Mariners Honor Negro Leagues With $500K Community Fund

The Seattle Mariners just turned throwback jerseys into a powerful investment in their community's future.

Starting this season, the team will wear uniforms honoring the 1946 Seattle Steelheads every Sunday home game at T-Mobile Park. But the jerseys are just the beginning of something much bigger.

The Mariners announced a $500,000 commitment to launch the Steelheads Community Fund. The money will support Black-led baseball and softball organizations and community programs across the region.

"We are proud to honor our game's history and invest in the future of our community," said Mariners President Kevin Martinez. The fund aims to expand access to baseball and softball for underserved communities while celebrating the Steelheads' legacy.

This marks a historic first for Major League Baseball. No other team has featured a Negro Leagues uniform as part of their standard rotation throughout an entire season.

The Seattle Steelheads played in the West Coast Negro Baseball League in 1946 at Sick's Stadium. The Mariners first honored them with replica uniforms back in 1995 and have worn the jerseys on special occasions, including recent Juneteenth games.

The Ripple Effect

Every Sunday game will help grow the fund beyond that initial half million dollars. A portion of all Steelheads merchandise sales at team stores will benefit the fund, and Sunday's 50/50 raffle proceeds will go directly to the cause.

Community stakeholders are currently developing details on how organizations can access the funding. The fund will officially launch in early summer, putting resources directly into the hands of people working to make baseball accessible to every kid who wants to play.

By turning every home Sunday into both a history lesson and a fundraising opportunity, the Mariners are ensuring the Steelheads' legacy lives on in the next generation of players.