Memoirs - 20 Years Of Mariners -- Ken Phelps: Hometown Homer Hitter

For most of six seasons, Ken Phelps lived the dream of being a hometown guy playing for the hometown major-league baseball team.

A graduate of Ingraham High School and a student for a year at Washington State University, Phelps became a Seattle Mariner in 1983.

"It was home and I was glad to be a part of it," Phelps said. "I wish now, looking back, that we had had some winning seasons and it would have been real exciting that way.

"But I enjoyed the fact I was able to spend five years here. It was a good five years for me."

While here Phelps, a power-hitting first-baseman/designated hitter, developed a reputation - justified - as a frequent hitter of home runs.

As a Mariner, Phelps averaged a home run every 13.3 at-bats (105 for 1,399); for his 11-year career he averaged one per 15.1 at-bats (123 for 1,854). Ken Griffey Jr., the M's all-time home-run leader, went into this season averaging a home run for every 16.7 at-bats.

Phelps' hometown dream ended in the midst of one of his best seasons, in 1988, when he was traded to the New York Yankees for Jay Buhner. It is a swap that has taken on cult-like status because of its reference on the television show "Seinfeld."

"At the time, I was somewhat devastated, mainly because I was comfortable here," Phelps said. "I was having a pretty good year. I was hitting about .285 with 14 home runs when I got traded. I was thinking it was going to be my best year.

"So, when it happened I was kind of shocked. I think as ballplayer you often think, `Well, maybe a trade would be good.' But when it happens, it's shocking."

`A pretty good trade'

In retrospect, Phelps said he thinks the trade made sense.

"Back in those days, the M's had to draw the line on salaries a lot more than they are now," he said. "I was one of those guys where my salary was kind of high, and I was getting up in age.

"They got Jay Buhner out of the deal, and they've had some productive years with him. It turned out to be a pretty good trade."

Phelps said the lifestyle change from Seattle to New York took some getting accustomed to, but being a Yankee cushioned the blow.

"Now that I was there and spent a year there, I'm glad I did it because the tradition of playing in New York is something you'll never forget," he said. "I was happy to say I was there. Being a kid growing up in Seattle, I was a Yankee fan."

Now a resident of Phoenix, Phelps said he is doing "a bunch of different things," including coaching his oldest son's Little League team, giving private lessons and helping broadcast the Firebirds' Pacific Coast League games.

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Age: 43. Home: Phoenix Family: Ken and his wife, Debbie, are the parents of two boys, Nathan, 12, and Mack, 5. Occupation: Baseball teacher, radio broadcaster. Major-league career: 11 seasons (.239 batting average, 123 home runs, 313 RBI). Seasons with M's: Six-plus (1983-88). Best year: 1987 (.259, 27 HR, 68 RBI).