Mike Blowers had confidence in ability, saw 11 ML seasons
.jpg)
Mike Blowers arrived with his new organization, the Yankees, and soon arrived in September 1989 for the first time in majors.
To his hometown Tacoma News Tribune, spoke of getting there, in his fourth pro season. But also what he had to do to stay.
"For me to get here this quick is great," Blowers told The News Tribune. "But there is no job security right now. I can't look into the future, but I have confidence in my ability. I feel like I am going to get a chance to win a job."
For Blowers, his future included more than a decade spent in the majors with four different organizations, most notably six spent with the Mariners.
Blowers' career began in 1986, taken by the Expos in the 10th round of the draft out of the University of Washington.
Blowers started with the Expos between the rookie Gulf Coast League and short-season Jamestown. He made AA Jacksonville in 1988 and AAA Indianapolis in 1989.
He then got sent to the Yankees in August 1989 for John Candelaria. He made his major league debut Sept. 1. He saw 13 games overall and hit .263.
Blowers returned for 48 more games in 1990, along with 62 at AAA Columbus. He saw 15 in New York in 1991 before being traded that May to the Mariners, a trade Blowers welcomed in hopes of more.
"I started Opening Day, went 1 for 2 with a home run and then got pinch it for," Blowers told Gannett. "That was kind of an indication of how things were going."
He spent the rest of that year at AAA. But Blowers made it to Seattle for 1992 and saw 31 games. He then became a regular for 1993, seeing 127. In 1995, he helped Seattle to the American League Championship Series. He hit a two-run home run in a Game 1 Seattle win.
"I felt like (Indians pitcher) Dennis (Martinez) was going to go after me with two outs," Blowers told the Associated Press after that home run. "So I knew I was going to hack at it if I got a pitch to hit. I just wanted to put a good swing on a fastball and, fortunately for me, I did."
Blowers moved to the Dodgers for 1996, then Seattle again for 1997. He saw 129 games with the Athletics in 1998, then 19 final games back with the Mariners. He also saw 73 games in Japan in 1999 with Hanshin.
Blowers later went into broadcasting, serving 17 years with the Mariners through 2024.
- Tacoma News Tribune, Sept. 13, 1989: Local slugger steadily gets to big league
- Mount Vernon Argus, Gannett, May 18, 1991: Yankees try to cool down hot corner
- Tri-City Herald, Associated Press, Oct. 11, 1995: Blowers patient, potent
Made the Majors:1,464-31.8%-X
Never Made Majors:3,141-68.2%