Ichiro Suzuki’s place as a worldwide baseball icon was secure — even before what took place on Wednesday. But on that afternoon, the 42-year-old reached a unique milestone.
A ninth-inning double in San Diego marked the 4,257th hit of his professional career (combining his totals in MLB and Japan).
Whether or not you believe he should be recognized more for overtaking Pete Rose’s celebrated total (even though about one-third of it was recorded outside North America), it’s impossible to deny that it’s an extraordinary accomplishment — and that Ichiro will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer six years after his retirement from the game.
With nearly 16 MLB seasons in the books, here are the eight greatest moments of his career so far.
8. He can pitch, too
Over his many years as a big leaguer, Ichiro has shown his remarkable prowess at the plate and in the field. It took until 2015 to take his turn on the mound. With the Miami Marlins down by four to the Philadelphia Phillies on Oct. 4 at Citizens Bank Park, he got the call as a relief pitcher. Ichiro allowed two doubles and one run on 18 pitches (without allowing a walk) as he added to his list of accomplishments.
7. An electric debut
Prior to 2001, there had never been a Japanese position player in the major leagues. When the Seattle Mariners signed Ichiro, many scouts said he was too small to compete against the best players in the world and endure the rigors of a 162-game schedule. Those claims would soon be silenced. In the midst of the “Steroid Era,” Ichiro’s style was a revelation. He took the league by storm right from Opening Day, leading off the bottom of the eighth with a bunt single and advancing to second on an errant hurried throw. It would be an indication of things to come – for that season and for his career.
6. Ichiro scales the Safeco wall
He’s known for his bat, but his trophy case is stocked with ten Gold Glove Awards. One play best depicts his knack for tracking down fly balls. It came in 2005, when he ran up the Safeco Field fence (like it had steps on it) and took away a would-be two-run homer from the Angels’ Garret Anderson.
5. Starting the 2001 All-Star Game
With the U.S. fully aware of this great Japanese import, Ichiro earned enough votes in the fan balloting to become an All-Star starter – the first rookie to start the Mid-Summer Classic since 1990. The game was held at Safeco Field, and Ichiro appropriately led off with bunt single. In terms of recognition that year, this was just the tip of the iceberg. As the Mariners won a record 116 regular season games in 2001, he would go on to lead the league in hits, batting average and stolen base. Ichiro also became just the second player to win both Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season.
4. Nine straight seasons of 200-plus hits
For most baseball players, they can only dream of getting 200 hits in a single season. For Ichiro, it became commonplace. And by 2009, he would set a standard that might not be topped – becoming the first to eclipse the 200-hit barrier in nine consecutive seasons. This broke a mark Wee Willie Keeler set way back in 1901. Ichiro would extend that streak to ten straight in 2010.
3. History made at the 2007 All-Star Game
Six years after his initial start in Seattle, Ichiro took it a step further on the All-Star stage. Facing Chris Young with a man on base in the fifth inning in San Francisco, he drove one that caromed unusually off the right field wall at AT&T Park. This allowed Ichiro to motor around the bases and produce the first inside-the-park home run in All-Star Game history. The American League would eventually win, 5-4, and Ichiro (who had three hits on the night) earned MVP honors.
2. An otherworldly throw
If his first MLB game didn’t open your eyes to his fascinating play and wonderful talents, then his throw to nail Terrence Long a few days later certainly did. A single to right field by Oakland’s Ramon Hernandez gave Long the thought going first-to-third. Ichiro, however, had other ideas. The Japanese media simply call it, “The Throw.”
1. Single-season hit record
He may not be the true “hit king,” but significant piece of baseball immortality is certainly his alone. On Oct. 2, 2004, before a sellout crowd at Safeco Field, Ichiro got a first-inning single to left center field. It was his 257th of the season, surpassing the single-season hits record held by George Sisler since 1920. He would finish the year with 262 hits – setting a standard that might be untouchable.
