What makes Ichiro a Hall of Famer, from teammates, opponents

Editor’s word: This story initially ran on Jan. 21, 2025. Ichiro is being inducted into the Baseball Corridor of Fame on July 27, 2025.

Ichiro Suzuki turned a Corridor of Famer when the Baseball Writers’ Association of America revealed its ballots Tuesday night. Ichiro’s stat line over greater than 20 years of excellence, first in Japan after which in MLB, made his election a slam dunk, however the legend of Ichiro is about rather more than his 3,089 main league hits and .311 profession common throughout 19 seasons with the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees and Miami Marlins.

As the enduring outfielder will get his Cooperstown name, we requested former teammates, opponents and different MLB greats to explain what it was like enjoying with, pitching to and easily witnessing Ichiro throughout his legendary profession.

First impressions of Ichiro

When Ichiro got here to the majors, there was loads of skepticism about how a Japanese hitter would fare in MLB since no one had made the bounce. Beginning along with his Mariners teammates, he discovered methods to show heads from the start.

John Olerud, teammate with Mariners, 2001 to 2004: “I heard Bobby [Valentine] speaking about this one man that was actually good and that he might play right here within the huge leagues. Ichiro was the primary Japanese place participant to return, so no one knew if they might have success right here at Main League Baseball. And so I keep in mind the primary time I met him within the clubhouse with Seattle, he knew who I used to be and I did not instantly know who he was. And speaking to Tom Robson, who’s the hitting coach, he stated Ichiro is greater than Elvis in Japan, simply to offer me a body of reference. And nonetheless, as huge as he was in Japan, there was nonetheless a query of whether or not place gamers might compete over right here.”

Mike Cameron, teammate with Mariners, 2001 to 2003: “My favourite story was his first yr in spring coaching. Our supervisor was Lou Piniella. Ichiro was hitting foul balls over the third-base dugout and over the third baseman and he would get plenty of his base hits between first and second, brief and third and over the shortstop’s head. And in the future Lou acquired pissed off. He was standing on the highest step, and Ichiro was coming again to the dugout. I feel he had grounded out or one thing like that. And Lou at all times rattled out something he wished to say, and was speaking so loud — I am certain Ichiro heard it — he is asking our bench coach, ‘Can this man f—ing pull the ball one time?’ And certain sufficient, the subsequent at-bat, he acquired up there, he hit a homer to proper.

“He got here across the bases with no animation or something, identical dry face that he at all times has along with his shades on, then he takes his helmet off, takes his gloves off, places his bat in his bat rack, his private bat rack that was on the bench, and he sat down and he stated, ‘How was that?’

“And everyone simply died laughing.”

Bret Boone, teammate with Mariners, 2001 to 2005: “We had no thought methods to take him at first. I now had a teammate along with his first title on his again. Nobody had ever seen that earlier than. He had his personal program and BP and issues, and everyone knew his credentials in Japan however had no thought the way it was going to translate. And he type of went via spring coaching like a professional. Guys had been asking him to do that and try this. And he type of checked out you want, ‘No, I do know what I am doing.’ And he had an OK spring, nonetheless everyone’s ready to see what he was going to do and got here out of the chute, bang. And that was that first season — it was fairly superior. He gave me rice balls every single day. He was nice and actually match into that dynamic. I imply, it was an odd yr for all of us as a result of the Japanese press was right here and it was nearly like having a postseason press convention every single day.”

Chef Jeremy Bryant started a 20-plus-year stint with the Mariners in 1999, when what’s now referred to as T-Cellular Park opened. He was advised a yr prematurely that Ichiro can be becoming a member of the staff, with a employees member referring to him as “the Michael Jordan of Japan,” and so Bryant spent a summer season studying Japanese cooking. When Ichiro arrived, Bryant was prepared — his fridge stocked with gourmand Japanese meals, his thoughts prepped for methods to make it to the famous person’s liking. Then, Ichiro walked into the room with a query Bryant was not anticipating.

“Do you will have cheeseburger?”

