Ichiro Suzuki is set for Hall of Fame induction, earning my vote despite our rocky history
Seattle: So, I’ve been thinking about Ichiro Suzuki and his Hall of Fame candidacy. It’s wild to think about how our paths crossed over the years. My first real chat with him was back in 2019 during spring training. He was trying to make a comeback with the Mariners at 45, but let’s be real, he wasn’t the same player anymore.
They brought him back just for a couple of games in Tokyo against the A’s. But Ichiro, being Ichiro, showed up in great shape, ready to compete. Unfortunately, time wasn’t on his side. His previous stint with the Mariners ended in 2018 after a rough two months. He just couldn’t find his groove anymore.
During that 2019 spring training, I got to interview him again. He spoke English well but still had a translator. I asked him if it was tough to face big league pitching after being away for so long. His response? Classic Ichiro. He compared it to writing a story after a long break. I joked back, saying I’d written way more stories than he had at-bats that year.
He ended up going 2-for-24 that spring, and that was pretty much it for his career. But despite our rocky relationship, I’m voting for him. He’s a legend, and he deserves it. He’ll be the first Japanese player in the Hall, which is a big deal.
Ichiro started his MLB journey in Seattle back in 2001 after coming over from Japan. He had an incredible run, racking up 10 seasons with over 200 hits. He even set a record with 262 hits in 2004. When you add his hits from Japan, he’s got over 4,300 total. That’s insane!
People wonder if he’ll be a unanimous choice like Mariano Rivera was. I doubt it, though. His relationship with the media has been a bit rocky, just like mine. I remember one time he was clipping his nails during an interview. Super awkward, right?
He hit 2,500 hits during a game in Arizona, and when asked about reaching 3,000, he shot back with a “stupid question.” Classic Ichiro. He’s always had a unique perspective on goals, saying they differ from player to player. But when I asked about his short-term goals, he simply said, “No more interviews.”
When he tied Pete Rose’s hit record, I asked if the balls from those hits would go to the Hall of Fame. He just shrugged it off, saying he wasn’t giving them to me. His agent even gifted him a bat from Tony Gwynn, and Ichiro was genuinely impressed.
Ichiro has a deep appreciation for baseball history. He’s visited the Hall of Fame secretly, checking out artifacts that most people don’t get to see. Come January 21, he won’t be a secret anymore. I can’t wait for that next interview!