Mariners to Pay Tribute During Sunday 2026 Home Games With ‘Steelheads’ Negro League Uniforms

The upcoming 2026 season will mark the 50th season of the Seattle Mariners. From their MLB beginning in 1977, the Mariners have played their home games at the Kingdome (1977-1999) and currently at T-Mobile Park. Though established in 1977, the history of baseball in the Pacific Northwest dates back long before the birth of MLB baseball in the Emerald City. When attending a Mariners game at T-Mobile Park, fans can check out some of the region's rich baseball history at the Baseball Museum of the Pacific Northwest.

Baseball Museum of the Pacific Northwest inside T-Mobile Park, Photo by Andrei Ojeda, Stadium Journey

If attending a Mariners Sunday home game in 2026, fans will notice another nod to Seattle’s baseball past as the team will be donning throwback 'Steelheads' Negro League uniforms.

Seattle Steelheads throwback uniform. Photo Courtesy of Seattle Mariners

The throwback threads will be replacing the cream colored Sunday home threads the Mariners have worn since 2015.

Mariners Sunday home threads past and present. Courtesy of Seattle Mariners

The transition makes the Mariners the first MLB team to feature a Negro Leagues uniform as part of its regular uniform rotation. It’s also paired with a significant community investment, as the club is launching the Steelheads Community Fund and committing $500,000 to support Black-led baseball and softball organizations and related community initiatives across the region.

“We are proud to honor our game’s history and invest in the future of our community with Steelheads Sundays at T-Mobile Park,” Mariners president of business operations Kevin Martinez said in a statement. “Through the Steelheads Community Fund, we will celebrate the legacy of the Steelheads, while continuing our long-standing effort to advance access to baseball and softball and well-being for underserved communities in our region.” (Daniel Kramer, MLB.COM)

Photo Courtesy of Seattle Mariners

As the full scope of the fund’s programming is still being finalized, the focus will center on local Black-led baseball and softball organizations, along with broader community initiatives aligned with access, participation and well-being. The Mariners have emphasized that collaboration with community leaders is central to shaping how the fund is deployed, aiming to ensure that resources are directed where they can have the greatest impact.