“Baseball will forever be my soul, and my mission is to keep helping both players and fans appreciate this special game”

One of many best Seattle Mariners of all time, Ichiro Suzuki, was inducted into the Seattle Mariners Corridor of Fame on Saturday. The time period iconic will get thrown round so typically that the phrase is beginning to lose which means. Nonetheless, when discussing the profession of Ichiro Suzuki, there are few phrases extra becoming.

By his 13 1/2 seasons with the Mariners, Ichiro turned as a lot part of Mariners lore as Ken Griffey Jr. or Edgar Martinez. He was a 10-time All-Star, 10-time Gold Glove winner, and the 2001 MVP and Rookie of the 12 months.

In his induction speech, Ichiro communicated the affect the sport has had on him and his wishes for future generations.

“Baseball will eternally be my soul, and my mission is to maintain serving to each gamers and followers respect this particular sport,” Suzuki stated.

I liked Ichiro as a participant. My minor league teammates and I’d emulate a lot of his on subject mannerisms. Now I contemplate him a mentor. Congrats Ichiro, in your Mariners HOF induction. Pizzas are on me!

Ichiro’s attain prolonged past Seattle, and he turned one of the beloved gamers league-wide. He was a fan favourite, a task mannequin, and an instance for colleagues and future MLB gamers.

Ichiro Suzuki’s baseball legacy

The 48-year-old Japanese outfielder turned not solely one of the gifted gamers in Mariners historical past, but additionally in skilled baseball historical past. A late-comer to the MLB, Ichiro joined Seattle on the age of 27 and nonetheless managed 3,089 hits within the majors. Mix these together with his 1,278 hits in Japan’s main league, and Ichiro Suzuki finds himself with probably the most hits in skilled baseball historical past.

Ichiro did not begin his MLB profession till 27. He nonetheless bought 3089 hits, 509 steals & received 10 gold gloves in 1st 10 years in addition to 10 straight 200+ hit seasons. – griffsz

There was seemingly nothing that Ichiro could not do. He holds the MLB’s single-season document for hits with 262, in addition to managing 10 straight 200+ hit seasons. However apart from his hitting skill, Ichiro was a vacuum within the outfield, occurring to win 10 Gold Glove Awards.

Ichiro’s future

Now a particular assistant with the Mariners, Ichiro hopes to share the magic of baseball with future generations.

Ichiro Suzuki will undoubtedly discover himself inducted within the Nationwide Baseball Corridor of Fame when first turns into eligible in 2025. Although he performed for the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins, he’ll enter the Corridor of Fame as a Mariner. He stays the franchise chief in hits (2,542), batting common (.321), at-bats (7,907), triples (79), and stolen bases (438).