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SEATTLE -- Don Wakamatsu became the first Asian-American manager in major league baseball history when he was hired Wednesday by the Seattle Mariners.

The Mariners' 14th manager, Wakamatsu was bench coach for the Oakland Athletics last season. Before that he spent five years with the Texas Rangers.

At a press conference introducing him, Wakamatsu held up a white piece of paper with a message written by his 10-year-old daughter, Jadyn. The message, scribbled in red and blue crayon, said "Knock 'em dead!"

"I welcome the challenge here to bring a world champion to Seattle," Wakamatsu said.

The 45-year-old was among a field of seven candidates interviewed by General Manager Jack Zduriencik. None of the seven had previous major league managerial experience. The overwhelming fan favorite was former Seattle second baseman and current Chicago White Sox bench coach Joey Cora.

Fans of the 1995 "Refuse to Lose" team remember the scene of Cora breaking down in the dugout after the Mariners lost to Cleveland in the American League Championship Series. Cora tells The Seattle Times he was crushed when he found out he would not be the M’s new skipper.

"I was very disappointed, obviously," said Cora."I thought I would have been a great fit to help restore the Mariners with pride and reenergize the fan base. It seemed like it was all falling into place. But it is what it is. There's nothing I can do about it now."

Wakamatsu will be the fifth manager in Seattle since the departure of Lou Piniella after the 2002 season. The Mariners have cycled through Bob Melvin, Mike Hargrove, John McLaren and Jim Riggleman since Piniella left, none of the four approaching Piniella's success.

Wakamatsu replaces Riggleman, who took over in June when McLaren was fired after a 25-47 start to a season in which the Mariners were expected to contend for the playoffs. Riggleman wasn't even considered for the job in 2009.

McLaren was on the job less than 12 months, after Hargrove quit suddenly in the middle of the 2007 season -- the last time Seattle was winning.

The Mariners lost 101 games this season, their most since 1983, and became the first team to lose 100 with a $100 million payroll. Now they hope Wakamatsu can bring some stability and aid in the redevelopment of a franchise that hasn't made the playoffs since 2001.

"This is something I've looked forward to for a long time," Wakamatsu said in a statement. "It is a tremendous opportunity and I can't wait to get going with Jack and his group as we start working on the 2009 team."

A former catcher, Wakamatsu spent almost his entire playing career in the minors, except for 18 games with the Chicago White Sox in 1991. His final season in the minors was in 1996 as player-coach of the Mariners' Double-A Port City farm team.

He managed four seasons in the minors but never higher than Double-A before joining the Rangers' bench in 2003.

Wakamatsu, who was born in Hood River, Ore., says he knows only a little Japanese -- always a consideration in Seattle, where All-Star Ichiro Suzuki is the franchise cornerstone -- though it has improved recently with the A's and Rangers.

He also understands management doesn't expect this to be a long-term rebuilding project.

"In general, it's a young team that maybe with some prodding we can win right away," Wakamatsu said last week.