Editing Seattle Mariners (section)

==Culture==
==="Louie Louie"===
From the 1990 season through the 2021 season, as part of the seventh-inning stretch, after the crowd was led in singing "[[Take Me Out to the Ball Game]]" or "[[God Bless America]]" the public address system played [[the Kingsmen]]'s version of "[[Louie Louie]]". The song was a regional hit in the Northwest, covered by many local bands for nearly a decade until the [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]]-based Kingsmen recorded their version in 1963. In 1985, the song's regional importance was publicized by a campaign to make it the official state song of Washington. The tradition to play the song during the seventh inning stretch began as an attempt for the then new ownership group to put its stamp on the team, and was solidified on June 2, 1990, when the Kingsmen performed the song in the middle of the seventh inning live from atop a dugout. That game, [[Randy Johnson]] threw the first no-hitter in Mariners history.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stone |first=Larry |date=April 19, 2021 |title=Here's why the Mariners aren't playing 'Louie Louie' during the seventh-inning stretch |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/heres-why-the-mariners-arent-playing-louie-louie-during-the-seventh-inning-stretch/ |work=[[The Seattle Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Mason |first1=Zach |last2=Leary |first2=Adrianne |date=April 18, 2022 |title=Oh, baby, "Louie Louie" did not have to go |url=https://www.lookoutlanding.com/2022/4/18/23029816/oh-baby-louie-louie-did-not-have-to-go-mariners-seventh-inning-stretch-macklemore-change |access-date=April 20, 2022 |website=Lookout Landing |publisher=SB Nation}}</ref>

For the 2022 season, the Mariners replaced "Louie Louie" with the [[Macklemore & Ryan Lewis]] song "[[Can't Hold Us]]". Replacing "Louie Louie" has been a source of contention for some fans.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 24, 2022 |title=Rant & Rave: What happened to 'Louie Louie' at Mariners games? |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/life/lifestyle/rant-rave-what-happened-to-louie-louie-at-mariners-games/ |website=[[The Seattle Times]]}}</ref> The Mariners stopped playing "Can't Hold Us" after Macklemore's comments at a Palestinian benefit concert in September 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-27 |title=Mariners don't play Macklemore song after rapper's controversial remarks |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-dont-play-macklemore-song-after-rappers-controversial-remarks/ |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Buhner Buzz Cut Night===
In 1994, the Mariners started a promotion called "Buhner Buzz Cut Night." Inspired by [[Jay Buhner]]'s shaved head, any fan who was willing to have their head shaved before the game—or was already bald—would receive a free ticket to the game and a T-shirt with a slogan, such as "Bald Is Buhnerful" or "Take Me Out to the Bald Game". Hair 10 inches or longer was collected for charity. The promotion continued until Buhner's retirement in 2001, with a year's hiatus in 2000, and is still remembered by fans today. The club revived the promotion for its 30th anniversary in 2024, with Buhner giving catcher [[Cal Raleigh]] a buzz cut.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-14 |title=Cal Raleigh gets a trim as Mariners celebrate 30th anniversary of "Buhner Buzz Cut" night |url=https://apnews.com/article/mariners-raleigh-buzz-cut-2472bfc7d34881640715d78535af6a7f#:~:text=Seattle%20Mariners%20catcher%20Cal%20Raleigh,%20right,%20poses%20with%20former%20Mariners |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>

===Rally Fries===
[[File:Rally fries sign.jpg|250px|thumb|[[Boston Red Sox]] fans holding a sign requesting rally fries.]]
Rally Fries are a baseball [[tradition]] started by Mariners broadcaster [[Mike Blowers]] in 2007. During a game against the [[Cincinnati Reds]], a fan tried to catch a foul ball along the right-field line but in turn spilled his tray of [[french fries]] along the track. While chatting on the air and seeing the mishap, Blowers's partner, [[Dave Sims]], suggested that he should send a new tray of fries to the fan. Blowers agreed, and sent his intern to deliver a plate of fries to the man.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hansen |first=Patrick |date=May 15, 2011 |title=Seattle Mariners: 5 Best Safeco Field Traditions |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/699195-seattle-mariners-5-best-safeco-field-traditions#/articles/699195-seattle-mariners-5-best-safeco-field-traditions |access-date=October 27, 2012 |website=[[Bleacher Report]]}}</ref>

