During the previous three years, he broke the countrys single-season hit record (he had 210 hits in 130 games), won the first of seven straight batting titles, and transcended the limits of the Pacific League. Enfranchised in 1977, the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League.Safeco Field, now T-Mobile Park has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July 1999.From their 1977 inception until June 1999, the club's home park was the Kingdome. Now the WBC comes around and they win. He had an ability to put the bat on the ball unlike anybody else, was one of the fastest players of his generation, could surprise you with his power at the plate, and was a human highlight film in right field whether it was due to his arm, glove, or otherworldly agility. Ichiro charged the ball, fielded it, and transferred it to his throwing hand as Long rounded second and ran toward third. He is somebody I have tried to mimic, not just hitting but playing-wise, even how he handles the media. He was just this unique individual, the result of a very unusual set of circumstances.. It also helped that the Mariners and Orix had a working agreement in which Seattle shared commercial and marketing ideas in exchange for info about NPB players. Can't stop smiling at the absurdity. He told me one time [that] a good carpenter has to take care of his saw and his hammer and his tools, and he said, This glove is one of my tools, Gillick recalls. Somebody needs to sync that up. Don't you know. Dave Niehaus, Jay Buhner, Edgar Martinez, Randy . Check out http://m.mlb.com/video for our full archive of v. Heaps: Bench Chris Carson? When I returned in 2018, it was as if I never left. "Break out the rye bread and mustard, grandma! An airport hot dog? he asked Ichiros interpreter. By instigating at the top of the lineup, wreaking havoc on the basepaths, and turning each game into an electric environment, he added an element to our team that really sparked us in many different ways, Bell says. We thought we had a leadoff hitter, we thought we had a guy that could play right field, so we just went after it, Gillick says. His first signature highlight came on April 11 in Oakland. Ichiro is the first member added since 2015, and he joined an exclusive group that includes nine other members (in order of induction): Alvin Davis, Dave Niehaus, Jay Buhner, Edgar Martinez, Randy Johnson, Dan Wilson, Ken Griffey Jr., Lou Piniella and Jamie Moyer, with all in attendance except Johnson and Piniella. Why did he run when I was going to throw him out? -- Ichiro, Dave Niehaus is a Seattle legend. He was just pissed., Small also reiterates how Ichiros rookie year had much bigger implications than just a championship. In this outtake clip from Janis Joplin: Little Girl Blue . He found similar and prolonged success, racking up 16 home runs and 106 RBIs in his 2003 rookie season and then taking home World Series MVP honors in 2009. By the time Colborn returned to Japan in 1997 as the Mariners new scouting coordinator for the Pacific Rim, Ichiro had become a national icon. When the Miami Marlins made a rare trip to Seattle for a series in 2017, many wondered if it would be the last time Ichiro played at Safeco Field. Hed just put the ball over there and it was an easy triple., By mastering a balanced, small-ball approach in a homer-happy epoch, Ichiro ushered in new defensive strategies, even as he simultaneously foiled them. We used to kick their butts. And the qualities that endear those players to fans resemble what resonated about Ichiro in 2001. And would anyone be surprised if he was on the field once more? I was looking to take it on the hop and it never hopped.. Every day we present the best quotes! "He's the most committed player that I've ever had," Melvin recalled. He also addressed Piniella.\n\nLou kissed me right here on the cheek, Ichiro said. Id never faced a guy who was a better bad ball hitter., The torrid start only made Ichiros spotlight brighter, especially in Japan. In the bottom of the inning, Aaron Sele was inching closer to a shutout when Oakland center fielder Terrence Long led off with a single. [But Ichiro] wasnt just going to sit back and cry because they lost. Physics says he had to have put a little arc on it but I'm not sure. When I threw a good split down and away, or when I threw a good sinker in, or when I threw a curveball down over the plate, he found a way to hit that ball harder than anyone else that I would face, says Mulder, who gave up 17 hits to Ichiro in 38 career encounters. Charging a single by Ramon Hernandez into right field, Ichiro never broke stride and made a throw from about 200 feet away on the fly to David Bell that would have impressed William Tell. During Suzuki's first month in the majors in 2001, Niehaus narrated a throw by Suzuki from right field that nailed Terrence Long at third base. Likewise, the fans invited Dave into their homes as he brought to life on the radio the heroics of such Mariners legends as Alvin Davis, Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, Jay Buhner, Randy Johnson, Ichiro, Felix Hernandez and the list goes on and on.. Dave was the voice of spring and summer in the Northwest . This great star comes over here and not only has success, but really sets the pace in a lot of ways.. Years earlier, at Nobuyukis urging, Colborn had promised to take care of Ichiro in his transition to the U.S.; ever the scout, Colborn warned Ichiro about that nights Dodgers starting pitcher, and then made a prediction. It blows my mind how lucky Seattle sports fans have been with our broadcasters, No pressure to the new Kraken announcer crew, As a Blazers fan so happy Calabro is coming back. Id meet with him somewhere, usually at UCLA, one time we went to Cal State Fullerton, another time to Pepperdine, Colborn says. Naturally, in a matchup between Seattles current star and its former one, Ichiro singled off Randy Johnson in the bottom of the first. By the end of the regular season, he led the league in batting average (.350), hits (242), and stolen bases (56), becoming just the second player to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. I saw this angle 20 years ago and have been looking for it ever since. About an hour later, Ichiro led off the game by hitting Browns fourth pitch 400 feet and depositing it into the right-field bleachers. Watch a special tribute to 710 ESPN Seattle's The Groz featuring messages from members of the Seattle sports media to commemorate his 29 years as a daily host in the market. his size limits his ability to throw over the intermediate middle, and hubris is preventing him from ceding control or reining in his preferred style of play (meaning he no longer runs with the football, and opts to take . The . Julio Rodrguez had a brief moment that caused concern when he crashed into the wall in center field on Monday's Mariners spring trainng game. By the All-Star break, it held a 19-game lead over the second-place As. But Colborn knew that the outfielder was special. Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM) was formed and charged with developing, building and managing the most comprehensive baseball experience available on the internet. The M's will . "The throw by Ichiro, beautiful peg. . Scott Servais explains how to help the CF handle it. Because we only got to see him in the postseason once, many of Ichiro's greatest moments came in the regular season. But the way my career ended in Japan at the Tokyo Dome, and how the fans embrace me there, that is what makes this an easier exit. Ichiro Suzuki had already made a positive impression by the time he entered into legend status. From Diego Segui's first pitch on April 6, 1977, through the end of the 2010 season, Niehaus called 5,284 of the Mariners' 5,385 games. I remember how surreal it was on the bus just looking around like, Did that just happen? Boone says. One by one, Ichiro shared a message with each, blending in his trademark quick-wit humor with heartfelt respect. Over his first season in Seattle, the then-27-year-old erased any doubts about his transition from Nippon Professional Baseball to MLB. He used to tell me, Boone, you do not respect your equipment.. Follow Unfollow. Niehaus was one of the greats. Joe Fann details the six biggest. Ichiro will first be eligible for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in . He's shifting to a new role as special assistant to the chairman. America's Pastime. With Ichiros playing career having come to a close, lets look at the most memorable moments provided by an all-time great. I was shocked. Yet after narrowly escaping Cleveland in the ALDS, their season ended in the Bronx for the second straight year, with a loss to the Yankees in five games. Niehaus was the fans' choice to throw out the first pitch in Safeco Field history. "Just see what happens. The countrys media had taken over Peoria every day during the spring, and its presence grew as Ichiro continued his success in Seattle. In 2004, he broke a then-84 year record, logging 262 hits in a single season and surpassing George . I believe that they represent a new way of thinking, a new philosophy that has arisen within Japanese society, and that this new philosophy will have a tremendous influence., As Whiting notes, because Ichiro played every day, he became daily national news, a sort of baseball emissary beating up American pitchers. [Ichiro] held that bat up like a magic wand, like, What do we got here? Even years later, during pitcher Ervin Santanas debut season with the Angels, Ichiro always found an opening. I