The first member of this group was Norm Charlton, aka “The Sheriff”. He arrived in Seattle in 1993 when the Mariners acquired him from the Cincinnati Red. Lou Piniella knew “the sheriff” when they were both in Cincinnati. Carlton was part of the Reds bullpen known as the “nasty boys” with Randy Myers and Rob Dibble.
He became the Mariners closer in 1993. He missed 1994 because of an elbow injury. He started 1995 with the Phillies but didn’t do well so they released him than he signed again with the Mariners on July 14, 1995, becoming a key member of the team’s first playoff run.