# Kevin Mather

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American baseball executive

For the American Paralympic archer, see [Kevin Mather (archer)](/source/Kevin_Mather_(archer)).

**Kevin Mather** is an American former [professional baseball](/source/Professional_baseball) executive and accountant. He is a minority owner of the [Seattle Mariners](/source/Seattle_Mariners) and served as its president from 2014 until 2021.

## Early life and career

Mather grew up in [Madison, Wisconsin](/source/Madison%2C_Wisconsin). He graduated from the [University of Wisconsin–Madison](/source/University_of_Wisconsin%E2%80%93Madison) in 1984, earning a [Bachelor of Arts](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) in accounting and risk/insurance. He worked as a [Certified Public Accountant](/source/Certified_Public_Accountant) at a firm for five years, before joining the [front office](/source/Front_office_(finance)) of the [Minnesota Twins](/source/Minnesota_Twins), starting as their director of finance in 1989, and receiving a promotion to vice president in 1992.[1][2]

## Seattle Mariners

Mather joined the [Seattle Mariners](/source/Seattle_Mariners) organization in 1996, serving as executive vice president of finance and administration.[3] He was in charge of overseeing the building of [Safeco Field](/source/Safeco_Field).[2] In January 2014, he was selected to succeed [Chuck Armstrong](/source/Chuck_Armstrong) as team president.[1]

In July 2018, a *Seattle Times* article reported that Mather contributed to creating a hostile workplace environment for women. Mather had been the subject of two workplace complaints from female employees in 2009 and 2010.[4] In both instances, the employees were compensated an undisclosed sum. The two women eventually left the organization; Mather was retained and promoted.

Mather spoke at a [Bellevue](/source/Bellevue%2C_Washington) Breakfast [Rotary Club](/source/Rotary_International) event in February 2021 in which he confessed to [manipulating the service time](/source/Service_time_manipulation) of Mariners [prospects](/source/Prospect_(sports)) such as [Jarred Kelenic](/source/Jarred_Kelenic) during the [2020 season](/source/2020_Major_League_Baseball_season). He made comments about the poor English-language skills of some of the team's foreign players, specifically complaining about needing to hire interpreters for players, such as Japanese [pitcher](/source/Pitcher) [Hisashi Iwakuma](/source/Hisashi_Iwakuma) and remarking on the poor English of [Julio Rodríguez](/source/Julio_Rodr%C3%ADguez), a [Dominican](/source/Dominican_Republic) prospect. Mather also commented on the team's profits during the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic). The video was released publicly on February 21,[5] and the remarks were criticized, after which Mather apologized. The [MLBPA](/source/MLBPA) called Mather's comments "offensive"[6] and Mather resigned as president of the Mariners the next day.[7] His successor as team president was Catie Griggs.

## Personal life

Mather and his wife, Shannon, live in [Issaquah, Washington](/source/Issaquah%2C_Washington). They have three sons: John, David, and Steven.[1]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-mlb.com_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-mlb.com_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-mlb.com_1-2) ["Kevin Mather named Mariners President & COO; Bob Aylward named Chairman of NW Sports Net LLC (the regional sports network ROOT Sports NW)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140212194557/http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140124&content_id=67078108&vkey=pr_sea&c_id=sea) (Press release). Seattle Mariners. January 24, 2014. Archived from [the original](http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140124&content_id=67078108&vkey=pr_sea&c_id=sea) on February 12, 2014. Retrieved January 29, 2014 – via [MLB.com](/source/MLB.com).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ub_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ub_2-1) ["$n$ Mariners CFO visits Walla Walla"](https://www.union-bulletin.com/n-mariners-cfo-visits-walla-walla/article_4f9d963a-b546-5da7-a39c-e32b6ba45748.html). *Walla Walla Union-Bulletin*. March 30, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2025.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Transactions"](https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/01/sports/transactions-625442.html). *The New York Times*. August 1, 1996. p. B-6. Retrieved June 25, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Baker, Geoff; Baker, Mike (July 25, 2018). ["Mariners execs faced workplace complaints; three women received settlements"](https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-executives-kept-jobs-after-3-women-left-with-workplace-complaint-settlements/). *Seattle Times*. Retrieved January 15, 2025.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Bronsdon, Grant (February 21, 2021). ["Full Transcript of Mariners President Kevin Mather's Remarks to Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club"](https://www.lookoutlanding.com/2021/2/21/22294212/mariners-president-kevin-mather-full-transcript-bellevue-breakfast-rotary-club). *Lookout Landing*. Retrieved January 15, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-cbssports-2021-02_6-0)** Axisa, Mike; Anderson, R. J. (February 22, 2021). ["Mariners president Kevin Mather admits team manipulates service time and criticizes player's English in video"](https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mariners-president-kevin-mather-admits-team-manipulates-service-time-and-criticizes-players-english-in-video/). *CBS Sports*. Retrieved May 11, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Seattle Mariners \[@Mariners\]](/source/Seattle_Mariners) (February 22, 2021). ["Statement from Mariners chairman & managing partner John Stanton. Kevin Mather resigns position as President & CEO, effective immediately...Kevin Mather has resigned his position effective immediately...I will serve as acting president and CEO until a successor can be chosen"](https://twitter.com/Mariners/status/1363956802988089348) ([Tweet](/source/Tweet_(social_media))). Retrieved January 15, 2025 – via [Twitter](/source/Twitter).

v t e Presidents of the Seattle Mariners franchise Dan O'Brien Sr. Chuck Armstrong Gary Kaseff Kevin Mather

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