Sports Media Report
It’s something Bill Stein, Ruppert Jones and Glenn Abbott probably never imagined.
Today Alaska Airlines announced that it has unveiled a specially-marked Boeing 737-800, featuring the Seattle Mariners logo and the 40th anniversary design across the fuselage. The official hashtag of the Mariners-Alaska partnership, #MyOhMariners, appears next to the boarding door. Guests seated over the wings will be able to see the hashtag on the plane’s winglets.
“As Seattle’s hometown airline, and the exclusive domestic airline of the Mariners, we are honored to celebrate this milestone with Seattle’s hometown team,” said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Airlines, in a statement. “We’re swinging for the fences this season. In addition to a specially themed aircraft, we’re planning a Mariners scavenger hunt throughout the entire Pacific Northwest along with several other activities to delight fans throughout the season.”
The M’s, who have never reached the World Series, entered the Majors as an expansion franchise, along with the Toronto Blue Jays, in 1977. Stein, Jones and Abbott are among the “Original Mariners,” who managed to finish sixth in the seven-team American League West, ahead of Oakland.
Seattle, which had a long history in the Pacific Coast League, also was the home of the Pilots in 1969, after which the team moved to Milwaukee to become the Brewers.
