the New England Patriots” would’ve been a lie. pic.twitter.com/oJ92AOpHdn
— Cole Cirillo (@sweatycole18) September 30, 2022
Now he’s the GOAT. Go figure.
There were A LOT of Blockbusters still around
Blockbuster definitely wasn’t in its prime in 2001, but there were still thousands of them that existed. To be exact, there were 5,273.
There were 5,273 Blockbuster video locations in operation the last time the Mariners made the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/c8W0h9Jj00
— Geoff O'Neil 🔥 (@GeoffONeil) September 29, 2022
Now there’s just one. And it’s largely just there for show.
The iPhone didn't even exist. The iPod barely did
There was no such thing as a smartphone back then. All those iPhones y’all use today? Yeah, that wasn’t a thing.
The iPod barely existed — it first launched in the middle of the Mariners’ ALCS run.
5.Not only was taking picture of a Mariners Playoff game on your iPhone impossible, you couldn’t even listen to music on an iPod yet the last time the Mariners hosted a playoff game. The iPod first gen was released 10/23/2001, 6 days after they hosted Game 2 of the ALCS. pic.twitter.com/CFruyhUNpX
— Cole Cirillo (@sweatycole18) September 30, 2022
Wild.
In fact, this is what cell phones looked like
Prepare yourself, children.
These were “smart phones” the last time the @Mariners made the playoffs pic.twitter.com/z9bNntiW6a
— Dee Znuts (@DeeZnuts4funS) October 1, 2022
COVER YOUR EYES.
Harry Potter ruled the movie theater
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s stone was the no. 1 movie in theaters at the time. Shoutout to Shrek, too, which had just released.
21 years ago… pic.twitter.com/RbhjXpv8B1
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 1, 2022
Do kids these days even know what Shrek is?
