He played in the National League for the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, and Colorado Rockies.

[1] A native of Coon Valley, Wisconsin, Servais played high school baseball for the Westby Norsemen, and was selected in the second round of the 1985 amateur draft by the New York Mets,[2] but did not sign.

Servais was also the back-up catcher for Doug Robbins at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, where the U.S. won the gold medal, although baseball was only a demonstration event.

Servais began his major league career in 1991 with the Houston Astros, staying with them until the middle of the 1995 season when he was traded along with Luis Gonzalez to the Chicago Cubs for Rick Wilkins.

After the Cubs lost to the Braves in the National League Division Series as a wildcard team, he signed as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants.

[14] Servais received his second ejection as a manager on April 16, 2017, after first base umpire C. B. Bucknor originally called Leonys Martín's grounder a foul ball and changed the ruling after Rangers first baseman Mike Napoli pleaded with Bucknor that it was a fair ball and Rangers manager Jeff Banister was on his way out to plead his case.

[15] On May 25, 2017, Servais received his third ejection of his managerial career on a questionable strike three call on Guillermo Heredia in the top of the sixth inning against the Washington Nationals.

[16] His second season concluded six games under .500, a record of 84 losses to 78 wins, achieving 3rd place in the American League Western Division.

Through the 2019 and 2020 season, rumors circulated about Servais' long-term career stability with the Mariners, although Dipoto and other front office staff have only voiced confidence.

[20] In 2021, Servais led the Mariners to their best season since 2003, finishing with a 90–72 record and two games back in the American League Wild Card race.

Servais placed second in voting for the American League Manager of the Year Award, behind Kevin Cash of the Tampa Bay Rays.

[23] In the 2022 American League Division Series, they faced the Houston Astros, who had beaten them 12 out of 19 times in AL West matchups.

[24] However, the bullpen could not hold it together, and the lead was only 7–5 going into the 9th; Paul Sewald allowed two baserunners (a hit by pitch and a single by Jeremy Peña) to reach while only getting two outs.