Presented is a 1979 Willie Horton early and rare Seattle Mariners batting helmet. The Mariners joined the American League in 1977 as an expansion franchise, and Willie Horton was a power hitting outfielder and designated hitter who is most remembered for his first 15 Major League seasons, all with the Detroit Tigers. Horton played his final two Major League seasons with Seattle (1979-80). With Detroit, Horton was a key member of the 1968 Tigers World Champions. After his Tigers tenure, Horton played single seasons with the Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, and Oakland Athletics. The 5'11", 207 lb. Horton hit 325 lifetime home runs and batted a career .279. In the '79 season when Horton wore this helmet, Willie had an excellent campaign, batting .279, hitting 29 home runs, and having 106 RBIs. The helmet has his number "53" written in black marker inside and also inside is a piece of Dymo tape with "HORTON" on it. The helmet is primarily blue, with a white, center front section. The Mariners logo, in blue with gold colored trim, is on the front. An earflap is on the left side. The back of helmet has "ABC" as a manufacturer's logo. There is no size listed on the helmet. It shows nice use, with scratches, minor paint loss, a few paint transfers, and sweat stains on the headband. The helmet is uncracked and makes a fine collectible for fans of both Horton and of the Seattle Mariners.