Ichiro announced his retirement Thursday in Tokyo after a 5-4 Mariners win over the As (the same result as his first game as a member of the Mariners), not far removed from a rousing ovation as manager Scott Servais took him out of his final game for a defensive replacement. 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. So I've often said that he was the easiest guy I've ever had to manage because all you had to do was tell him what time the game was and you knew he'd be ready and committed to go.". It prompted a memorable call by Mariners Hall of Fame announcer Dave Niehaus and was just one of several great moments in a season in which Ichiro was an All-Star and took home both the American League Rookie of the Year and MVP awards. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, The subreddit for the bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Love Raible. "He's the most committed player that I've ever had," Melvin recalled. Ichiro charged the ball, fielded it, and transferred it to his throwing hand as Long rounded second and ran toward third. (AP). He also thanked Mariners ownership for the opportunity to contribute as a special advisor in his post-playing days. Whether he wants to accept the label or not, Suzuki was a trailblazer. Fun Players. . 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. [became] Whos next?, According to Tokyo-based journalist Midori Masujima, Japan long held an inferiority complex when it came to sports. Now, of course, there's two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani. He was the lead play-by-play announcer for the American League's Seattle Mariners from their inaugural season in 1977 until his death after the 2010 season. ! Ichiro shouted, after which he allowed the eager audience to roar back and take in the moment. 51) Ichiro will first be eligible for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2025. There was a sellout crowd on a summer Saturday night, and the introduction had all the parallels when the center of attention was finally introduced. The manager gave me a big wet kiss. He was the lead play-by-play announcer for the American League's Seattle Mariners from their inaugural season in 1977 until his death after the 2010 season. That included his preparation and personality, which often caught Seattle teammates off guard. Joe Fann details the six biggest. "I'm here to tell you, Ichiro threw something out of Star Wars down there at third base," Niehaus said. Subscribe to Stathead , the set of tools used by the pros, to unearth this and other interesting factoids. Lou kissed me right here on the cheek, Ichiro said. He was the instructor for a region void of the major league . After superstar CF Julio Rodrguez, who is the Mariners' most important player heading into 2023? Its a charisma that I think has to do with stature and perceived vulnerability.. He may never play another game in the majors. SEATTLE King's Court will be back in session this summer. I want our players to know that I am with you in your fight to be the best. Period, man, you are out. And was he ever out., Bell: I knew he had a great arm, but I was a little surprised. Ichiro will first be eligible for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in . I used to tease him. Colborn predicted that a bid of $10 million would win Ichiros negotiating rights, but Yamauchi wanted a failsafe number and threw in a couple extra million of his own money. But . When I returned in 2018, it was as if I never left. How did he not tear the muscles in his entire body making that throw. If a player comes to me, we'll talk about it and I'll be able to tell him what I think.. Suzuki preceded Hideki Matsui, who had a stellar career with the New York Yankees, by two years. Physics says he had to have put a little arc on it but I'm not sure. In this outtake clip from Janis Joplin: Little Girl Blue . Hes baseballs all-time hit king, was named to 10 straight American League All-Star teams, and is one of only two players ever to win MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season. And when he steals second, he don't say please. I just wanted Ichiro to do reasonably well and succeed, he says. I wasn't ready for 116 kisses from the manager.. So here's the audio. just drops and shakes his head, Ichiro was the only one in the video not surprised by that throw, It was going to take a perfect throw to get me. Not only are they standing shoulder to shoulder with their overseas peers, in some cases they are leading the way., Hideki Matsui followed Ichiro to the majors in 2003, crossing the Pacific and signing with the Yankees. 0 Followers. Improve yourself, find your inspiration . Among fans nationwide and his peers, Niehaus was . In the years since, players like Nori Aoki, Kosuke Fukudome and Kaz Matsui followed. The . 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. In 2008, the National Baseball Hall of Fame awarded Niehaus with Shortly after retiring, Ichiro began as a special advisor to the Mariners, essentially serving as an assistant coach during Spring Training and most home games during the regular season. I think he liked that challenge and he was uniquely equipped to handle it, Stone says. He took 150 swings and never stepped out of the batters box, never said I need to get a blow, I need to get my breath, Im tired, Gillick says. With one out and Oaklands Terrence Long at first base, catcher Ramn Hernndez grounded a single to right field. 