SEATTLE – In a move that has stirred baseball fans and sparked undeniable pride, the Seattle Mariners have officially announced plans to erect a large statue to commemorate the legendary 2001 season – a team that achieved a record 116 wins in a single season. The statue will be located at Center Field Plaza in T-Mobile Park and is scheduled to be unveiled on September 3, 2026, marking the 25th anniversary of that historic season.
This is not only part of a larger celebration of the 2026 season, but also a profound tribute to a glorious era for the Mariners – where belief, history, and team spirit intertwined with the great changes in America.
2001 was an immortal season for Seattle: with 116 wins, the Mariners set a new record for the Western Conference in the American League and equaled the Chicago Cubs’ record from 1906. This happened in a particularly significant context: following the major social upheavals in the fall of 9/11, the team’s and fans’ spirit of unity became more sacred than ever.
The statue will commemorate the most famous moment of that season: when Mike Cameron and Mark McLemore, along with the team, raised the American flag on the field after clinching the AL West championship on September 19, 2001, days after the terrorist attacks that shook the nation.
Mariners President and Managing Partner John Stanton emphasized the significance of the moment: “We are honored to commemorate one of the most meaningful moments – not just in Mariners history, but in American sports history – when the team connected the community during a time when the nation needed hope the most.”
More than just a celebration of victory, the 2001 statue holds a deeper meaning, linked to the spirit of resilience and unity following a national tragedy. Although the Mariners didn’t win the World Series that year, they became a symbol of hope and community cohesion.
The Mariners announced that the statue will be displayed in T-Mobile Park, creating a space to honor both the team’s sporting contributions and their spirit of overcoming adversity during one of the most challenging periods in recent history.
Fans who witnessed the 2001 season remember not only the victories, but also how the team represented Seattle and an entire nation in a collective recovery. That makes the statue more meaningful than any other sports art piece ever erected.
T-Mobile Park is already a space steeped in memories, from statues of legends like Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martínez to artworks depicting baseball culture. Adding the 2001 team statue will help transform it into a living museum of Mariners history – where every corner of the field tells a story.
With the addition of the 2001 statue to Center Field Plaza, the story of that unforgettable season will be recalled to thousands of fans, both those who witnessed it firsthand and younger generations unfamiliar with that history.
Mariners fans expressed widespread excitement immediately after the news was announced. Across forums and social media, numerous comments express pride, nostalgia for the 2001 season, and hope that the statue will further motivate the Mariners in the 2026 season.
One fan wrote: “The statue for the 2001 season not only honors their achievement, but also serves as a reminder that the Mariners represented the city’s faith at a time when the country needed them most.”
The unveiling ceremony is scheduled for September 3, 2026, immediately after the game between the Mariners and the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park. This will be an opportunity for fans to witness firsthand not only a work of art but also a significant historical milestone for the franchise, deeply intertwined with the memories of the entire United States.
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 2001 season, erecting the statue is not just about remembering a team, but about honoring the value of baseball as a thread connecting community, culture, and history – a love that every Mariner fan carries with them throughout their lives.