Bryant: “I did not have a cheeseburger. I did not even assume he would need that. I used to be suggesting all this stuff and I am like, ‘How ’bout wings?’ He goes, ‘Oh yeah, wings! Excellent.’ I had began marinating them Mexican fashion. I put some lime juice, garlic, and earlier than I went too far, I put a bunch of teriyaki sauce on them, and so I joked with him, like, ‘These are my signature Mexi-yaki wings.’ He went out, had his Opening Day, all the pieces went good. And the subsequent day he was like ‘Wings, once more, please.’ I left the stadium to purchase some extra wings, got here again, made them once more, after which Day 3, once more. I swear to God, man — 10 years, he had these wings. Each recreation that we performed at evening, Ichiro had these wings. … Similar time — 5:05 every single day as a result of he was the primary one out of batting follow. He ate them in the identical actual chair. He by no means sat in a special place in our little eating lounge. And he used the identical plate. I even cooked them in the identical pan. … After which on getaway days, at any time when the staff was flying out, he did not need wings on these days. He wished two corn canines. Simply two, and so they needed to be the essential, common — I might get them at Costco, the frozen ones. I had all this gourmand stuff prepared for this man, and he cherished two corn canines on getaway days.”

Whilst he rapidly turned his teammates — and staff staffers — into believers, Ichiro needed to show himself to the remainder of the league. After all, batting .350 on his method to American League MVP and Rookie of the 12 months honors in 2001 helped issues immensely.

Tim Salmon, opponent with Angels, 2001 to 2006: “I keep in mind seeing him for the primary time and the way slight of construct he was. He wasn’t an enormous man. My thought was, ‘OK, this will likely be fascinating to see how this performs out.’ He is a proper fielder. Most proper fielders are huge guys, energy guys.

“He was such a slight construct however had all this superb expertise, and he could possibly be no matter he wished to be. And his arm, I imply, he was simply phenomenal. He had a cannon within the outfield and simply the gracefulness that he went about issues, whether or not he was charging the ball and his footwork and having the ability to get off that good throw each time or working the bases. He simply glided, and he simply did all the pieces with a gracefulness. That was actually uncommon to see.”

Joe Maddon, longtime opposing supervisor with Rays and Cubs (and bench coach for Angels in 2001): “I actually consider that he might take a look at the sector and resolve the place he wished to hit the ball after which he would hit it in a way that might fall in entrance of outfielders. Though he had pop in his bat, he knew methods to simply hit it over infielders — nearly like his bat was a fungo — and as if the pitcher was simply tossing it up within the air and he would hit it someplace; it was simply actually maddening to defend it.”

Mike Sweeney performed with and in opposition to Ichiro for a few years within the American League. In addition they shared an All-Star locker room a number of occasions. Sweeney remembers the primary time he met Ichiro — whereas Sweeney was enjoying first base for the Royals in 2001.

Sweeney: “He leads off the sport with a line drive to left-center area for a base hit and he will get over to first base, and all I might take into consideration was after I was in Japan enjoying in opposition to the Japanese all-stars, anytime that an American would get a base hit up on the jumbotron can be this huge large graphic, nearly type of like a Nineteen Fifties/Sixties graphic from Batman and Robin. Like ‘Pow!’ or ‘Increase!’ And it could say, ‘Good batting.’ And so over the loudspeaker, you’d hear the PA announcer say, ‘Good batting.’ And also you’d see these huge graphics up on the jumbotron.

“So being a child from Southern California that does not communicate any Japanese, I do not know what to say to Ichiro. I do not even know if he is aware of English. He had simply gotten right here in spring coaching. So I look over at him and I pat him on the again and say, ‘Ichiro, good batting.’ And I do not know what sort of response I will get. And he appears to be like at me — by no means met him earlier than — and he goes, ‘Mike Sweeney, good ass.’ I simply began dying laughing. I am like, oh my gosh, his English was good. No accent. And I am going, oh my gosh, this man, he’ll be nice.”

With a serious league profession spanning practically 20 years, Ichiro ended it enjoying with the identical gamers who had been watching him in awe from afar when he broke in with the Mariners.

Chris Rusin, Rockies pitcher who gave up Ichiro’s 3,000th hit: “I watched him rising up. I went to a few Tigers video games, and so they simply occurred to be enjoying Seattle. By no means thought I would be enjoying in opposition to him or pitching in opposition to him, not to mention giving up the three,000th hit.”

