OLYMPIA, Wash. — Thirty years ago this week, Washington state legislators delivered a crucial victory to keep the Seattle Mariners in Seattle, coming through with stadium funding after a dramatic defeat at the ballot box.

During the summer of 1995, while the Mariners were batting American League foes in the “Refuse to Lose" season, advocates for a new ballpark were trying to get a King County measure passed to raise money for a stadium.

U.S. Senator Slade Gorton, other members of Congress, and team officials led a campaign to raise sales taxes for a new retractable roof ballpark.

The team made clear they would leave without a new stadium—and it wasn't just a threat.

"It was real. We either get this done or they were going to be gone," said Sue Tupper, who managed the "Home Town Fans" p

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