Ichiro reaches 3,000 career hits

Wednesday 30th July, 10:49 AM JST

ARLINGTON, Texas —

Ichiro recorded his 3,000th career hit with a first-inning single and finished 2-for-5 in the Seattle Mariners’ 11-10 loss to the Texas Rangers on Tuesday. Ichiro sent a soft liner to left field on the first pitch of the game from Luis Mendoza for his 1,722nd career hit in the major leagues, on top of the 1,278 he had over nine years in Japan. Ichiro reached the milestone in his 2,175th game. ‘‘I’m pleased that I’ve had 3,000 hits over 15 full seasons in Japan and the majors. I think I should be delighted with various challenges I face.’’

Elsewhere, Chicago Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome went 2-for-5 with two RBIs in a 7-1 rout of the Milwaukee Brewers. He tripled in two runs in a five-run sixth inning and doubled in the ninth. Houston Astros second baseman Kazuo Matsui had two singles in four at-bats in a 6-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

Kyodo

14 Comments

Altria at 11:12 AM JST - 30th July

Congrats Ichiro! Truly a class act.
some14some at 02:32 PM JST - 30th July

It was an exciting match but unfortunately Mariners lost to Texas and could not celebrate Ichiro's 3000 career hits.
xpompey8 at 03:07 PM JST - 30th July

Ichiro deserves to play for the Red Sox or the Yankees. Some claim that he's overrated, but he's got 3000 hits to lay claim to.
smithinjapan at 05:39 PM JST - 30th July

I like the 'Japan and the majors' bit... just goes to show they are not at all one and the same. Anyway, Ichiro is an excellent baseball player, and Japan has a LOT to be proud of for producing more and more high quality players to the sport. I very much DISlike his arrogant attitude (particularly when playing the Korean team in the Baseball "World" Championships), but I guess with someone as good as him he can get away with it... a shame... but still.
Blue_Tiger at 09:52 PM JST - 30th July

Ichiro Suzuki is the best Japanese Baseball Player in History. Period. He'll be elected to the Hall in his first try.....
J_rock at 12:43 AM JST - 31st July

This guy needs out of Seattle ASAP. Time to play for a contender. He'll be the first Japanese player in Cooperstown. There will be a lot of debate, and his achievements in Japan will be called into question, but he'll get in.
JohnBecker at 01:18 AM JST - 31st July

I agree completely with J rock. The guy has phenomenal skills.

The good people of Cooperstown are used to an influx of visitors when a new class is inducted into the Hall of Fame, but they've never seen anything like the tidal wave they'll get when Ichiro goes in.
SiouxGirl at 01:43 AM JST - 31st July

He was very much loved in Seattle when I lived there. He had his own cheering section of Japanese girls, which was funny because they were kind of embarassed to be cheering - but they did! I think he will play for a better team sooner or later. A lot of ppl in Seattle complained that not enough money was put into the Mariners but nothing was ever done about it.
spudman at 05:38 AM JST - 31st July

1250 hits and 1720 slaps and the rest bloops like the 3000th yesterday. Ichiro is a lead off slapper with a cannon throw but his results in terms of RBIs and runs are woefully poor. And he's a jerk in interviews.
sk4ek at 06:15 AM JST - 31st July

In interviews, at least (both in Japan and the U.S.), Ichiro increasingly comes across less like the member of a team, and more than ever like the self-centered, hyper-pendantic technician he really is. It's unfortunate, given his skills and popularity, that's he's become so annoying to listen to, and that he continues to refuse to take any real leadership role, on the team or in the community, commensurate with his on-field achievements. Whether his team wins or loses seems to be of less importance to him than the "science" behind the latest adjustment to his stance or to his lead-off distance from first base when attempting to steal second.

I used to think he was cool--his work ethic, at least, is still something to emulate--but I don't, anymore.
helloklitty at 12:25 PM JST - 31st July

Are they counting his hits from Little League, too? If you count Japan League hits, why not AAA hits, too? The quality of pitching is about the same, with AAA being slightly better.

Ichiro is great, but overrated because he's small and Asian. Hey, yesterday, he threw to home and it was ten feet to the left of home plate. Delmon Young has a better arm, but how many people know that?

Class act? His words reveal an incredibly weird personality. And what's with the facial hair? And the yoga stretching before batting? I don't even think that helps. Olympic great Michael Johnson only stretched for two seconds before races believing overstretching weakened the muscles on race days. That wouldn't look good, though, would it?

Well, 200 hits this year is the next goal. Don't think he's going to make it despite 700 at bats. Hall of Fame is probably a lock though if Gwynn and Carew are in.
Chessnutroastin at 12:44 PM JST - 31st July

He'll be the first Japanese player in Cooperstown. There will be a lot of debate, and his achievements in Japan will be called into question, but he'll get in. Agree with you that he gets in, but he'll be a first balloter. At only 34 now and in tremendous shape, he will blow by 3000 mlb hits easily.

And why do people continue to comment about his lack of RBIs? That is entirely not his role. Other know nothings say he only slap hits. Don't they understand how tremendously difficult that is? And he does it with ease! Base stealer, incredible bunter, amazing range in the OF and a rocket arm. Congrats Ichiro!
helloklitty at 10:47 PM JST - 31st July

He doesn't get ribbies because although he can beat the throw to first, the runner from third can't beat the throw to home. If he's a HOFer, he'll have the lowest slugging pct., no doubt.
TheguyNextdoor at 11:14 AM JST - 1st August

He wont be the first, Nomo will be on his way in after his retirement a week or two ago. Ichiro is a great player, people tried to hate on him because he split the 3,000 in both leagues (japan and majors). Doesn't matter, he got 3,000 and its recognized by both.