Variations On A Color Scheme: Mariners Reveal A Bit More Teal -- `Alternate Style' Added To Team's Uniform Options

They didn't go as outre as Ken Griffey Jr. wanted - as shown when he rolled up his jersey sleeves to give a vest-look to his Mariners' uniform - but Team Teal has gone tealer. Or will, on special occasions next season.

The Mariners, whose makeover last season included a compass logo, unveiled new all-teal jerseys to be worn for 15 to 20 selected home games per year starting in 1994. The teal is set off with lettering across the chest in glittery silver.

There also are redesigned caps with teal tops and blue bills to be worn with regular home uniforms for another 15 to 20 games. And there's a new warmup jacket with one shoulder-sleeve combination in teal.

"We simply wanted to put a variation to the main theme," said Mariner public relations man Tim Hevly. "Sort of like the White Sox do when they wear their all-black uniforms on special occasions." Hevly said the occasions have not yet been decided.

Randy Adamack, Seattle vice president for communications, said the sleeveless jersey for which Griffey lobbied never had a chance.

He denied the change was an effort to repeat the marketing success of the 1993 changes. Major-league products sold 400,000 blue-teal Seattle home caps, compared to 170,000 in 1992. More Seattle caps sold than those of all teams except the expansion Rockies and Marlins.

"The changes are called `alternate style,' " Adamack said. "Three teams had them last year and seven more will do it next season, including us. In all, 22 teams are making changes to their uniforms for next season, six changing the entire uniform."

Notes

-- Adamack said Seattle caps had been spotted on MTV and in Rolling Stone Magazine. He played a film clip that showed Pope John Paul blessing a youngster who wore a Mariner cap during the papal visit to Denver.

-- Team president Chuck Armstrong said that 4,300 season tickets have been sold, an increase of 1,400 over the same date last year; that Opening Night is nearly a fifth straight sellout and that single-game tickets will go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m.

-- The Mariners' new caps will be available for sale tomorrow at the Kingdome box office.

-- Tickets will be available at the Kingdome box office tomorrow and Saturday, starting at 10 a.m., and Monday-Friday next week. Tickets will also be available through TicketMaster.

-- Asked what he thought of the way the 1994 Mariners were shaping up, Griffey said, "I was hoping they'd sign Val (Dave Valle). He's the No. 1 defensive catcher in the league. All my pals are going, Hacman (Jeffrey Leonard), A.D. (Alvin Davis), Harold (Reynolds).

"I hear they may be close to signing Randy (Johnson) to a contract and that's good. I hope they sign Jay (Buhner), too. He's just coming into his own."