Buhner to be inducted into Mariners Hall of Fame
Induction ceremonies will be Tuesday, Aug. 24, at Safeco Field, before the game with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
"The Bone" becomes the third member of the Mariners Hall of Fame, joining former first baseman Alvin Davis, who was inducted in 1997, and Dave Niehaus, the voice of the Mariners on radio and television, who was inducted in 2000.
"Jay Buhner was a force on the field, a leader in the clubhouse and a leader in the community,'' said Mariners president Chuck Armstrong. "He was a key member of the 1995 team that literally saved Major League Baseball in the Northwest. Most importantly, he truly connected with the fans.''
In 1988, the Mariners traded first baseman Ken Phelps to the New York Yankees and received Buhner. He proceeded to patrol right field at the Kingdome and Safeco Field for the next 14 seasons. He belted 310 home runs with 965 runs batted in during his Major League career. From 1996-98 he became just the 10th player to hit 40 or more home runs in three consecutive seasons (since then nine other players have done so). Jay ranks among Mariners career leaders in games (1,440; 3rd), at-bats (4,922; 3rd), runs (790; 3rd), hits (1,255; 3rd), doubles (231; 3rd), triples (19; tied for 7th), home runs (307; 2nd), RBI (951; 3rd), total bases (2,445; 3rd), extra-base hits (557; 3rd), slugging percentage (.497, 5th) and walks (788; 2nd).
Off the field, Buhner was the inspiration for the unique "Buhner Buzz Nights" that took place each season from 1994-2001. Thousands of fans lined up hours before the games to have their heads shaved and receive free admission to salute Buhner, and on several nights received "Bald is Buhnerful" T-shirts. In 1997, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation presented him with the Breath of Life Award for his outstanding commitment to Cystic Fibrosis.