MLB 21st century face of the franchise — Seattle Mariners: Ichiro Suzuki
How many players go through their entire careers basically being known by a single name?
There’s Ichiro and then there’s … well, nobody really. But that’s not all making Ichiro a singular force in Seattle.
Signed out of the Japanese leagues, where he was already an established star, prior to the 2001 season, Ichiro made an immediate splash. Leading the league as a rookie in plate appearances, at-bats, stolen bases, batting average (.350) and hits (242), he was a near-unanimous selection as Rookie of the Year and he added the MVP trophy in a walk.
Along the way, he helped the Mariners to 116 victories, setting an American League record and equaling a 95-year-old Major League record.
Between 2001 and 2010, Ichiro was a regular on the AL All-Star team, topping 200 hits every one of those seasons and leading the league seven times. He won his second batting title, at .372, in 2004.
The one disappointment was Ichiro’s failure to return the Mariners to postseason play, where they flamed out in 2001. After eliminating Cleveland in five games in the ALDS, they lost the ALCS to New York, also in five games. Ichiro had a lot to do with both outcomes, batting .600 against the Indians but just .222 against the Yankees.
As they set off on a rebuilding course, the Mariners traded Ichiro, 38 by then, to the Yankees in mid-season 2012. When it was time for Ichiro to retire in 2018, there was only one appropriate place for that to take place. The Mariners re-signed him to make a final 17 appearances in the Pacific Northwest.
In the wings: It’s hard to imagine anybody stepping ahead of Ichiro in Seattle … until you remember that Julio Rodriguez plays center field for the Mariners. The 2022 Rookie of the Year has both the credentials and personality. Give Rodriguez five more years of top performance and a long-term contract and the question could be re-opened.