Moose Call: M's Pick First Mascot

The Mariner Moose?

The Seattle Mariners picked a moose as the team's first-ever mascot, edging a sea monster.

The moose was suggested and drawn by 10-year-old Ammon Spiller, a fifth-grader from Central Elementary in Ferndale, will receive $1,000 for the idea. His school also receives $1,000.

More than 2,000 suggestions were received from youngsters 14 and under throughout the Northwest in the Mariners' name-the-mascot contest. Four other finalists will receive Mariner tickets.

Seaward The Sea Monster was submitted by Grant Weaver of Redmond. Mightyball the Seal was entered by Taleah Mona-Lusky of Seattle, Barnie The Mongoose by Rob Sheridan of Bellevue and Daniel Nicholas of Seattle offered Mr. Mariner, a baseball with arms and legs.

``I choose the moose because no other team has a moose,'' Spiller wrote on his entry. ``Mooses are funny, neat and friendly. Also, mooses are not sissies or chichens.

``I could easily imagine a moose doing something to make the audience or fans laugh, but I can't imagine a snake or a fly or something else like that.

``The reason I chose to do this contest is because it would be a big experience for me.''

The moose is scheduled to appear first at the season opener against California April 3.

The team is taking applications for someone to portray the moose. Send applications to: Randy Stearnes, Director of Community Relations, P.O. Box 4100, Seattle, WA 98104.