Christian Yelich, teammate with Marlins, 2015 to 2017: “I grew up watching Ichiro as a child. In center faculty, highschool and stuff like that. So after we first signed him, I used to be like, ‘Oh s—, I will be enjoying with Ichiro. That is loopy.’ And you do not have very many moments like that — no less than, I did not within the huge leagues — the place you are enjoying catch with a man within the outfield and also you’re type of like, ‘Oh s—, I am enjoying catch with Ichiro proper now.’ That is a bizarre feeling. And he was so regular too, although. He was an ideal teammate and an excellent pal, and it was an superior expertise enjoying with him and getting to look at him obtain a bunch of milestones as a result of it was later in his profession, so it felt like each recreation he was passing or tying anyone.”

A front-row seat to the Ichiro present

Randy Winn performed 115 video games batting one spot behind Ichiro in 2004, when he set an MLB single-season file with 262 hits. Winn referred to his spot within the order as a “pleasure” as a result of he benefited from how a lot power Ichiro absorbed from opposing pitchers, both throughout lengthy at-bats or constantly making use of strain on the bases.

Winn: “He had three 50-hit months. I am lucky sufficient to have one in my profession, and it felt like I fell off the bed every single day with two hits in my pocket. It was superb. I am critical. You went to the park every single day like, ‘Oh, I already acquired two hits? Wow, this recreation is straightforward.’ He did it thrice in a single yr! I am unable to even fathom. That to me is so mind-blowing, I am unable to even put it into phrases.”

When Winn arrived in Seattle in 2003, he anxious a couple of potential language barrier whereas sharing the outfield with Ichiro. Winn rapidly discovered it was a nonissue — Ichiro spoke way more fluent English than he had realized. Winn was intent on giving Ichiro his area, however he usually sought alternatives to select the brains of nice gamers. One spring, he noticed a gap with Ichiro. The 2 stayed again whereas many of the different veterans traveled for a Cactus League recreation, and Winn approached Ichiro within the weight room to ask him about his mindset main off video games.

“Randy,” Ichiro replied, “I need 5.”

“What?” Winn responded.

“5,” Ichiro stated in good English. “On daily basis, I need 5 hits.”

“That is the expectation,” Winn stated. “‘I put myself able the place I anticipate to get 5 hits. I anticipate to execute and get 5 hits.’ After which I used to be like, ‘Heh, OK, now I perceive why you get 262 hits.'”

Unforgettable moments

Lengthy after the preliminary frenzy of his arrival in 2001, Ichiro captivated the game once more as a 42-year-old in pursuit of his 3,000th hit within the majors (along with the 1,278 he collected in Japan). He reached the milestone whereas enjoying for the Marlins in 2016 — hitting a stand-up triple at Coors Subject in Colorado.

Rusin: “The ambiance, it was loopy. You would type of really feel the gang was anticipating one thing as a result of for a Miami-Colorado recreation to have fairly a couple of followers there, and it acquired fairly loud when he will get as much as the field. You type of might really feel it slightly bit.

“I feel I went 2-and-0 on him after which I left a cutter over the center of the plate. He type of pulled off of it, hit off the top of the bat, and it traveled additional than I believed it was going to go, and the outfielder stored going and going and going. I used to be like, ‘Please do not exit. Simply not a house run. I am going to take something however a house run.’ And it went off the wall and he ended up getting a triple, and I feel I ended up getting out of the inning. However yeah, anytime you confronted a hitter like that in an enormous state of affairs the place he has one thing on the road or no matter, you do not wish to be part of it, however so long as it is not too unhealthy, it is OK. It isn’t too unhealthy to be part of it.

“Then after the sport, I am sitting at my locker and I acquired all of the media round me wanting to speak about giving up that hit, and I defined all the pieces after which on the finish I stated, ‘The one factor that I requested for is you return and ask him for an autographed bat. By the point he leaves, simply ship it over.’ And by the point I left the stadium, he had already despatched the bat over and signed it. Nice man.”

Yelich: “After he acquired it, we had been within the outfield collectively enjoying catch the subsequent half inning, warming up for the underside of no matter in opposition to the Rockies at Coors Subject. And I keep in mind enjoying catch with him and me considering, ‘Do not you dare throw this ball over Ichiro’s head and have him go working to the wall to go get this ball or one thing.’ With all these cameras and other people watching him proper now, everywhere in the world, you simply do not wish to airmail it within the outfield and ship him working. That is what I keep in mind considering.”