At the Mariners' next game, fans made signs and boards asking Blowers for fries as well. Coincidentally, every time the fries were delivered, the Mariners seem to score or rally from a deficit, and thus the "Rally Fries" were created. This became so popular with the fans that signs were even seen when the Mariners were the visiting team, although on August 1, 2009, Blowers established that he only gives out fries at home games.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moore |first=Jim |date=August 13, 2007 |title=Go 2 Guy: Fry, fry away -- rally fries take off |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/baseball/327493_moore14.html |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer}}</ref>

Generally, Blowers would select a person or a group of people that appealed to him, whether it was through fans wearing elaborate costumes or waving funny signs and boards. The fries were usually delivered from [[Ivar's]], a Seattle-based seafood restaurant with a location at [[T-Mobile Park]]. The amount of fries given out varied with the size of the winning group of fans. The winners were generally selected around the 5th or 6th inning, although potential candidates were shown in almost every inning beforehand.

Sims confirmed in 2012 that the Rally Fries promotion had ended.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sims |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Sims |date=Aug 21, 2012 |title=Dave Sims on Twitter |url=https://x.com/davesims_/status/237791753690824704 |website=Twitter |quote=It's time came and went! RT @meyers206: @thedavesimsshow Hey Dave, what ever happened to Rally Fries?? #Mariners}}</ref>

=== JROD Squad ===
The JROD Squad honors Mariners center fielder [[Julio Rodríguez]]. The location varies, although it is usually in seats in center field. Fans buying tickets to the JROD Squad section (referred to collectively as ''JROD's Squad'') receive a T-shirt showing a replica of a gold chain Rodríguez wears around his neck.<ref>{{Cite web |title=JROD's Squad {{!}} Seattle Mariners |url=https://www.mlb.com/mariners/tickets/specials/jrod-squad |access-date=October 7, 2023 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> Rodríguez often interacts with the JROD Squad, waving to them and throwing them balls at the end of innings.

=== Previous fan sections ===

====Area 51====
When [[Ichiro Suzuki]] played right field for the Mariners, seats in right field were often informally called Area 51, a nod to Suzuki's uniform number (51) and [[Area 51|the top-secret government site in Nevada of the same name]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-03-28 |title=Mariners Outfielders: Welcome to Area 51 |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/sports/mariners-outfielders-welcome-to-area-51/ |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=Everett Herald |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Greenstein |first=Mike |date=2001-10-17 |title=The Book of Ichiro |url=https://www.wweek.com/portland/article-409-the-book-of-ichiro.html |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=Willamette Week |language=en}}</ref>

====King's Court====
As the 2011 season progressed, the Mariners' marketing staff came up with an idea to encourage the growing fanbase of star pitcher "King" [[Félix Hernández]]. Every Hernández start at T-Mobile Park was accompanied by the King's Court, a designated cheering section for fans to sing, chant, and cheer while donning yellow T-shirts and "K" cards supplied by the team. It was located in the lower seating area along the third baseline.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kolloen |first=Seth |date=July 11, 2011 |title=The King's Court |url=https://grantland.com/features/the-king-court/ |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=Grantland |publisher=ESPN}}</ref> The team encouraged other activities, such as dressing like Larry Bernandez, Hernández's alter ego from a Mariners TV commercial, and awarding fans wearing costumes with a turkey leg.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Floyd |first=Brian |date=June 29, 2011 |title=Félix Hernández Ignites King's Court; Mariners, Marlins Play Calvinball |url=http://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-mariners/2011/6/29/2246979/felix-hernandez-kings-court-mariners-marlins-calvinball |access-date=October 15, 2012 |website=[[SB Nation]]}}</ref>

