Members of the Major League Baseball team the Seattle Pilots pose here in Sick's Stadium as a promotion for their 1969 inaugural season. Unfortunately, it would also be their last season. In 1967, Major League owners awarded an American League franchise to Dewey and Max Sorian, with the promise to the American League that a new stadium would be built within three years. The Pilots temporary home, Sick's Stadium, located in the Mount Baker neighborhood, had been used for minor league baseball but had insufficient plumbing and the seating capacity could only be expanded to 17,000. On opening day, April 11, 1969, some fans had to wait until the third inning to see the game, as their benches were still being installed.

The Seattle Pilots began the season strong with two wins, including a 7-0 shut-out against the Chicago White Sox for the home opener. However, the season overall was difficult amidst controversy over where a new stadium would be built. The Pilots played their final game on October 2, 1969, ending with a last place record of 64-98. Although new ownership was sought for the Pilots, on March 17, 1970, the American League voted to move the team to Milwaukee and Bud Selig bought the team, renaming them the Milwaukee Brewers. Spring training had already begun so the renamed team played their first home game in Milwaukee only a week later with no time for new uniforms to be made. The new Brewers team took the field in old Pilots uniforms with the logo removed and the Brewers name sewn on top.

Major League Baseball would not return to Seattle until seven years later with the 1977 debut of the Seattle Mariners at the newly built Kingdome.

Caption source information: "Seattle Pilots Baseball Team," by Alan J. Stein, HistoryLink.org Essay 1021
Caption source information: "Seattle Pilots barely remembered except through Brewers, 'Ball Four', " by Jim Caple, ESPN.com, August 24, 2016