It wasn’t simply milestones but in addition Ichiro’s potential to make any second extraordinary. There’s maybe no higher instance than his unreal April 2001 throw from proper area to get A’s outfielder Terrence Lengthy out at third base.

Lengthy: “When he threw me out at third, early within the yr we had been in Seattle, identical state of affairs, ball hit to proper area, but it surely was slightly bit extra in the direction of the hole, and I went first to 3rd, no drawback. So this time I am considering, ‘OK, I went first to 3rd one time earlier than,’ however this one was proper at him. And I watched the replay. I used to be already three or 4 steps throughout second earlier than he acquired it. So I am considering, there is not any method he is throwing me out, and I am working, after which you may take a look at the third baseman’s eyes and you’ll see him this ball. And I am saying to myself, I am like, ‘OK, this ball is about to cross me.’ So I used to be like, two issues are going to occur. Both method it goes, you are going to be on ESPN without end. So the sensible factor to do is simply slide, simply to make it look shut. The worst factor I might have achieved was simply go in, stand it up, and it could’ve been much more embarrassing. So I used to be like, ‘I am simply going to slip.’ However as quickly as I acquired prepared to slip, you see this ball come proper previous me. I used to be like, ‘Oh my God, there is not any method he simply made that throw.'”

Even routine performs turned the stuff of legend when Ichiro stepped onto the sector.

Salmon: “We had been enjoying in Seattle one yr, and the grass at all times has a dew on it, a dampness to it. Anyway, he hit a line drive at me. That is alongside the strains of how onerous he hit the ball. They simply rocketed off his bat. And it was simply going to be a pleasant straightforward one-hopper. And I got here as much as get it, and it hit the bottom and it skipped so onerous. I did not get my glove down in time, and it hit me within the nuts. And actually, I did all the pieces I might to maintain from rolling over or no matter. I imply, I picked up the ball and I threw it in and I used to be like, ‘Oh my God.’ And I used to be strolling across the outfield and I swear it was burning so unhealthy down there. I figured I should be bleeding. And I stored attempting to look down it like, ‘Am I bleeding?’

“I am 200 toes away. That ball, it hit the bottom and it simply had a lot on it. It seemed like a standard line drive, one-hop routine, and it skipped on me — however he hits the ball so onerous that you just actually acquired to be in your toes. And I keep in mind listening to infielders speak about that. He’d hit a tough one- or two-hopper that might simply get via, previous the infielder, as a result of the ball got here off that totally different.”

Joe Girardi, supervisor with Yankees, 2012 to 2014: “My favourite Ichiro story is definitely when he performed with the Mariners in opposition to us. I keep in mind him taking Mariano Rivera deep [a walk-off] in a recreation, throwing the cutter inside and it getting hit. He had the flexibility to tug his arms inside and hit the ball out of the ballpark. And while you would watch him take BP, he hit ball after ball after ball out. However he knew his recreation was getting on base and stealing bases. So he by no means tried to be one thing that he wasn’t. The bottom that he lined was unbelievable and other people simply did not run on him, or he most likely would’ve had much more assists. And it is a man that had over 500 stolen bases. So I do not know if he might actually ask a participant to do rather more.”

Legendary expertise and work ethic

None of his achievements would have been doable with out a mixture of baseball expertise and work ethic that set Ichiro other than his contemporaries.

Cameron: “He was a locker mate of mine and he was my proper fielder for the three years that we performed collectively. What jumps out is simply his consistency. His consistency and his work ethic. He calls it a phrase in Japanese: it is referred to as kaizen, and in Japanese which means unending [or continuous improvement]. So he was by no means happy. And I do not assume he actually labored off the numbers aside from the truth that he cherished the concept of getting base hits. The man was pushed about getting base hits, and clearly that is evident in that he came visiting right here and performed all these years and acquired 3,000-something hits and has the all-time hit file in a season. So he was pushed by that, though he had the potential of hitting the homer, which I do not assume everybody actually knew that.

“The man used to go in even on off days and work out. It was every single day for him. That is all he knew. I at all times used to ask him, ‘What drives you to do this type of stuff?’ He is like, to start with, his title means ‘the one.’ So he is destined to be this one individual. And he was additionally very specific about all the pieces that he did, from his bats to having his personal particular bat case with a humidifier there. He was a competitor.”

Mark Teixeira, teammate with Yankees, 2012 to 2014: “I acquired to see Ichiro at his greatest. There have been solely a handful of gamers in baseball that I believed had been extra impactful to the sport. I simply thought he was one of many high 5 gamers in all of baseball after I performed in opposition to him.

“What impressed me probably the most is that he labored more durable, took his job extra significantly than anyone I’ve ever performed with. And this can be a man who was a Corridor of Famer, a legend in Japan. He might have simply type of ridden off into the sundown. He wasn’t even enjoying every single day, however but, he took his craft extra significantly than anyone.”

Girardi: “I feel his sturdiness was completely unbelievable. Coming over right here at 27 years previous and enjoying actually every single day till he was 41. It was superb. I am his stats when he was 41 years previous. He appeared in 153 video games, and he labored actually onerous. There’s actually three sides of the sport, and he was actually good in any respect of them. Offensively, simply his bat-to-ball expertise had been completely unbelievable and [he] had the flexibility to hit a house run — in a way — when the staff wanted it.”

Past all of his different presents, it was that unparalleled potential to place the bat on the ball that stands out most to those that watched Ichiro — or tried to get him out.

Mark Buehrle, longtime opponent with White Sox, Marlins, Blue Jays (Ichiro hit .409 in 66 profession at-bats in opposition to him): “He was so good with making contact and simply placing the ball the place he wished to. I keep in mind a recreation — I feel he had all of the hits throughout that recreation — he acquired on first base after his third hit, and I had run over to cowl. It was like a base hit via the proper facet of the infield. And I went over to cowl and he was standing on first base, and I simply threw my arms up. ‘Are you s—ting me?’ And he simply did his complete, ‘My unhealthy,’ shrugging his shoulders. However he was simply so good at placing the ball the place he wished to. I swear he would put it the place guys weren’t at.

“I feel the one time that I ever moved any place guys on the infield was in opposition to him. There was a recreation, he acquired two hits between third and shortstop. And I keep in mind the third at-bat. I seemed over at [third baseman Joe] Crede and I am like, ‘Scoot over, he hits the ball proper there each time, scoot over.’ So I pointed [him to] transfer over in the direction of the shortstop and what’s Ichiro do? He hits it proper down the freaking line, proper the place Crede would’ve been at. And I am like, ‘Yep, I am by no means shifting anyone ever once more.'”

Those that have witnessed his batting follow over time swear there’s one other ingredient to Ichiro’s recreation that defies his modest 117 profession house runs.

Lengthy: “He simply hits, hits, hits — however what impressed me probably the most about that man was batting follow. His first couple of rounds, he’s simply engaged on his line drives, after which his final spherical of BP, he hits balls additional than anyone I’ve ever seen. And nonetheless to at the present time, individuals do not consider it. I’ve watched him take BP lots. He hits balls farther than any of the massive guys you may title in that period in batting follow.”

Olerud: “You watch him take batting follow and I might put him in opposition to any house run hitter in Main League Baseball as a result of he simply hit one house run ball after the opposite and method, method out. It was spectacular how far he might hit the ball home-run-wise after which get within the recreation and he’d go to slapping the ball the opposite method and working onerous out of the field. It was simply so totally different. And so for me, it was at all times, ‘Hey, you follow such as you play within the recreation.’ And I by no means actually requested Ichiro what his considering was in batting follow, however he type of blew that principle out of the water.”

Bob Melvin’s first managing job was in 2003 with the Mariners. Ichiro was a megastar in the USA by that time, but Melvin referred to as him the best participant he ever coached. He was so dedicated, so regimented, that Melvin usually joked that his solely job was to tell Ichiro what time the sport began. However when Melvin first got here on board, he was given a special process — to schedule days off for Ichiro as usually as he might. Ichiro by no means wished to take them, however he usually wanted them. So Melvin recognized an early date on the calendar that, in his thoughts, made sense — Saturday, Might 3, in the course of a weekend collection in opposition to the White Sox.

Melvin knowledgeable Ichiro earlier that week that he wouldn’t be within the beginning lineup for that recreation and reminded him the day prior. He advised him to not take batting follow and to make it a degree to reach on the ballpark later than he usually would. If he wanted him, Melvin stated, it would not be till the eighth or ninth inning anyway. Then Melvin walked into the dugout half an hour earlier than the primary pitch and noticed Ichiro sitting on the bench in full uniform — batting gloves on, bat to his facet, considered one of his knees twitching uncontrollably.

