Get ready to feel the goosebumps—Seattle’s Mariners are reigniting a playoff fever that’s bridging generations, and it’s nothing short of magical. But here’s where it gets controversial: Can this new era of fans truly recapture the spirit of 2001, or is it a nostalgia-fueled mirage? Let’s dive in.
Two decades after the Mariners’ legendary 2001 season, the buzz around T-Mobile Park feels eerily familiar. For fans who lived through that record-breaking year, stepping into the stadium today is like stepping back in time. The city is once again on the cusp of World Series glory, and the nostalgia is palpable. Back in 2001, Seattle’s baseball obsession was dubbed ‘SODO mojo,’ a phrase that perfectly captured the electric energy of that season. The team won a staggering 116 games—tying an MLB record—and marched all the way to the American League Championship Series before falling to the New York Yankees. That October 22nd loss at Yankee Stadium still stings for many.
And this is the part most people miss: For families like the Fixes from Tacoma, 2001 wasn’t just about baseball—it was personal. Tarren Fix was pregnant during that playoff run, and the couple playfully considered naming their son after the team’s superstar, Ichiro Suzuki. ‘The doctor asked if we had a name, and we joked, ‘If it’s a boy, maybe Ichiro,’ Tarren recalled. When their son was born, the doctor quipped, ‘We got us an Ichiro,’ and the name stuck—unofficially, of course. Fast forward to 2025, and that baby, Solomon Fix, is now 24 and experiencing his first Mariners playoff game in person. The family shelled out $283 each for standing-room-only tickets—a far cry from 2001, when ALCS tickets cost just $65 to $85, and World Series seats were a ‘mere’ $125 to $175.
‘It’s surreal,’ Brandon Fix said. ‘He’s grown up, graduated college, and this is his first taste of Mariners playoff magic.’ In 2001, fans camped out at Tower Records for wristbands just to maybe secure tickets. ‘They’re going to be really hard to get,’ one fan told KING 5 News that year. ‘But we’ll do whatever it takes.’ Another fan’s rallying cry summed up the era: ‘We’re going all the way!’
Spoiler alert: They didn’t. But the hope—and the heartache—never truly faded. ‘My mental health is in the hands of those nine players on the field,’ joked Katie Biddle, a fan who’s lived through both the 2001 and 2025 runs. This time around, Seattle is daring to dream again. Ticket prices have skyrocketed, with ALCS seats starting at $262 and World Series tickets fetching ‘a few hundred’ dollars—before resale markups. Yet, the emotion remains the same. ‘We just need to take these two games,’ Brandon Fix said. ‘That’s our focus.’
For the Fix family, the connection between 2001 and 2025 isn’t just sentimental—it’s generational. Their ‘Ichiro baby’ is now a grown man, and a new wave of Mariners fans is carrying the torch. Meanwhile, the 2001 season remains etched in baseball history, not just for Seattle but for the nation. Games were paused for six days after the September 11 attacks, the first MLB shutdown since World War I. When play resumed, baseball became a symbol of unity, and Seattle found its identity in the Mariners.
Here’s the bold question: Can the 2025 Mariners not only match but surpass the legacy of 2001? Or is this just a fleeting moment of nostalgia? Let us know in the comments—and don’t hold back. The spirit of SODO is alive and kicking, and this time, the story might just have a different ending.
