Mariners fans celebrate a walk-off to the playoffs after waiting two decades

Tens of thousands of baseball fans around Seattle, many of whom weren’t alive the last time the Mariners went to the postseason, watched Friday night as the team ended the longest active playoff drought in professional sports. The dramatic walk-off home-run win was the storybook moment fans have been waiting for for 21 years.

“I wanted to be part of history,” said Ron Scardina, who got in line for tickets hours before Friday’s game started. Scardina was among the dozens of people who got last-minute tickets to a game that will forever be part of Mariners lore.

“I can’t remember the last time they made it,” Scardina said. “I must’ve been 40!”

Fans at the ballpark and watching from home were rewarded Friday with one of the most exciting Mariners games in years.

After being tied 1-1 for most of the ballgame, the Mariners sent three sluggers to the plate for the bottom of the ninth inning. Mitch Hanniger and Carlos Santana both struck out, leaving catcher Cal Raleigh as the Mariners last chance without going into extra innings.

Raleigh, who was pinch hitting Friday night, worked himself into a full count of three balls and two strikes. With every person in the stadium on their feet, Raleigh clobbered a fly ball to deep right field and guaranteed the Mariners their first spot in the playoffs in more than two decades.

Fireworks were planned ahead of Friday’s Fan Appreciation Night at T-Mobile Park but the explosives were no match for the noise that erupted from more than 44,000 fans who screamed and leapt with joy watching Raleigh's fly ball leave the field. Years of frustration and disappointment watching a team get close to the playoffs but never sealing the deal were over.

“I mean, 21 years — that's a long time to wait but worth every second,” Adam McCrow said in the glow of the fireworks outside the ballpark. “So, pretty happy right now.”

McCrow, a longtime fan, says he was at the last Mariners playoff game in 2001.

“That night, it was pretty stellar but a little somber, too," he said. "And so having this moment tonight where you could absolutely let go and just cheer like a madman, it was awesome.”

Following Friday’s game, young fans were in line at souvenir shops for Raleigh’s #29 uniform. The Mariners Team store said this weekend they had sold out of postseason merchandise.

The Mariners host their final home stand this week against the Detroit Tigers starting Monday night.

Just in time for the postseason, the team welcomes back star rookie Julio Rodgriguez on Monday who has been out due to a sore back.

A rare combined double-header is on Tuesday with one ticket required for both games. Then this Friday the Mariners will play their first playoff game since 2001.