“I am prepared,” Ichiro declared.

Melvin: “Simply then, this child walked by with an Ichiro jersey on. And he checked out me and he simply type of nodded his head to the child. And it simply dawned on me that folks come to look at him play, and he is very conscious of it. And he is an entertainer, as effectively. And he needs to placed on a present. And right here we’re in Chicago, the one time that yr enjoying the White Sox, he is not in there, and it was nearly his method of telling me, ‘That is one of many causes I do not need days off.’ I simply checked out him and I stated, ‘I get it.'”

One-of-a-kind character

Two issues had been clear about Ichiro’s off-field persona: He was actually into vogue, and his comedic timing was impeccable.

These two traits collided one afternoon within the mid-2000s. Kangaroo court docket was being held, and one of many Mariners’ gamers proposed fining Ichiro $500 for sporting one other considered one of his eccentric, fashion-forward, Italian-inspired outfits that appeared extra acceptable for a European runway than a serious league clubhouse.

Raul Ibanez, teammate with Mariners, 2004 to 2008, and Yankees, 2012: “So Ichiro stands up very calmly and begins talking very eloquent Japanese in a relaxed, very distinguished cadence. After which the translator goes, ‘Ichiro-san needs to understand how a lot we will fantastic you for making him watch all of the s— that you just guys put on every single day.’ It was someday in September, I feel everybody on the 40-man roster was there, and the entire room erupted.”

When Ichiro returned to Seattle as a 44-year-old in 2018, it was Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto who orchestrated the take care of longtime agent John Boggs in early March, in the course of spring coaching. However Dipoto had by no means met Ichiro.

A information convention was scheduled on the Mariners’ facility in Peoria, Arizona. Dipoto and Boggs agreed that the entrance workplace individuals might put on polos and khakis and Ichiro would most likely conduct his information convention in his baseball uniform. So, an informal affair. Then that morning, a row of black SUVs pulled into the parking zone. Ichiro hopped out of considered one of them.

Dipoto: “I would be conservative in saying I feel he is sporting a couple of $20,000 go well with, his hair completely groomed and jet black, and he is acquired on what I might qualify because the nicest pair of sun shades I’ve ever seen. He walks in and spreads his arms out and says, ‘Jerry!’ I checked out him, and my first intuition, I like, give him slightly backhand slap within the chest. I stated, ‘I believed we had been going informal.’ And he checked out me and laughed. He stated, ‘That is informal for me, my pal!'”

Ichiro’s potential to shock along with his fashion and wit was evident from the start — whether or not it was with an umpire …

Boone: “One in every of my favourite moments was: He is working out for Opening Day and the second-base umpire [Kerwin Danley] was type of following him out to proper area, and everyone thought [Ichiro] did not communicate English. And I consider the road he dropped on him as a result of Danley got here proper over to me and he stated, ‘I am unable to consider what Ichiro simply stated to me.’ I stated, ‘What?’ He stated he was working by Ichiro and he type of gave him the, ‘Hey, good luck to you’ this and that type of factor. And Ichiro type of checked out him, he stated, ‘What’s taking place, house slice?’ and stored working to proper area. That caught with me. That was humorous. That is how he was.”

… or when he charmed the sport’s best gamers at his first All-Star Recreation in 2001.

Sweeney: “[AL manager] Joe Torre offers this stunning speech, you already know, ‘You guys are the very best on the earth on this locker room. Have a look round. You are in an elite class. There’s solely 70 individuals on the earth which might be going to play on this recreation tonight, and also you’re considered one of them.’ And also you go searching, you see Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, and also you’re wanting across the room going, ‘Oh my gosh, that is nice.’ So on the very finish, we’re all type of on this feeling of you are in a cathedral, however but you are in a baseball locker room on the identical time, and you are going, the place will we go from right here? And Joe Torre says, ‘Anyone have something so as to add?’ And we’re type of like, how are you going to high Joe Torre? And we glance round and Ichiro stands up, raises his hand — the place’s he going with this? And he goes, ‘Let’s go kick their motherf—ing ass.’ And the place simply erupted, the entire locker room.

