Ichiro Suzuki
| Birthdate | 10/22/1973 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 2001 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Mariners, Marlins, Yankees |
| Positions | Designated Hitter, Right Field |
From 2001-2010 Ichiro Suzuki had 200+ hits, the longest such streak in MLB history; his 262 hits in 2004 is the big league single-season record.
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George Sisler held the MLB mark for hits in a season for 84 years until Ichiro Suzuki broke it in 2004
George Sisler held the MLB mark for hits in a season for 84 years until Ichiro Suzuki broke it in 2004
George Sisler hit .407 in the 1920 season in which he set the Major League record with 257 hits. Gorgeous George lived the rest of his days as the record holder before passing away in March of 1973.
Seven months after Sisler’s death Ichiro Suzuki was born in Japan. Suzuki grew up an ocean away from the United States but made waves in America’s National Pastime. After 9 years and 1,287 with the Orix Blue Wave in Japan’s Pacific League, Ichiro came to the USA’s Major Leagues in 2001.
He made an immediate impact, hitting .350 with 242 hits to capture both the Rookie of the Year Award and MVP Awards. In each of his first ten seasons, Ichiro collected at least 208 hits.
In 2004 he eclipsed Sisler’s 84-year old mark by tallying 262 safeties. By the end of his first decade in America, the Mariners outfielder had 2,244 hits, a .331 average, and ten all star appearances.
In the collection is this 3×5 card signed by both Sisler and Ichiro.
Ichiro Suzuki is one of nine men to record more than 4,000 base hits in professional baseball
Ichiro Suzuki is one of nine men to record more than 4,000 base hits in professional baseball
Ichiro Suzuki was a 9-year veteran of professional baseball by the time he made his MLB debut in 2001. Starring for the Orix Blue Wave of the Japanese Pacific League, he compiled a .353 average and .422 on-base percentage from 1992-2000.
Then he crossed the Pacific and took his game to America. Soon he became a hero in two countries.
Ichiro led the AL in stolen bases and hits while topping the circuit with a .350 batting average. He was named Rookie of the Year and American League Most Valuable Player.
An all star in each of his first ten big league seasons, Ichiro led the league in hits in 7 seasons between 2001-2010. During that decade of play he averaged .331 and recorded 200 or more in every season.
In the collection is this ticket to Ichiro’s first appearance in an American All Star game. The no-doubt Hall of Famer has signed the front of the ticket to the game that was played in Seattle, home of Ichiro’s Mariners.
Ichiro delighted the Seattle fans with a single in his first at bat. It came off of former Mariner and future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson.
By the time he reitred, Ichiro had 3,089 hits in the US to go along with his 1,287 in Japan. He is one of the 9 men to record more than 4,000 professional hits.
Minor league baseball is considered Pro Ball…Those records are not considered in Major League stats….Why would you put Japanese Baseball stats into the conversation…Sadaharu Oh had 868 home runs we don’t consider that as a Major league baseball record…
I think in Ichiro’s case the fact that he was able to bring the same level of performance to his time in major league baseball does give credence to his years in Japan being entered into the equation.
Probably the greatest natural hitter in my lifetime
Joseph A Acosta, yet Oh’s homeruns aren’t included with Hank’s home run records like Ichiro’s records because Oh never played in MLB like Ichiro. Difference. Ichiro played & demonstrated that HE was capable of playing in today’s MLB whereas Sadaharo Oh didn’t.