For John Stanton, Chairman and Managing Partner of the Seattle Mariners, a lifelong love of baseball began on the Little League® fields of Bellevue, Washington, in the mid-1960s. That journey will come full circle on August 17, when Stanton is enshrined as the 66th member of the Little League Hall of Excellence during the 2025 MLB Little League Classic, Presented by New York Life.
A well-respected executive in the wireless communications industry, Stanton’s professional career has run parallel with his passion for baseball and community service. From coaching his sons on the same Bellevue West Little League fields he once played on, to guiding the Mariners since 2016, his leadership and philanthropy have made a lasting impact on both the sport and youth programs throughout the Pacific Northwest.
“There is, perhaps, no club in all of Major League Baseball that supports their community Little League programs as much as the Seattle Mariners,” said Steven P. Johnson, Chairman of the Little League International Board of Directors. “Mr. Stanton has been an incredible leader and role model his entire life, and we are honored to recognize his professional accomplishments, volunteerism, and dedication to our organization’s core values.”
Stanton’s executive career includes leadership roles at McCaw Cellular, Western Wireless Corp., and VoiceStream Wireless, which became T-Mobile USA after its acquisition by Deutsche Telekom. He also served with Clearwire Corp., Trilogy International Partners, and currently sits on the boards of Microsoft and Costco Wholesale. Beyond his business success, Stanton has remained deeply connected to the game, coaching his sons Timothy and Patrick through their Little League years before they went on to play college baseball.
“I am humbled by this amazing honor,” Stanton said. “Some of my fondest memories are of playing catch with my father, and later, coaching my sons in Little League. Our connection with Little League is part of the Mariners’ service to our communities, and we’re proud to know that in 2026, our 50th season, we will surpass one million Little Leaguers having an on-field experience with the Mariners.”
The Mariners’ support of Little League is unmatched, with nearly 950,000 players recognized during 38 seasons of Little League Days at T-Mobile Park, including a Challenger-only game spotlighting players of all abilities. Their commitment extends to events like the Junior League Softball World Series in Kirkland, Washington, and historic contributions such as being the first MLB club to donate toward the creation of the World of Little League® Museum in 1980.
Stanton and the Mariners’ deep ties to youth baseball will be celebrated in Williamsport as they take part in the eighth MLB Little League Classic, led by manager Dan Wilson, himself a 1981 Little League World Series alum from Barrington, Illinois.
