» December 17, 1999:
The Mariners sign all-time Japanese League saves leader Kazuhiro Sasaki to a 2-year contract.
» November 6, 2000: Mariners relief P Kazuhiro Sasaki wins the AL Rookie of the Year award. He is the second-oldest player to ever win rookie honors; only Sam Jethroe, who played in the Negro Leagues before the Braves, was older.
» April 28, 2001: The Mariners defeat the White Sox, 8-5, for their 20th win this month, a new major-league record for April. Kazuhiro Sasaki sets a new record for saves in April with his 13th.
» July 13, 2001:
Ichiro Suzuki and Kazuhiro Sasaki announce a boycott of member of the Japanese press, who have been hounding them all season.
» July 16, 2001: Ichiro Suzuki and Kazuhiro Sasaki call off their boycott of the Japanese press.
» August 5, 2001: The Indians tie a major league record (the Tigers, June 18, 1911 and the Athletics June 15, 1925) by overcoming a 12–run deficit to shock the Mariners, 15–14 in 11 innings. Cleveland, which trailed 12–0 and 14–2, scores three runs in the 7th inning, four in the 8th, and five in the 9th to become the 1st team in 76 years to come back from a 12–run hole. With one out in the bottom of the 11th, Kenny Lofton singles, goes to 2nd when Omar Vizquel singles and Jolbert Cabrera's RBI single completes the comeback. Vizquel had tripled with the sacks full in the 9th off All-star reliever Kazuhiro Sasaki.