Don Wakamatsu made Major League Baseball history today when the Seattle Mariners hired the 45-year-old manager to salvage their struggling franchise.

An Oregon native, Wakamatsu is the first Asian-American to manage a professional baseball club.

"This is something I've looked forward to for a long time," Wakamatsu told press. "It is a tremendous opportunity and I can't wait to get going."

The Mariners lost 101 games this year despite paying players over $100 million.