Four of the Craziest Seattle Sports Matches in History

Seattle, being the major city of the Pacific Northwest (sorry Portland), has the most major league sports teams of the region. Across football, baseball, soccer and basketball, Seattle teams have been champions and big contenders across many national sports in recent years. But what have been some of the most sportsbook odds-defying moments? The late in-the-day heroes? The underdog victories? 

This article will look at four such legendary moments involving Seattle teams over the last few decades of sports history. That includes an iconic MLB play at the former Kingdome, the Seahawks incredible run to their first Super Bowl victory and the Seattle Sounders remarkably unexciting first MLS cup win. 

The Seattle Mariners Made One of the Most Famous Plays in Baseball History 

In the final of their MLB division in October 1995, the Seattle Mariners were down and out in the 11th inning before pulling off a remarkable comeback to book their ticket to the World Series. Edgar Martinez’s last minute double hit allowed Ken Griffey Jr. and Joey Cora to get home plate and clinch the series. The finale to the tense series now regularly appears in the lists of top baseball plays of all time. 

Betting was mostly illegal across the US at the time of this now historic play, but today it’s legal across much of North American. Meaning the best online betting Canada has to offer is only ever a few clicks or taps away. 

The drama of the Mariners’ last minute victory was made even more intense by the swirling rumors around the team’s future in the city, and many saw the turnaround success as vital in securing Seattle’s MLB team for years to come. Martinez had an 18 year career in the MLB, making All Star seven times, and is in the Hall of Fame. Yet many regard that 1995 winning double as his crowning achievement. 

When the Seattle Seahawks Left it Late to Secure their First Super Bowl Appearance

In 2013, no-one gave the Seahawks much of chance in the NFL. And that looked to be proving right when their unexpected playoff run nearly ended at the first hurdle. In that year’s NFC Championship game the Seahawks were up against their rivals and the bettors’ favorites the San Francisco 49ers. 

With just one minute remaining Seattle were three points in the lead after trailing right up until the final quarter – when Richard Sherman tipped what would have been a game winning 49ers touchdown and Malcolm Smith caught the intercept to seal the Seahawks victory. 

The victory was made even sweeter being their first playoff win over the 49ers since their regional rivalry developed in the early 2000s. 

The Seahawks Went on to Dominate the Favored Denver Broncos in the Big Game 

After defeating the 49ers in such dramatic late fashion, just two weeks later the Seahawks would secure their historic first franchise Super Bowl. But not only that, it was arguably the most unexpectedly one sided affair in the history of the big game. 

The Seahawks, up against a formidable Denver Broncos with prime Peyton Manning at QB, came out strong with a safety on the opening play. By halftime, they were 22-0 in the lead – the fourth largest half time Super Bowl deficit and a familiar feeling for the Broncos.

The Seahawks never looked back from there, and crushed the rest of the match 43-8 to take home the Super Bowl XLVIII trophy. The score was the largest underdog victory of any Super Bowl final and tied in third for largest points margin victory. The match was ironically nicknamed The Weed Bowl as Washington and Colorado were, at that time, the only two states with recreationally legal marijuana. 

The Sounders First MLS Cup Was Won in (Un)Spectacular Fashion 

The Seattle Sounders had a historic first cup victory in the 2016 MLS Cup, but it was also notable for other reasons. 

In defeating Toronto FC via a penalty shootout after 120 minutes of match ending scoreless, the Sounders became one of the only teams in world soccer to win a professional tournament final without registering a single shot on target in the whole game. It was also the first ever MLS Cup win for an officially only interim manager, with Brian Schmetzer only taking charge on a temporary contract halfway through the season.

Whilst great for the Sounders to hit their first trophy – success the franchise has sustained in recent years – the game probably didn’t do much for the image of US soccer as an exciting sport. But the Sounders wouldn’t care, of course, especially having only reached the final with a late season surge. 

At one point in the season, they were second to bottom of the table before clinching a playoff spot and then getting all the way to the finals. Needless to say, Schmetzer also got a full time contract after that and remains Sounders manager to this day.