Baseball in Seattle

Baseball

The Seattle Mariners (1st Ave. S and Atlantic St., Sodo. 206/346-4000. seattle.mariners.mlb.com) play in the West Division of the American League, and their home is Safeco Field, a retractable-roof stadium where there really isn't a bad seat in the house. One local sports columnist referred to the venue -- the most expensive stadium in recorded history and $100 million over budget -- as "the guilty pleasure." You can purchase tickets through Ticketmaster; online or by phone from Safeco Field (to be picked up at the Will Call); in person at Safeco's box office (no surcharges), which is open daily 10-6; or from the Mariners team store at 4th Avenue and Stewart Street in Downtown. The cheap seats cost $7; the best seats cost $38-$55.

If you're in the mood for minor-league play, take I-5 roughly 30 mi either north or south of town. To the north, the Everett Aqua Sox (3900 Broadway Ave., (Exit 192 off I-5), Everett. 425/258-3673. www.aquasox.com) play short-season Class A ball in the Northwest League. Keep an eye out for Harold the Pig, who delivers balls to the pitching mound. The Aqua Sox play at Everett Memorial Stadium. Admission is $5-$12. Parking in the South Lot and on the street north of the stadium is free, but arrive about an hour early to get a space. For AAA Pacific Coast League action and a fabulous view of Mt. Rainier, head south to see the Tacoma Rainiers (2502 S. Tyler, Tacoma. 253/752-7700. www.tacomarainiers.com). They play at Cheney Stadium Tickets are $6-$14, but if you're totally broke, there's a grassy knoll outside left field from which you can watch the entire game. Take I-5 south to Exit 132, follow Highway 16 west for 2 mi, get off at the South 19th Street East exit; take the first right (Cheyenne Street), and follow the road to stadium parking lots. Both teams are Mariners farm clubs and offer an up-close, family-oriented baseball experience.

How to Play

King County Parks and Recreation (206/296-4232 for information and reservations; 206/296-4171 for interpretive programs. www.metrokc.gov/parks) manages many of the parks outside city limits. To find out whether an in-town park baseball diamond or tennis court is available, contact the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department (206/684-4075. www.cityofseattle.net/parks), which is responsible for most of the parks, piers, beaches, playgrounds, and courts within city limits. The department issues permits for events, arranges reservations for facilities, and staffs visitor centers and naturalist programs. The state manages several parks and campgrounds in greater Seattle. For more information contact Washington State Parks (800/233-0321 for general information; 800/452-5687 for campsite reservations. www.parks.wa.gov/parkpage.asp).