Bucky Jacobsen and Floyd Bannister are scheduled to throw out ceremonial first pitches on Friday and Sunday before the Seattle Mariners meet the Los Angeles Angels at Safeco Field, part of the Mariners season-long 40th Anniversary celebration, presented by Alaska Airlines.
Jacobsen will throw out the first pitch before the Mariners meet the Angels on Friday, September 8 (7:10pm), and Bannister will do the honors on Sunday, September 10 (1:10pm).
Bucky became a fan favorite in Seattle during his brief time with the Mariners. Signed as a free agent after the 2003 season, Jacobsen began 2004 with the AAA Tacoma Rainiers where he hit .312 and was selected for the AAA All-Star Game, where he won the home run hitting contest. Jacobsen earned a call-up to the Big Leagues in mid-July and during a torrid 42 game stretch, he hit nine homers and drove in 28 runs.
A nagging knee injury ended his season in early September. Jacobsen missed all of 2005 recovering from surgery. He later played for the Long Island Ducks in the Independent League and in the AAA Mexican League before retiring from professional baseball after the 2007 season. A native of Oregon, Jacobsen has returned to the Northwest where he has operated a youth baseball academy and served as a broadcast analyst for Mariners games.
Floyd Bannister was acquired by the Mariners in 1979 from the Houston Astros in exchange for shortstop Craig Reynolds. Of his four years in Seattle (1979-1982), his final season was his best. He was the 1982 Opening Day starting pitcher, was selected for the American League All-Star team, and led the League in strikeouts with 209, a career high.
For Bannister, his time with the Mariners was a homecoming. As a stand-out pitcher at Burien's Kennedy High School, he led the team to a state championship in 1973, posting a record of 15-0 with a 1.88 earned run average.
After 1982, Bannister signed as a free agent with the Chicago White Sox (1983-1987). Over a 15 year career, he also played for the Kansas City Royals (1988-1989), California Angels (1991) and Texas Rangers (1992). Bannister also played one season in Japan with the Yakult Swallows (1990).
Bannister now lives in Phoenix.
Friday is also Guys Night Out at Safeco Field, with special prices, a Mariners beanie and one free drink for those who purchase tickets through Mariners.com/Guys. Deadline to purchase tickets is Thursday, September 7, at 5:00 pm.
It's also the annual Crohn's & Colitis Night at Safeco Field, with Pearl Jam's Mike McCready scheduled to perform the National Anthem before the game.
Sunday, all kids 14 and younger are invited down onto the field postgame to run around the bases.
Tickets for all remaining Mariners games are available at Mariners.com/Tickets, at the Safeco Field Box Office, Seattle Mariners Team Stores (4th & Stewart in downtown Seattle, Bellevue Square, Southcenter Mall and Alderwood Mall), and by phone at 1-888-SEA-HITS.