The Supreme Court was a special event where the King's Court section was extended to the entirety of T-Mobile Park. The first Supreme Court was Hernández's first home game following his [[Félix Hernández's perfect game|perfect game]] in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-16 |title=Safeco Field hosts first ever Supreme Court in honor of Felix's perfect game |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/safeco-hosts-first-supreme-court-in-honor-of-felixs-perfect-game/c-36813588 |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> Following opening day 2012, it occurred each year at Hernández's first home game of each season.

The King's Court ended following Hernández's departure from the Mariners at the end of the 2019 season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-27 |title=Mariners' Felix Hernandez shows appreciation for 'King's Court' fan section during likely final start with Seattle |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mariners-felix-hernandez-shows-appreciation-for-kings-court-fan-section-during-likely-final-start-with-seattle/ |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}</ref>

====Maple Grove====
During the 2017 season, fans created the Maple Grove, a celebration of Canadian pitcher [[James Paxton (baseball)|James Paxton]] and inspired by the King's Court. At home games where Paxton started, a group of fans sat under a Maple Grove banner, typically in the left-field bleachers. A potted maple tree was also present in their section, provided by the Mariners. The Grove dubbed the tree "Stick Rizzs," referencing long-time broadcaster [[Rick Rizzs]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Moore |first=Jim |title=Fan-planted 'Maple Grove' grows at Safeco Field |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/moore/article/Jim-Moore-Fan-planted-Maple-Grove-James-Paxton-11747597.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810170536/https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/moore/article/Jim-Moore-Fan-planted-Maple-Grove-James-Paxton-11747597.php |archive-date=2017-08-10 |work=Seattle P-I}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-07-25 |title=The Mariners put a maple tree in the stands to celebrate James 'Big Maple' Paxton's start |url=https://www.mlb.com/cut4/mariners-put-a-maple-tree-in-the-stands-for-james-paxton-c244268084 |access-date=2025-02-18 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref>

When Paxton got to two strikes on a batter, the Grove held up “Eh” Cards, a tip of the cap to Paxton's home country of Canada and a nod to the "K" (for strikeout) cards held up in King's Court.<ref name=":1" /> Variant cards have also been produced for special occasions, such as when a planned Paxton start turned into a Hernández start (a King's Grove, with "K'eh" cards to cheer for Hernández). Other special cards celebrated Paxton reaching 300 strikeouts, and a tribute to broadcaster [[Angie Mentink]] ("A" cards, to show support after she had publicly disclosed her breast cancer diagnosis). An "Eh" card is now part of the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Fame]]'s collection.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EH sign; in support for Canadian pitcher James Paxton, 2018 {{!}} ArchivesSpace Public Interface |url=https://archives.baseballhall.org/repositories/2/archival_objects/75534 |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=archives.baseballhall.org}}</ref>

The Maple Grove differed from the King's Court in that it was created and organized by fans, while the Court was promoted by the Mariners' marketing team. When asked, Paxton stated that fans creating the Maple Grove was really special to him and that he never imagined that something of the sort would ever be done for him.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Giambalvo |first=Emily |date=July 27, 2017 |title=Mariners fans created the 'Maple Grove' for Canadian James Paxton, and he loves it |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-fans-created-the-maple-grove-for-canadian-james-paxton-and-he-loves-it/ |access-date=January 19, 2020 |newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]]}}</ref> The Grove continued until Paxton was traded to the Yankees following the 2018 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Divish |first=Ryan |author-link=Ryan Divish |date=November 19, 2018 |title=Mariners trade left-hander James Paxton to the Yankees for three prospects |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-trade-james-paxton-to-the-yankees-for-three-prospects/ |access-date=January 31, 2019 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref>