Ichiro walks off to cheers
Print Edition
Ichiro Suzuki has said his “sayonara.”
The 45-year-old Seattle Mariners star left the Tokyo Dome field in the eighth inning last night, waving goodbye to the packed crowd amid hugs from teammates in a three-minute walk that signaled to all his great career has ended.
The Japanese agency Kyodo News reported during the game against the Oakland Athletics that Ichiro would announce his retirement after it was over, which he did after the game. The Mariners won 5-4 in 12 innings to complete a two-game Japan Major League Baseball regular-season series sweep.
Ichiro went 0 for 4. He took his spot in right field in the eighth, but then was pulled by manager Scott Servais and the walk into history began in front of a sellout 45,000 crowd.
He strolled from right field, turned and waved to the crowd with all of the usually reserved Japanese fans on their feet.
To chants of “Ichiro, Ichiro, Ichiro” he was greeted at the dugout by emotional embraces from teammates. Yusei Kikuchi, the Japanese rookie pitcher who started the game, openly broke down crying when he embraced Ichiro.
Oakland players stood solemnly and watched camera flashes and mobile phones catch the historic scene. All over the stadium signs read: “Ichiro we love you” and “Ichiro is Life.” Fans wore his famous No. 51 in all shades, colors and from all eras.
He was 0 for 5 in the two games against the A’s in Tokyo, leaving him with 3,089 hits — a sure Hall of Fame resume. He had 1,278 before that in Japan, making him baseball’s all-time hits leader.
He also struggled in spring training with only two hits in 25 at-bats. And in two exhibition games in Tokyo against the Tokyo Giants he was 0-for-6.
The conclusion to Suzuki’s career was speculated about since the games in Japan were announced last season.
Ichiro returned to the Mariners before the start of the 2018 season, then transitioned in May into a role as the special assistant to the chairman that allowed him to still be with the team and take part in pregame workouts, but meant he could not play in any games.
Suzuki was unlike anything the majors had seen when he left Japan for Seattle, and he’s become one of the most important figures in baseball history — and not just because of his 3,089 hits, 10 Gold Gloves, numerous All-Star Games, single-season hit record and MVP award.
Suzuki carried the burden of an entire country in coming to the United States, and his success created opportunity for the countless others who have followed. Whether he wants to accept the label or not, Suzuki was a trailblazer.
Suzuki preceded Hideki Matsui, who had a stellar career with the New York Yankees, by two years. In the years since, players like Nori Aoki, Kosuke Fukudome and Kaz Matsui followed. Last year two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani arrived.
All of them got their chance after Suzuki smashed the stereotypes that surrounded Japanese hitters.
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