Ichiro Rules…
A scrawny slap hitter from Japan joins in the Baseball Immortals
Back in 1994, when I lived near Osaka, Japan, this skinny, 20-year-old kid took the country by storm by doing something no other person in Japan’s history had done: He got more than 200 hits (210) in a pro baseball season. A season that was only 130 games long.
That kid was Ichiro Suzuki.
I saw him play on TV in Japan a million times, and in person a few times, too. I’ve never seen a player capture the fans imagination and enthusiasm like Ichiro did in Japan with the Orix Blue Wave. I can honesty say that when I saw Ichiro in Japan, I knew he would make it in the Major Leagues, sometime.
And when Ichiro joined My Beloved Hometown Seattle Mariners in 2001, many thought this skinny slap hitter from Japan would flop in the Show. But, not me. I knew something awesome was about to happen. I was at the Mariners game in Oakland when Ichiro made his famous “Star Wars” throw to gun down Terrence Long at third…A play that left the A’s crowd in stunned silence, which then turned into respectful applause. That was the start, and by the time that season was over, Ichiro would lead the American League in batting average, hits and stolen bases. He was the leading vote-getter in the All-Star Game, won the Silver Slugger award, the Gold Glove and was named the AL Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player…Only the second player to win both awards in the same season.
Today, Ichiro will be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame (we ALL know it should have been unanimous)…We Mariners fans haven’t had too much to celebrate in the history of our team—Only 5 postseason appearances in 49 seasons, and no trips to the World Series—So we have to often “console” ourselves with having had some of the recent baseball greats wear the Mariners uniform. Ichiro, one of the greatest players ever, will go into the Hall as a Seattle Mariner today, and that is something we can all celebrate…