Remembering Mike Campbell, former Mariners pitcher, 1964-2025

| Obituaries | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Family, friends, and fans are mourning Mike Campbell, former pitcher for the Mariners and other major-league baseball teams, and sharing this remembrance, which we’re publishing followed by a statement from the M’s:

Michael T. Campbell
1964-2025

With profound sadness, the family of Mike Campbell announces that he passed away suddenly on December 15.

Mike grew up in Alki and attended West Seattle High School and Newport High School in Bellevue and the University of Hawaii.

Mike realized his childhood dream in 1985 when he was drafted by the hometown team, the Mariners. He pitched for the M’s, Rangers, Padres, and Cubs during his baseball career.

Mike will be remembered for his friendly, easy-going way, making people laugh, and as truly one of the nicest people you could hope to meet. He had a passion for travel, going often to Kihei, Hawaii (his favorite place), golfing, and spending time with family and friends.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Judith and Thomas Campbell, and brother-in-law Jeffery Syverson. He is survived by his brothers Mathew, Timothy (Lorrie), sisters Erin (Sean) Halley, Gillian Syverson, aunt Nancy Pomeroy, ex-wife/close friend Michelle Baker, former mother-in-law/close friend Mary Anne Kilgore, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and his sweet dog Hana, who all miss him terribly.

A gathering to celebrate Mike’s life will be announced at a later date.

After Mr. Campbell’s obituary was sent to us this afternoon, we received this statement from the Mariners, emailed to us and others on the team’s media list:

The Mariners were saddened to learn today of the passing of Seattle-native Mike Campbell. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his family, including siblings Erin, Gillian, Matt, and Tim.

Mike (Feb. 17, 1964 – Dec. 15, 2025), a West Seattle native who graduated from Newport High School in Bellevue, was drafted by Seattle with the 7th overall pick in the 1985 June Draft. He made his Major League debut in 1987 and pitched with Seattle during parts of the 1987, 1988 and 1989 seasons before being traded to Montreal as part of the deal in which Seattle acquired Hall of Famer Randy Johnson. Mike had a 13-year professional career as a right-handed pitcher, including appearing in the Majors with Seattle, Texas, San Diego, and the Chicago Cubs.

After his baseball career concluded in 1999, he returned home to Seattle.

Alki resident December 19, 2025 (7:41 pm)

He’s going to be missed. This is so sad. What a huge loss to our community and baseball. So shocked to read of his passing this afternoon. RIP Mike

Brooke December 19, 2025 (9:00 pm)

Thank you for sharing this. I didn’t realize he had close ties to West Seattle. Condolences to his family and friends. Very sorry for your loss.

WestSide 4 life December 19, 2025 (9:18 pm)

What a loss.. Mike was such a great athlete and even a better human. For those who are newer to West Seattle he was ” The Guy ” in WS baseball in the 70s and 80s. Although a good quarterback and a fellow hooper he stood out head and shoulders above everyone in baseball. His batting cage at his house next to Bar-S field was next level. When he wasn’t hitting home runs, he was throwing gas and hurting the catchers hands. The best thing about Mike was after he made it to the big leagues he was still the kid from WS. Always willing to catch up and never tried to “Big Time” you. Born and raised in West Seattle he deserves a huge salute!! Mike, you you will be missed. RIP.

Karen December 19, 2025 (10:32 pm)

💔🙏🪽💕

K Sutter December 20, 2025 (9:29 am)

Campbell family, I am sorry for your loss. I was always on the other side playing baseball against Mike. In Pee Wee’s he played on a team from Roxbury. When I played Little League at Bar S field he was on the other field hitting while his dad fed him balls from a pitching machine. Some of us from West Seattle were bussed to Cleveland High we played a practice game and Mike hit a triple off me. I followed his rise to the Majors and even was able see him and his father when his father lived in Kent and talked baseball. His father was so proud of him.

Sharon Edwards December 20, 2025 (9:31 am)

A very sad day. We are never ready to hear about the passing of a great family friend and well known community athlete. Mike was a cheerful blessing to all. Condolences to his wonderful, dedicated wife Michelle and life long friends. You will be greatly missed. *Sharon Edwards

Keith Paddon December 20, 2025 (10:06 am)

