Triple-A · International League · Tacoma, Washington, US · Cheney Stadium

Tacoma Rainiers

The Seattle Mariners' Triple-A affiliate since 1995, the Tacoma Rainiers play at historic Cheney Stadium under fourth-year manager John Russell, who guided the club to 86 wins in 2025 — the most in the 'Rainiers era' of the franchise.

1960

1960–1994

The Multi-Affiliation Years

Pacific Coast League baseball comes to Tacoma

Triple-A baseball arrived in Tacoma in 1960 when the franchise began play at the newly constructed Cheney Stadium as the Tacoma Giants, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. The stadium, built on land donated by lumber magnate Ben B. Cheney, gave the Pacific Northwest a modern minor league facility with views of Mount Rainier in the distance.

Over the next 35 years, the franchise affiliated with a revolving door of major league organizations: the Giants (1960-1965), Cubs (1966-1971), Twins (1972-1977), Yankees (1978), Indians/Athletics (1979-1980), and Tigers (1981-1994). Despite the constant changes in affiliation, Tacoma remained a reliable Triple-A market, producing future stars for each parent organization.

The Tigers affiliation lasted the longest during this period, spanning 14 seasons and developing players like Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker in their early years. Cheney Stadium's intimate setting and the region's passionate baseball culture kept fans coming back even as the franchise's identity shifted with each new affiliation.

Key Facts

  • Cheney Stadium opened in 1960 with the Tacoma Giants
  • Affiliated with eight different MLB organizations
  • Tigers affiliation lasted 14 seasons (1981-1994)
  • Stadium named for lumber magnate Ben B. Cheney
1995

1995–Present

The Rainiers Era

Seattle's Triple-A home

The franchise found lasting stability in 1995 when the Seattle Mariners placed their Triple-A affiliation in Tacoma and the team adopted the Rainiers name — a tribute both to majestic Mount Rainier visible from the ballpark and to the historic Seattle Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League. The rebrand gave the franchise a permanent identity that connected it to the region's geography and baseball heritage.

The Mariners' affiliation has now lasted over 30 years, making it one of the longest-running partnerships in Triple-A baseball. Virtually every significant Mariners player of the past three decades has spent time at Cheney Stadium: Ichiro Suzuki (during spring preparation), Felix Hernandez, Robinson Cano (on rehab), Julio Rodriguez, and many more. The 30-mile proximity between Tacoma and Seattle makes player movement between the two clubs seamless.

Manager John Russell led the Rainiers to 86 wins in 2025 — the most in the franchise's Rainiers era and just the second time the club posted consecutive 80-win seasons. Cheney Stadium has been renovated multiple times while retaining its classic feel, and current owner Mikal Thomsen's Baseball Club of Tacoma has invested in modernizing the fan experience while preserving the ballpark's character.

Key Facts

  • Became Mariners' Triple-A affiliate in 1995
  • Named for Mount Rainier, visible from Cheney Stadium
  • Ichiro, Felix Hernandez, Julio Rodriguez among alumni
  • John Russell's 86 wins in 2025 set Rainiers-era record