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The one and only season for MLB’s Seattle Pilots was 55 years ago in 1969. Under manager Joe Schultz, the expansion team compiled a 64-98 record and finished last in the American League West.
Offensively, the team’s leaders were first baseman Don Mincher (25 home runs, 78 RBI), outfielder Tommy Davis (80 RBI) and infielder Tommy Harper (MLB-high 73 stolen bases). On the pitching side, Seattle’s double-digit winners were Gene Brabender (13-14 in 40 games/29 starts) and Diego Segui (12-6 with 12 saves in 66 games/eight starts).
The A.L.’s other expansion team that year -- the Kansas City Royals -- finished fourth in the West division at 69-93. Meanwhile, the expansion clubs that joined the National League in 1969 -- the Montreal Expos and San Diego Padres -- ended up with identical 52-110 marks.
Amid serious financial problems, the Pilots’ ownership group declared bankruptcy after that inaugural season and then sold the team to a group headed by Bud Selig, who moved it to Milwaukee and changed the name to the Brewers.
Seattle’s second opportunity in MLB came in 1977 when the Mariners joined the A.L. as an expansion franchise, along with the Toronto Blue Jays.