'Sweet Lou'

The Mariners didn’t make it into the playoffs this year, but fans can still celebrate past victories by revisiting Lou Piniella's winning Seattle seasons in his newest book: “Lou – Fifty Years of Kicking Dirt, Playing Hard, and Winning Big in the Sweet Spot of Baseball”

Lou Piniella was the Mariner’s manager from 1993-2002. Photo by Ben Van Houten, courtesy Seattle Mariners

Seattle Mariners’ fans exploded seeing Manager Lou Piniella on the field, kick dirt and heave his cap. He also yanked out first base, tossed it, ran after it and tossed it again. Players in the dugout appeared just as entertained by Lou’s antics as his thousands of fans. That was our “Sweet Lou” [nicknamed originally for his ‘sweet’ swing, and later for his antics].

Not only did Seattle Mariners’ fans cheer for their beloved players, but also shouted a chorus of “LOU! LOU! LOU!” in support of the manager who turned Seattle into a winning baseball town.

Just once in the first 16 years of the franchise did the Mariners have a winning season. Over the entire course of those initial years, the Mariners drew in two million fans. With Piniella at the helm, in 1993 alone the Mariners attracted over two million fans. By 1995, Lou not only won games but won fans by taking his team to the post season. The Mariners’ success led to the approval of a financing plan for the new open-air stadium, which would become Safeco Field. This also led to the imploding of the deteriorating Kingdome.

Lou was lured to a dying Seattle baseball team by, first, a dinner at Snoqualmie Falls Lodge with Mariners’ then owners John Ellis, Chuck Armstrong, Howard Lincoln and General Manager Woody Woodward. The prospect of salmon fishing in Puget Sound also piqued his interest. But Lou’s wife, Anita, didn’t like the idea of her husband taking a job 3000 miles away from their home in Tampa, Florida and responded, “No! No! No! It’s all the way across the country.”

However, Lou liked the salary offer, loved a challenge and he’d be handed a talented player by the name of Ken Griffey, Jr. He discussed the advantages of the move with Anita and said “yes” to the Mariners’ owners.

According to Piniella, baseball is about people and relationships, the players, management, coaches and fans. “There isn’t a nicer ballpark than Safeco Field and we have the best fans in baseball,” he said. “In fact, Seattle is probably the best baseball town in America. But there’s a little void there, a World Series!”

During Piniella’s time as Mariners’ manager from 1993 through 2002, he led the team to four post-season appearances in ten seasons (all Mariners’ playoff appearances in the team’s history were under Piniella), and set a team record of 116 wins in 2001. He was named Manager of the Year three times, in 1995, 2001 and 2008.

Lou says, “A manager is as good as the players he has and those who got him the players.” And what an incredible line-up Lou had! These were the years of Dan Wilson, Brett Boone, Alex Rodriguez, Joey Cora, Ken Griffey, Jr., Edgar Martinez, Randy Johnson and Ichiro Suzuki, to name a few.

As one long-time season ticket holder says, “Lou had passion for the game. There was great camaraderie there. He was very competitive.”

Lou Piniella, Rookie of the Year, 1969 Kansas City Royals

Lou, as player, coach and manager, tallies up 50 years in baseball. For sixteen seasons, he played for the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees. For the Yankees, he also became a hitting coach and manager of the team. In addition to the Seattle Mariners, his resume includes managing the Cincinnati Reds, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Chicago Cubs. He’s won 1835 games in his career, which includes 63 ejections from the game.

So where does all this baseball passion, competitive spirit and occasional “trantruming” come from? The acorn landed close to the tree. His Spanish immigrant parents were both athletes. Dad, Louis, pitched in the Tampa semipro Intersocial League and Mom, Margaret, at 5 ft. 9 in., played center on her high school basketball team, winning all-state honors.

Lou served as bat boy at his Dad’s games and watched him get ejected from games while arguing calls with the umpire. Margaret, the most vocal and opinionated at Lou’s basketball games, questioned calls made by the referees, right to their face.

Born August 28, 1943, Lou became an outstanding basketball player, following in his mother’s footsteps, yet chose his college career in his Dad’s game, baseball, at the University of Tampa. The Piniellas spoke Spanish at home, a crowded home including his two uncles and younger brother. His uncles played baseball with him as a child, adding to the knowledge of the game and serving as an inspiration.

Lou, then in his early 20s, telephoned Anita Garcia, Miss Tampa of 1962, to ask her out. The first time, she was busy. The second time he called, she was also busy. He just didn’t give Anita enough advanced notice for these dates. A third call went like this, “I just want you to know before you give me an answer, that I play professional ball and in my game, three strikes and you’re out. You’ve got two.” They dated in 1966 and married in 1967.

Following Piniella’s ten years with the Mariners, Anita was glad to have him back home in Tampa where he managed the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. It was easy to call him and ask his advice, with his not being 3000 miles away in Seattle. It was also easier for Lou to be near family and parents, who were in their later years. Anita had experienced many moves during Lou’s career and now they were both happy to return to their Tampa roots. Settled into their life, Anita says, “He’s really laid back at home. He doesn’t kick dirt in the yard,” (even when he has to take out the trash). A calmer Lou likes to golf, fish and play with the grandkids. He also assists the Cincinnati Reds as a special advisor. He and Anita continue to live in Tampa and celebrated 50 years of marriage in April 2017.

Lou Piniella was inducted into the the Mariners’ Hall of Fame at a ceremony at Safeco Field on August 9, 2014. (left) Lou is seen speaking to the crowd while accepting the honor. (right) He was joined by his wife, Anita. Photos by Ben Van Houten, courtesy Seattle Mariners.

‘Sweet Lou’ hasn’t made the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame yet [although Seattle inducted him into the Mariners’ Hall of Fame in 2014].

He says, “There are more important things in life than trophies and rings.” In the eyes of his family, he is already a Hall of Famer as a husband, father of three children and grandfather of five granddaughters.

Piniella says, “In my mid-70s now, and the ninth inning of my life, I’m winning the game.”

MORE INFORMATION

• Since Lou Piniella left Seattle, the Mariners have employed nine different managers. No one has kicked dirt like Lou!

• Information for this article came from various on-line interviews and his 2017 book, “Lou – Fifty Years of Kicking Dirt, Playing Hard, and Winning Big in the Sweet Spot of Baseball” by Lou Piniella and sports writer Bill Madden.