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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Beats the throw. Check out http://m.mlb.com/video for our full archive of v. "His whole day, his whole night, everything he thought about, was about the next day's game and being prepared for it, from the way he works out to the routine that he's on. Are you kidding me? He was a goddamn special player to watch in his prime, and he was one of the few bright spots when the Mariners churned out forgettable team after . The biggest void Ichiro envisioned that hed face upon retiring was the passion he had for playing, and how hard itd be to hang up his glove. More >. David Arnold Niehaus (February 19, 1935 - November 10, 2010) was an American sportscaster. Theyre taking some of our weight training regimens and the way we approach the game in the States and applying it to what theyre doing, says Small, who lived in Japan from 2003 to 2019. Holy crap, I don't think I've seen this online before. After returning home for dinner and schoolwork, hed work in the batting cage from 9:30 to 11. buhners is great too. An airport hot dog? he asked Ichiros interpreter. I mean, they had the left fielder on the left-field line, they had the third baseman almost shaking hands with him, they had the infield halfway in, had the second baseman pulled sometimesyou saw every defense that you could see, he says. The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! Looking back at Ichiros 2001, Colborn says one other memory stands out. [People] would pick up the newspaper and see Ichiro got two hits, and then several paragraphs down youd find out Seattle lost the game, he says. It is my greatest honor to have played for you as a Seattle Mariner.. Its incredible that this throw is that famous since its from a regular season game in April. Once asked about comparing his body routine to NFL superstar Tom Brady, Ichiro responded with an all time quote: When baseball is your entire life, it may be difficult to find enjoyment in other things. He lives to train and tirelessly works to take care of his body. They tied MLBs regular-season record with 116 wins and had the third-highest bWAR in baseball history (67.1). Thus was there a craving for approval from overseas, for a vindication of Japan itself, that attached itself to the athletes who made their way across the Pacific., Its a sentiment Masujima explored in a 2002 magazine essay while writing about the transformative power of stars like Nomo and Ichiro. And it was a perfect throw. --Terrence Long, The ball was hit right to me. Im anonymous here.. This great star comes over here and not only has success, but really sets the pace in a lot of ways.. He opened the eyes of America to Japanese baseball, Small says. Colborn smiled. 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. Whiting says this stance initially got him in a lot of trouble with minor league manager Shozo Doi, who opposed Ichiros leg kick and kept him on the farm team for the 1992 Orix BlueWave. "Break out the rye bread and mustard, grandma! Suzuki and the Mariners announced Thursday his 2018 season was over. It took 125 years for Major League Baseball to get its . Yet for all his stops over his 28-year playing career, there was always an affinity for the Mariners. So that was a challenge. He made The Throw, "something out of Star Wars," as Mariners announcer Dave Niehaus exclaimed. With MLBs newly established posting system (which negated much of Colborns and the Mariners groundwork), Gillick leaned on ownershipparticularly principal owner Hiroshi Yamauchi, a Nintendo chairman who loved watching Ichiro play in Japanto make a competitive offer. Niehaus was a constant. What anyone who saw that throw that night or the next morning . About an hour later, Ichiro led off the game by hitting Browns fourth pitch 400 feet and depositing it into the right-field bleachers. 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. Carrying all of the responsibilities that came with being the first Japanese-born MLB position player, he never wavered. It was so true and so strong. Next door in the press box, Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus described the throw as being like something out of Star Wars, a call that was soon attached to the clip on every sports report that night. SEATTLE - Ichiro Suzuki's otherworldly talents made an early impression on Dave Niehaus, the Hall of Fame voice of the Seattle Mariners.During Suzuki's first month in I think Aaron Goldsmith could join them if he sticks around long enough. I've never understood it's something like "The throw by Ichiro beautiful, peg he got him." Yet the idea of playing again is another maybe final challenge for Suzuki. There was an arrogance there, like going to Paris and seeing the Eiffel Tower.. And his unique approach to hittinghis on-deck stretches, circular bat warmup, and distinct scamper out of the boxdefied all baseball norms. that is the most lazer-like throw i've ever seen. I'm not sure he threw that ball at an upward angle. Ichiro was a big part of that.. 4/11/01: Ichiro Suzuki nails Terrence Long trying to go first-to-third on a single to right field. Shift him all you want, Boone says. It is one of the best memories of my career, and I will never forget that feeling. 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. Seattle won 40 games over the first two months of that season, leaning on free-agent additions like Boone and key veterans like Edgar Martinez. 4/11/01: Ichiro Suzuki nails Terrence Long trying to go first-to-third on a single to right field. I saw this angle 20 years ago and have been looking for it ever since. Ichiro beats Randy Johnson to the bag in his first All-Star Game. Holy shit. #IchiroWeekend pic.twitter.com/Upl1XeSY48, Ichiro Girl reuniting with Ichiro is the most wholesome thing weve ever seen pic.twitter.com/vrM41SHLaB. Anybody who tried to copy Ichiro would have failed, Whiting says. By the time Melvin arrived in Seattle in 2003, Suzuki was already established as a star. 