All-time MLB hit leader Pete Rose does not see Ichiro Suzuki’s hits from his time in Japan as worthy of counting toward his all-time total.
Miami Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki entered Monday night’s game just four hits shy of tying Pete Rose’s all-time hit record when combining his hits in Japan and MLB.
Suzuki had 1,278 while playing in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball League, and now has 2,977 hits in MLB after getting three hits in a win over the San Diego Padres.
He is closing in on the 3,000 hit mark, but he is now only one hit away from tying Rose’s total when combining the Japanese and American totals.
But Rose does not put too much stake in counting Suzuki’s hits from his time in Japan. In an article on USAToday.com he explains his views:
"“It sounds like in Japan,’’ Rose told USA TODAY Sports, “they’re trying to make me the Hit Queen. I’m not trying to take anything away from Ichiro, he’s had a Hall of Fame career, but the next thing you know, they’ll be counting his high-school hits. I don’t think you’re going to find anybody with credibility say that Japanese baseball is equivalent to major-league baseball. There are too many guys that fail here, and then become household names there, like Tuffy Rhodes. How can he not do anything here, and hit (a record-tying) 55 home runs (in 2001) over there? It has something to do with the caliber of personnel.’’"
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Rose has an opinion that others may share, but it is not like Suzuki is being deemed the all-time hit leader in Major League Baseball. People are simply appreciating the accomplishment of getting so many hits in a professional career, even if some of those came during his time in Japan.
Even though he may not receive national attention for the feat, he is only 23 hits away from 3,000 in MLB, which will solidify his place in the Hall of Fame one day.
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Rose is entitled to his opinion and will continue to be MLB’s all-time hit leader for years to come, but Suzuki will still go down as one of the best hitters to ever grace a professional baseball diamond.