“It was one thing I am going to always remember. So then yearly within the All-Star Video games to observe, it simply was like, OK, whoever the supervisor is, you may say no matter you need, however No. 51 at all times will get the final phrase. And it was simply an unstated factor — you look over and also you see Jeter, the best gamers of our time. And when the supervisor would get achieved, it was like, OK, that was good, however wait till you hear what Ichiro has to say. He will get the final phrase.”

It wasn’t at all times straightforward

Sweeney’s first yr enjoying with Ichiro was in 2009, simply after Ichiro had led Japan to a World Baseball Basic title. It got here with plenty of stress — amid reports of issues between Ichiro and some of his Seattle teammates and a bleeding ulcer.

Sweeney: “I had heard about Ichiro being alienated by his teammates. A few of them had been jealous of him, a few of them weren’t incorporating him into the staff as they need to. And I used to be in shock. I am like, this man’s the best hitter of all time. How will you not embrace this unbelievable participant? So we go into spring coaching, Ichiro is within the nook locker proper subsequent to Griffey Jr. Then I am subsequent to Junior and I am sitting across the locker room wanting and saying, man, now we have 4 future Corridor of Famers on this locker room. It is Ichiro, Griffey Jr., Adrian Beltre and Felix Hernandez. And I am going, man, how can we not win right here? We have now to discover a method to unify this locker room.

“So throughout spring coaching, we did little issues to carry our staff collectively. We would meet up for dinners and do enjoyable issues within the locker room collectively. And about midway via spring coaching, the WBC began. So Ichiro was clearly on Workforce Japan and so they win, and Ichiro reveals again up with 5 days to go earlier than Opening Day in Minnesota. And he goes to our staff physician and says, ‘Look, I do not really feel good in any respect.’ So that they discover out he has a bleeding ulcer and he is deathly sick. They’re treating him within the hospital. However Ichiro was certain and decided to be prepared for Opening Day. However the stress of placing his nation on his again; he actually put the nation of Japan on his again by representing them within the WBC. He willed the Japanese staff to win the WBC championship in 2009, after which he tries to get again to a staff that simply six months earlier than had turned their again on him and type of ostracized him and put him on an island. They did not embrace him.

“And he has all this inside stress happening, which results in a bleeding ulcer. And Ichiro met with the doc and stated, ‘I am enjoying for Opening Day.’ And the physician really referred to as the proprietor and stated, ‘Ichiro’s adamant that he needs to play for Opening Day, which is in like 4 days, and I am in no place as a staff doctor to permit that to occur.’ Ichiro requested him what is the worst factor that might occur. And the doc says, ‘If this bleeding ulcer, which is actively bleeding, if it ruptures, you may die.’ And Ichiro seemed him sq. within the eyes and stated, ‘I am going to take my probabilities.’ And the proprietor of the staff needed to step in.

“In order we went into Minnesota — Ken Griffey Jr, myself, Adrian Beltre, Felix Hernandez — we acquired the staff collectively, and we stated, ‘Hey, look, up to now, this can be a teammate that you just all have pushed to the facet, however here is what he was prepared to do for you. He is prepared to die so that you can play in tonight’s recreation.’ So it was very emotional. This can be a time to honor him. This can be a time to open up our arms to him and actually carry him into the staff. In order that evening in Minnesota, our clubhouse supervisor, Teddy Walsh, we requested for Ichiro’s jersey, and we hung it within the dugout, within the Metrodome. And Ichiro advised me that when he watched the sport that evening from a hospital mattress again in Seattle, he knew that there was one thing totally different. He had teammates, for the primary time since his rookie yr, he felt, that cherished him.

“So the staff ended up simply falling simply wanting the playoffs. On the final day of the season, we stock Griffey off on our shoulders considering he was going to retire and sail off into the sundown. Carlos Silva [a Mariners pitcher, who reportedly had his issues with Ichiro] was so moved by his love for Ichiro, he thinks what the hell, I will put Ichiro on [my] shoulders and carry him off.

“There’s this stunning picture of us carrying Griffey Jr. off the sector as a hero’s exodus, after which Carlos Silva throwing Ichiro up on his shoulders, carrying him off simply because he loves his teammate. And Ichiro advised me that that was probably the most enjoyable he had within the main leagues since his rookie yr. He stated the way in which his teammates cherished him, the way in which his teammates celebrated him introduced him nice pleasure once more in baseball for the primary time since his rookie yr.”