Fans dressed as '95 Mariners toss first pitch

SEATTLE -- The Mariners had some nostalgic reinforcements in the house on Friday. Remember those fans that dressed up as the 1995 team from the season-opening homestand? Their commitment to the detailed look, as well as their camaraderie, went viral in the Seattle sports region.

So, when the Mariners planned a '90s Night on Friday against Houston, they figured there wouldn’t be a more appropriate group to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. And it was no ordinary such sequence. No, this squad -- in fitting fashion -- reenacted the 1995 AL West-clinching moment on the final day of that regular season, with each of the dressed up fans manning their respective positions, playing the part of the player whose jersey they donned and celebrating on the mound after.

The iconic call from broadcaster Dave Niehaus played on the loudspeakers, as the group reenacted Randy Johnson striking out the Angels’ Tim Salmon to secure the first postseason berth in franchise history.

“Those guys being out here today brought back so many memories,” said Mariners radio broadcaster Rick Rizzs, who was with the team in 1995 and spoke at length with the group pregame. “And when they played Dave’s call, I just got goosebumps all over again.”

Tyler Milam of North Seattle, who plays an uncanny Big Unit, is the brains behind the operation, having started this in 2017 with his buddy, Kristian Lowrie, who plays Dan Wilson. A powwow that began as just the two of them grew into a group of 13, composed of men in their 30s and 40s who were youngsters when the Mariners’ magical run helped save baseball in Seattle.

For them, it’s about the fun, but they also intended to go all-in.

Milam studied photos from Getty Images and old video clips to help perfect each look. He even had hair extensions installed in March in order to mimic Johnson’s mullet. His buddy, Jack Floyd, who played Ken Griffey Jr., had The Kid’s classic backwards hat and wore a pair of the Nike Air Griffey Max 1’s. Justin Anderson, who played Jay Buhner, wore a bald cap. Lowrie had Wilson’s backwards helmet and catching gear from Wilson Sporting Goods, just as Seattle’s backstop used to wear.

“I've never seen any other team have a bunch of guys reenact something like that or dress up like certain players of a certain era,” Rizzs said.

It’s not just the resemblances that were on point -- the apparel was just as detailed.

The jerseys are custom made from Russell Athletics, featuring nameplates, which are no longer used today, and the 75th anniversary patch honoring the Negro Leagues, which all MLB players wore in 1995. The hats are via an authentic Diamond Era collection featuring the Mariners’ teal crown and navy bill. The jerseys were printed by STT Sports Lettering and owner Jerry Thornton, who has been in business since 1982 and specializes in tackle twill embroidery, just as they were done back then. The Mariners are a client of STT today.

“This is very intricate,” said Milam, who is a vintage collector in his spare time. “I would be very impressed if somebody did something in the ilk of what we did.”

The only difference in the look from the AL West clincher and that of Milam’s squad is that they opted for the Mariners’ Northwest Green instead of the standard home white.

“Just because they're like the most iconically '90s look,” Milam explained. “The teal jerseys, the teal hats -- it’s just like a total '90s look.”

Overall, Friday’s group represented the looks of Johnson (Milam), Wilson (Lowrie), first baseman Tino Martinez (Derrick Faylona), second baseman Joey Cora (Tim Janson), third baseman Mike Blowers (Derek Prenner), shortstop Alex Rodriguez (Bob Utama), left fielder Rich Amaral (Jeremy Kroll), Griffey (Floyd), Buhner (Anderson), designated hitter Edgar Martinez (Nate Kelly), closer Norm Charlton (Craig Schweikl), a bat boy (Carter Milam) and manager Lou Piniella (Eric Corbin).

Hours before first pitch, when the group was practicing their theatrics, Rizzs snapped a picture that he intends to print and store in the radio booth as a keepsake, adding to his collection.

“Basically, pictures of a lot of history of the Mariners seasons, year after year,” Rizzs said. “So I will put their picture on the wall, because that '95 team saved baseball. Without those guys, even though those guys weren't the guys, but they represented the guys that saved baseball here in the Pacific Northwest.”