King overlooking his Kingdom: Felix Hernandez raises the All-Star game flag atop the Space Needle
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – It was only fitting that the beloved Felix Hernandez, Seattle’s King and an adopted son, raised the flag of the 2023 All-Star game logo atop the Space Needle to get festivities for the Midsummer Classic started. With local and national media alike taking it in atop the city's most iconic building/structure, one of Mariners fans favorite players got a special week kicked off just a few days ahead of the first main event, the HBCU Swingman Classic, gets underway. It’s just the first of a few times that we will see Hernandez this year, ahead of his Hall of Fame weekend later this season.
“King” Felix Hernandez raises the All-Star game 2023 logo flag atop the Space Needle, and poses for photos atop the iconic building (Photos by Ike Everard)
The first of a few activities in Seattle for Felix this year
While his playing career is over, Felix has had an emotional moment with Seattle already in recent memory and will have a few more this upcoming season. After he was the one to throw out the first pitch ahead of the Mariners first playoff game at home in over 20 years, last year's game three of the American League Divisional series, today’s flag raising event was the first time that we will see the King in Seattle before his weekend in August at T-Mobile Park. From the 11th-13th of August, the Mariners will be celebrating Hernandez as he enters the team's Hall of Fame as the eleventh member after former teammate Ichiro Suzuki was inducted last season.
While Felix often had to deal with minimal run support amongst his incredible seasons in a Mariners uniform, throwing the teams only perfect game ever, winning a Cy Young award, and being named to six All-Star games, he will be getting the red-carpet treatment for his Hall of Fame weekend. Spanning over a traditional three-day weekend, Friday will feature a Felix-themed fireworks spectacular, Saturday is when the main event of Felix being entered into the Mariners Hall of Fame (with a special “Supreme court” shirt giveaway), wrapping up on Sunday with a special bobblehead. One of the most beloved Mariners of all-time, it’s fitting that he’ll receive the full show for his special weekend.
Hernandez speaks with media in attendance atop the Space Needle after raising the All-Star game 2023 flag (Photos by Ike Everard)