To the entire family my heart pours out with you and the loss of Mike. To Mike’s direct siblings my entire childhood was made up of you all as our houses were open for each other everyday and we weren’t just friends we are family and a tribe of Alki kids who truly were blessed in so many ways.Outside of baseball the memories are endless. From chucking rocks on the beach to fireworks like no other to riding are bikes everywhere to building three story tree forts our beach called Alki was our endless paradise. When spring hit so did the sound of baseballs ⚾️ ringing a block away from famous batting cage along their home. You knew it wasn’t long before the still phone on the wall would ring. You already knew who it was was. Hello! No hello back just a firm voice that of Mr. Campbell. Keith!..you and Richard get up her in 15 minutes with your bats and gloves.This meant you were coming over and eating breakfast regardless if you were hungry or not and then you were going to shag balls as he called it for Mike as his dad ptched to him. This was followed up by close friend as well and brother to Mike… Matt. Tim the youngest had come along yet, so he missed some of this , but would eventually get his turn when he was older.After countless of buckets of balls being pitched to Mike and Matt and valuable baseball lessons being taught by Mr. Campbell. You best have paid attention because when they were done it was your turn and I’m pretty sure their Dad had already thrown 200 flame throwers to his boys. We were both greatful my brother Richard and I to have been giving the chance to take just a few swings from him as his arm was tired. We may have gotten plunked a few times. Lol Typically there was a break and that’s when Mr. Campbell would have his son Matt and I take BP for Mike. I think my brother was smart enough to have other things going on at this point. Tom would start Mike off slow then eventually have him throwing heat and darts right down the plate. I’m not going to lie when you picked up that bat you were no longer a childhood friend, you were on the other team and that stare in his eyes meant you were in for a ride and that my friends is the truth. As time went on the pitching was reach max speed and nobody was throwing like that at our age. Mike and Matt both learned to hit. Me… I think standing in front of that machine and speed just froze me. LolThere were only two names back then. Mike Campbell and Mark Montgomery. They were great friends off the field, but on the field they were both lights out and watching them dual when playing against each other was an absolute showdown that nobody else in any league around was doing. Do to our two year gap in age I only faced these two twice on the field and knew them both very closely. We were young and all played on different teams. I was know where near their level yet I faced them both only once. I struck out Mark one time and I thought okay you can do this. My next at bat that blonde hair and red face stared at me and his first pitch he beans me. Now in another game I face Mike Campbell my friend and family, but not on this day. I get Mike to strike out once and that was the only time ever. My next at bat I’m staring at yet another pitcher and friend with blonde hair and a red face. I’d seen this before and I was more than certain what was coming next. Indeed I was correct as I took that flame thrower from that red face and right arm right to the bread basket. I don’t remember much after that as it seemed like forever to get my breathe back. I get up and trot to first base all while getting glared by opponent and friend on the mound all of the way to first base. He then pauses and stares at me before moving on to the next batter.I knew that very day that kid from Alki my friend and like a brother was going places that most of us dreamed of and for sure that’s exactly what he did and what made him special and I knew this there was never an apology off the field for lighting me up. Thanks!…”SOUP” for the memories from just being boys to ballpark and to following you on that magical journey. To the Campbell family and to you Mike you are all loved dearly from my family to yours. We are family regardless of time passed. R.I.P. MY BROTHER. You’ll always be remembered by the Paddon family and so many others lives you’ve touched.

PG December 20, 2025 (11:34 am)

Man this is sad news. I remember my dad telling me to walk down to Madison field after not making the cut for the Admiral pee wee team. I walked down there with my glove and sat on the bank watching Ebert’s Photo team practice. That’s when Mike’s dad came up to me and talked me into joining in on the practice. Not sure how but I made the team. I sat on the bench for most of the year watching Mike on the mound and at the plate, he was unstoppable. I could never hit any of his pitches at practice lol. The next year he moved on to little league. Coach Larson, Coach Campbell and Shultz taught me everything I needed to know about baseball. Lot’s of good memories (riding to games in the back of Shultz’s old pickup lol). My condolences to the family.

brad December 20, 2025 (7:02 pm)

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dam good ballplayer,, those were my dads words…spent many of hrs in the cage watching those faded blue rubber like tires spin from that juggs pitching machine . was always clammerin at the bit to face off with that robot. my dad coached eberts pee-wee team for almost 15 yrs [ norm schultz].. hangin at the cambells grew on me very quick i mean my friend has a pitching machine along the side of his house and alls we had to do was walk across a little gravel parking road and step on to bar”s little leauge fields,,,, i mean REALLY! 2 things i remember the most #1 me and mike tried like hell to make a song called shagg`in flys and scoopin grounders we actually thought we would become famous, back then country music was different…hell that might work these days.#2 we were playin catch and his little brother matte was messin around probley backin us up and he hawked a loogy and when he spit it sounded just like the jugg”s pitching machine. we were bent over just crackin up and no b.s. couldnt stop for ever.. WHAT A DAM GOOD BALLPLAYER!!! sorry for such a huge piece of the cambell family…..