Yankees fans holding signs in support of Ichiro. (Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post)
Ichiro Suzuki achieved what Joe Girardi correctly called “an unbelievable milestone” last night, immersing himself into baseball history.
In his first at-bat against the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees’ 39-year-old right fielder lined a 1-1 pitch from R.A. Dickey past third baseman Brett Lawrie and into left field, giving him 4000 career hits when his MLB and Japan production are combined.
The Yankee players emerged from the dugout to celebrate with Suzuki at first base, and he bowed to the fans. When Suzuki went to right field to begin the top of the second inning, the crowd in right cheered for him, and he tipped his cap.
Suzuki has now amassed 2722 hits in the major leagues and 1278 in Japan’s Pacific League. Among players in MLB and in Japan’s highest level, Pete Rose (4256 hits) and Ty Cobb (4191) are the only players who have more.
Again, that’s Pete Rose and Ty Cobb.
“[Mine] is a record that is from two leagues. Those guys did it in one league,” Suzuki said in pregame. “I don’t think you have to put me in that same category as them.”
Either way, Suzuki should ultimately join the pair in the 4000-hit category. He should also be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. In his 13 seasons of MLB, he entered last night with a lifetime .320 average, 470 steals, 10 All-Star appearances and 10 Gold Gloves, ranking as one of the sport’s finest outfielders of the last 15 years.
Suzuki said he is thinking about 4000 hits less than people might expect and said shooting for Rose’s all-time record is “not a goal that I have.”
Suzuki was acquired from the Mariners last July 23, and after the season the Yankees re-signed him to a questionable two-year $13 million contract. He has subsequently produced a below-average offensive season, posting just a .670 OPS entering last night. Still, Suzuki has helped the Yankees defensively and with his durability.
Many of the team’s veteran players – Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Kevin Youkilis, Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson – have suffered season-changing injuries. Suzuki, however, has remained healthy, as he has throughout his major league career – he’s on pace to play in 153 games this season and has played in a staggering 157 games or more in 11 of his 12 past MLB seasons, including 162 last year at age 38. As always with a career milestone, health has joined skill as the primary factors in achieving it.
It’s unknown how much longer Suzuki wants to play or will be able to play. Next season he may see his playing time curbed if the Yankees re-sign Granderson. The team would then have five veteran outfielders under contract (Suzuki, Granderson, Brett Gardner, Alfonso Soriano and Vernon Wells) and four who are currently accustomed to playing every day (all but Wells).
Additional reporting by Brian Lewis