Former first overall draft pick of the Seattle Mariners and figure in the historic trade for Randy Johnson, Mike Campbell died Monday at his home in Kirkland, Washington, at age 61.
He may never have been a superstar, but his name remains linked to one of the most famous trades in baseball history. Mike Campbell, former Seattle Mariners pitcher and player traded for future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson, died Monday at his home in Kirkland, Washington, at the age of 61.
We are saddened by the passing of Seattle native and former Mariners pitcher Mike Campbell. Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones ud83dudc99 pic.twitter.com/XYU2a92Fri
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) December 19, 2025
The cause of death was not yet determined, according to King County medical examiner records viewed by The New York Post. “We are saddened by the passing of Seattle native and former Mariners pitcher Mike Campbell. Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones,” the team wrote on X.
A career in the majors
Chosen in the first round of the 1985 draft by Seattle, Campbell played 51 games in MLB. His 13-year professional career spanned the major and minor leagues for four teams: the Mariners, Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs.
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He pitched 233.1 innings, with 12 wins, 19 losses and a 5.86 ERA, recording three complete games and 135 strikeouts. At the plate, he had a .357 average in 14 at-bats with three RBIs. He made his MLB debut on July 4, 1987 against the Detroit Tigers.
The historic exchange for Randy Johnson
On May 25, 1989, the Mariners agreed to send Mark Langston and a player to be named later to the Montreal Expos in exchange for three pitchers, including Randy Johnson. Two months later, Campbell was identified as the minor player completing the transaction for “Big Unit”.
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At the end of his career, Campbell transitioned into entrepreneurship with Steve Towey, former batboy of the Mariners, by creating Shiskaberry’s, a dessert franchise present in several professional sports venues.
If his statistics don’t make the eyes shine, his role in the trade that launched Randy Johnson into legend ensures Mike Campbell a lasting place in baseball history.