remember him being out in right field with Jay Buhner and they were taking infield, Rizzs says. His breakthrough offered a glimpse of the sports past and future, all while distinguishing him as a singularly timeless talent. [0:35 for exact replay]. Carrying all of the responsibilities that came with being the first Japanese-born MLB position player, he never wavered. David Niehaus had no idea who Janis Joplin was when they met in 1970 on Ipanema beach in Brazil, where both had traveled for Rio Carnival. From 2001-2010, Ichiro set a Major League record with 10 consecutive seasons of 200 or more hits. 4/11/01: Ichiro Suzuki nails Terrence Long trying to go first-to-third on a single to right field. After his 2001 debut, it seemed like it would be only a matter of time until he became the new single-season hit king. He would become the first Japanese-born MLB player to be inducted. MLB.com features a stable of club beat reporters and award-winning national columnists, the largest contingent of baseball reporters under one roof, who deliver over 100 original articles every day. Ichiro beats Randy Johnson to the bag in his first All-Star Game. Apr 21, 2017. At 45 years old, Ichiro could still chuck it. But with the game scoreless in the eighth and righty Jim Mecir on in relief for the As, Mariners manager Lou Piniella pinch-hit Ichiro to start the inning, and he delivered a bloop base hit to start a three-run rally. This was most apparent during the 2001 All-Star Game in Seattle, when he told National League manager Bobby Valentine, Were going to kick your ass shortly after being introduced as the ALs leadoff hitter. Honestly, I was scared. He has been the Mariners' voice for their entirety, from Diego Segui's first pitch in the franchise's inaugural game in 1977 to Ichiro's fly out to end the . Do you know who had the second highest? Wednesday night, a photo of Niehaus could be seen on the big screen from outside an empty Safeco Field. The Colossal Legacy of Ichiros Rookie Season, 20 Years Later, Ichiro shot Nissan commercials in the United States, he told National League manager Bobby Valentine. I knew it was going to be special., Earlier in his courtship, Colborn had taken Ichiro to Peoria to tour the Mariners facility and visit Griffeys locker. Not long after signing, Ichiro and his wife, Yumiko, visited Seattle, where the Mariners set up a private workout inside Safeco Field. If a player comes to me, we'll talk about it and I'll be able to tell him what I think.. He made The Throw, "something out of Star Wars," as Mariners announcer Dave Niehaus exclaimed. That doesn't happen in Japan. The Japanese sensation would go on to win the Rookie of the Year and the MVP that same season, but all of that came after this laser beam. Two weeks into his rookie season, that would no longer be the case. He opened the eyes of America to Japanese baseball, Small says. During one season, Colborn remembers Ichiro swinging just 11 times over a four-game series, and barreling the ball on every swing. Check out http://m.mlb.com/video for our full archive of videos, and subscribe on YouTube for the best, exclusive MLB content: http://youtube.com/MLB About MLB.com:Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig announced on January 19, 2000, that the 30 Major League club owners voted unanimously to centralize all of Baseball's internet operations into an independent technology company. He excelled at the little things, blending new school and old school, and carved out a niche that forced the rest of MLB to catch up. That is absurd. So that was a challenge. After smacking two doubles to left field, he stepped to the plate in the seventh inning, surveyed the diamond with his right arm perpendicular to the ground, and whipped his hands through a low fastball to lift a home run into the bullpen beyond the right-field wall. I remember it being almost in slow motion. It is one of the best memories of my career, and I will never forget that feeling. And nobody has seen one since. He was the instructor for a region void of the major league . He elaborated on that with perspective after stepping away following the Japan Series that began the 2019 regular season. pic.twitter.com/NHiJ6PWM4P. 1500 PAs). Watch: Ichiro finds old-time religion with HR-robbing catch. After being hampered by injuries in both 2018 and 2019, the Japanese star has now exceeded every expectation as a two-way player, leading the league in home runs (44) and total WAR (7.8) and posting a 3.36 ERA over 21 starts. What anyone who saw that throw that night or the next morning . I wasn't ready for 116 kisses from the manager.\n\nHe also thanked Mariners ownership for the opportunity to contribute as a special advisor in his post-playing days.