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. Not only was Ichiro an incredible hitter, he had elite speed on his side, as well. Id meet with him somewhere, usually at UCLA, one time we went to Cal State Fullerton, another time to Pepperdine, Colborn says. ROOT Sports analyst Mike Blowers talked to Bob, Groz and Tom about Lewis and what makes him stand out. Ken Griffey Jr., Jamie Moyer, manager Lou Piniella and broadcaster Dave Niehaus. All of them got their chance after Suzuki smashed the stereotypes that surrounded Japanese hitters. But everybody knew it could only be Dave Niehaus. I was looking to take it on the hop and it never hopped.. Ichiro walks off into history in sayonara at Tokyo Dome. I'm not sure he threw that ball at an upward angle. In this outtake clip, Niehaus remembers his relationship with Janis as a liberating, wild but delicate one, in which he witnessed her most vulnerable and tender moments. They were in the middle of a nine-game road trip in which they would go 7-2 and grab a division lead they would never give up. He became an All-Star in his first season and played for two other teams before leaving MLB in 2012. I mean Forslund is already loved by the hockey community, I don't see how he doesn't succeed as our play by play. SEATTLE -- It began like an outdoor concert for an iconic rock star, and in many ways, Ichiro Suzuki carries that reputation in these parts. I realized that this video didn't have the Niehaus call which was a lot better honestly. pic.twitter.com/NHiJ6PWM4P. [Orix executives] would come to the Kingdome and watch games and go to the office during the day, Colborn says, but the real, ultimate goal was for us to have first choice of their players., In 1999, two years before Ichiro hit free agency, Orix expanded its agreement, allowing players to travel to Peoria to join the Mariners for spring training. His name and likeness were everywhere. The Mariners front office, led at the time by general manager Woody Woodward, was skeptical of how Ichiros skill set would translate to the U.S. Most days, I still wear the Mariners uniform, and I do so proudly, Ichiro said. Thus, over the next few years, Colborn found it easy to court Ichiro, bringing him jerseys of Griffey Jr., his favorite player. While that ended up not being the case, he gave Mariners fans quite the thrill in his last at-bat of the series, drilling a home run to send the crowd into a frenzy. I was 27 years old when I came to Seattle. The Japanese sensation would go on to win the Rookie of the Year and the MVP that same season . The former Orix pitching coach had taken the same job with the Dodgers that year, and embraced his friend in the dugout when the Mariners visited Los Angeles for a three-game series in July. But emotionally because I was able to finish the way I was able to finish, that kind of beats out all the other things; it just makes it so that I'm at peace.. **For the best user experience, we recommend disabling the Reddit redesign. Ichiro Suzuki had a .244 BA after an 0-2 count, 20 points higher than any other player in our database (min. Ichiro set the single-season record for most hits (262) in a season in 2004, breaking Hall of . Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. David Niehaus had no idea who Janis Joplin was when they first met in Brazil. Ichiro was such an exciting player, and for the rest of the baseball world to get to see him do something like this on the national stage was so special. "To come over here and pave the way for a lot of Japanese players, what he and (Hideo) Nomo did, that's not an easy thing to do," said Oakland manager Bob Melvin, who managed Suzuki for two seasons in Seattle. 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. Yet his influence and importance shouldn't be understated. He was 75 . Five highlights of Dave Niehaus' career with the Mariners. Retirement wasn't the 'R' word used Thursday for the how and why of Suzuki moving off the field. What sets Mariners OF Kyle Lewis apart from other prospects. Dave "The Groz" Grosby signed off as a full-time Seattle sports radio host Friday on Bob, Groz and Tom with visits from several notable names from his career. George Sisler of the St. Louis Browns had 257 hits for the St. Louis Browns in 1920, setting a . Ichiro tips his cap to the Tokyo crowd as he leaves his last MLB game. Niehaus honored with 2008 Frick, Seattle's soothing baseball voice headed to Cooperstown, Audio: Niehaus announcing during 1996 earthquake. The version on MLB's YouTube channel doesn't have it, and it's too bad. Ichiro will be honored by the Mariners in August 2022, including being inducted into the team's Hall of Fame in a pregame ceremony on Aug. 27. . Ive been looking for this angle for a while. Rounding third and heading for home. WALLA WALLA - As I listened to a Mariners pregame radio broadcast over my headphones recently as I jogged up Tieton Street, I was reminded of This is when America really took notice of Ichiros talent. Remember, we won 116 games that year. Paraphrasing the writer in his 2021 book Tokyo Junkie, Whiting explains this stemmed from an inability to prevail in international sports events, save for the odd marathon or judo triumph. Sharing the field with his idols for the first time, Ichiro displayed his quick bat and strong arm, impressing Piniella and the rest of his temporary teammates. I was treated like some kind of guest royalty. 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. Remembering Dave Niehaus. It was stuff like that that I could pass on to help convince them, Colborn says of the Seattle execs. His first All-Star Game was one of those, coming in an at-bat against Randy Johnson. And Ichiro catapulted a team that was projected to finish third in its division to 116 wins and an unlikely place in MLB history. David Arnold Dave Niehaus (February 19, 1935 November 10, 2010) was an American sportscaster. In 2008, the National Baseball Hall of Fame awarded Niehaus with and the 0-1 pitch on the way to Edgar Martnez swung on and LINED DOWN THE LEFT FIELD LINE FOR A BASE HIT! 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