\n\nMost days, I still wear the Mariners uniform, and I do so proudly, Ichiro said. The AL went on to win 4-1. After returning home for dinner and schoolwork, hed work in the batting cage from 9:30 to 11. [Ichiro] is somebody I have followed most of my life, especially as another left-handed hitter, Ohtani told ESPN in 2019, before Ichiro finished his Hall of Fame career in Japan. As a result, he substituted power for placement, lining, blooping, and grounding the ballhis body already a step out of the boxbefore beating out what appeared to be routine plays. Even though I retired as an active player, baseball and Seattle have never left my heart, Ichiro said. Ken Levine is a screenwriter and broadcaster, and he worked for many years on Mariners' games alongside the late Dave Niehaus, who died of a heart attack in 2010. They dont allow for individual differences. He hit in the batting cage underneath and he ran around the concourse in the upper deck for his running, Colborn recalls, laughing. talent - Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez, Alex Rodriguez, Ichiro Suzuki - with no World Series to show for it. Reflecting on his overall legacy, which will likely include an enshrinement in the National Baseball Hall of Fame when hes first eligible in 2025, Ichiro spoke with closure. SEATTLE (AP) Dave Niehaus, the Hall of Fame broadcaster who called Seattle Mariners' games from their first season through this year, has died of a heart attack. He was 75 . "April 11, 2001: Ichiro throws an absolute rope from right field to gun down the A's' Terrence Long at third base. Though naturally right-handed, he learned to hit lefty by practicing with a coal shovel, a move that gained him valuable extra steps out of the batters box. But when he met Ichiro in 2009, it was the Mariners legend who provided the classic moment. It read, "Dave Niehaus, 1935-2010." His empty chair and headpones sat in the broadcast booth . You need somebody over there that knows the ins and outs of not only how the games played over there, but the culture, former Cubs general manager Jim Hendry says. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. I was shocked. A Celebration of Life for Dave Niehaus; Podcasts; 2013 Seattle Seahawks Online Scrapbook; Daily Archives: February 24, . Ball-tracking angle of Ichiro's throw in 2001. With a late-season surge that rivaled some of the greatest in baseball history, the Mariners came from three games below .500 and a 13-game deficit in early August to secure a tie for the AL West with the California Angelsleading to a one-game playoff to determine the outright divisional champion.. Mariners fever was already in full bloom among the fans with . This might actually be the greatest catch of all-time. These Japanese athletes had taken the Japanese sports inferiority complexthe sense that the Japanese are not physically or experientially ready for world competitionand proved it wrong. Masijuma added, I believe that these athletes are not just about athletic talent. Saturday, March 10, 2018 10:25pm. I just wanted Ichiro to do reasonably well and succeed, he says. Tom Tango comes up with the idea of fun points based on fan polls to determine which players generate the most fun. That brought up pinch hitter Ramon Hernandez, who delivered a ground ball base hit to right. After he broke the hits record, you would see him on a lot of billboards in Japan, Whiting says. The version on MLB's YouTube channel doesn't have it, and it's too bad. And his unique approach to hittinghis on-deck stretches, circular bat warmup, and distinct scamper out of the boxdefied all baseball norms. Then Ichiro unleashed what would be dubbed The Throw, a laser beam that met David Bells glove knee-high and allowed the third baseman to gently apply a tag for the out. Fun Players. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The Japanese approach to hitting is such a cookie-cutter approachthey all hit the same, Whiting says. A Throw That Made a Phenomenon. A laser beam, barely 10 feet off the ground, reached third baseman David Bell on the fly . Fukudome might not have had the reputation that Ichiro had, but he was a really good hitter, and I think there was more of a comfort zone that even though he wasnt going to be a big power guy, everyone thought he was going to hit for a high average and hit for average power and play great defense in right field, which he did, Hendry says. Not bad for the first position player to ever make the move from Japan to the majors. He had a more avant-garde sense of fashion.. A laser beam, barely 10 feet off the ground, reached third baseman David Bell on the fly with Long a good five feet from the bag. I remember seeing his face, and this sounds strange, but he didnt seem dejected, he seemed pissed, Small says. 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