Ichiro Suzuki became the first Japanese-born player to be enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, one of five new members of baseball’s hallowed institution.

After enduring the baseball tradition known as a rain delay, the five speeches went off without a hitch as the deluge subsided and the weather became hot and humid. Joining Suzuki were pitchers CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner, and sluggers Dick Allen and Dave Parker, both of whom were enshrined posthumously.

“For the first time, I am a rookie,” Suzuki said, delivering his comments in English despite his long preference for conducting his public appearances in Japanese with the aid of his interpreter.

For the American audience, this provided a rare glimpse into Suzuki’s playful side. Teammates long spoke of his sense of humor behind the closed doors of the clubhouse – something the public rarely saw — but it was on full display Sunday.

When Hall voting was announced, Suzuki fell one vote shy of becoming the second unanimous selection for the Hall. He thanked the writers for their support – with an exception.

“Three-thousand [career] hits or 262 hits in one season are achievements recognized by the writers,” Suzuki said. “Except, oh, one of you.”

After the laughter subsided, Suzuki mentioned the gracious comments he made when balloting results were announced, when he offered to invite the writer who didn’t vote for him home for dinner to learn his reasoning. Turns out, it’s too late.

“The offer to the one writer to have dinner at my home has now … expired!” Suzuki said.

Suzuki’s attention to detail and unmatched work ethic have continued into the present day, more than five years since he played his last big league game. That was central to his message Sunday, at least when he wasn’t landing a joke.

“If you consistently do the little things, there’s no limit to what you can achieve,” Suzuki said. “Look at me. I’m 5-11 and 170 pounds. When I came to America, many people said I was skinny to compete with bigger major leaguers.”

After becoming one of the biggest stars in Japanese baseball, hitting .353 over nine seasons for the Orix BlueWave, Suzuki exploded on the scene as a 27-year-old rookie for the Seattle Mariners, batting .350 and winning the AL Rookie of the Year and MVP honors.

Chants of “Ichiro!” that once were omnipresent at Mariners games erupted from the crowd sprawled across the grounds of the complex, while the all-time single-season hits leader (262 in 2004) posed with his plaque alongside commissioner Rob Manfred and Hall of Fame chairman Jane Forbes Clark.

Despite his late start in the MLB, Suzuki finished with 3,089 hits in the majors and 4,367, including his time in Japan. Suzuki listed some of his feats, such as the hit total and his 10 Gold Gloves.

On April 11, 2001, in the eighth inning of the game between the Oakland A’s and the Seattle Mariners, Terrence Long set the tone with a leadoff single up the middle off Aaron Sele. Jeremy Giambi followed with a flyout to shallow center, but Ramon Hernandez delivered a ground ball to right field. Long, already anticipating the play, quickly shifted into full stride, rounding second base seamlessly and charging toward third.

The rookie fielded the ball effortlessly and fired an incredible throw. In the top of the eighth inning, he pinch-hit for Charles Gipson, delivered a single off Jim Mecir, advanced on Mark McLemore’s hit and scored on Mike Cameron’s groundout. He remained in the game as a right fielder, setting the stage for the highlight.

“You just don’t see a guy throw like that all the way in the air when it’s cold as hell when he’s been sitting for seven innings,” his teammate Jay Buhner said following the game.

The throw reached third baseman David Bell, who snagged it just below his knee over the center of the bag, allowing him to tag Long just before his left foot hit the base.

We speak of the unparalleled Ichiro Suzuki, the Hall of Fame inductee who fell just one vote short of unanimity, and the iconic play now forever remembered as “The Throw.”

The moment above wasn’t how Ichiro introduced himself to baseball fans – it was merely one of the many early flashes of greatness. Before that game in Oakland, he had already tallied 12 hits in his first seven games and delivered his first MLB home run – a 10th-inning homer to beat Texas just days earlier. He was already starting to turn heads, but his legacy was just beginning.

What followed was countless milestones: the single-season hits record in 2004; a jaw-dropping catch against Garret Anderson in 2005; his inside-the-park homer at the 2007 All-Star Game; his 2009 walk-off against Mariano Rivera; becoming the first player to record 10 consecutive 200-hit seasons in 2010; a return to Japan with a four-hit game in 2012; his 3,000th MLB hit in 2016; and a stellar postseason record. Even these highlights barely scratch the surface of his brilliance.

“The Throw” came so early in Ichiro’s MLB career that it feels like a preview of the brilliance yet to come. That single play remains etched in memory as a flawless example of what made him special, from his explosive athleticism to his ability to prove doubters wrong. It was a defining moment for a Mariners team discovering a new identity after losing their stars, Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodgriguez, en route to a historic 116-win season.

Now that Ichiro has received the highest honor in baseball, it’s important to understand why he mattered so much to the game.

Ichiro redefined greatness by excelling in ways that countered the power-hitting norms of his era. Entering the MLB during a time dominated by sluggers, he stood out as a precision hitter with unmatched consistency, accumulating 3,000 hits despite his start at age 27. His style combined remarkable contact skills, elite base running, and reliable defense, making him a well-rounded force.

His physical stature—lean and seemingly mismatched for the power-heavy game—defied expectations. Ichiro’s ability to showcase power in batting practice while rarely tapping into it during games deepened his aura and intrigue.

Despite the skepticism about whether his style and stature would translate, he silenced doubters by winning Rookie of the Year and MVP in his first season, which set the tone for an impactful career. As the first Japanese-born player in the MLB Hall of Fame, Ichiro broke cultural barriers and opened the door for international stars.

His influence extended beyond the baseball field. Ichiro created a legacy that transcended baseball, forever cementing his name as one of the game’s most iconic figures.

Ichiro Suzuki has told the Seattle Mariners he will retire after Thursday’s game in Tokyo.

Sources confirmed the news of Suzuki’s departure to ESPN.

Ichiro Retiring At 45 After 28 Seasons

It has been a wonderful career for 45-year-old Japanese-born outfielder Suzuki, who walked off the field for the final time on Thursday.

With the game being held in Tokyo the home of Suzki he received a tremendous reception and ovation from players and fans alike. One of his teammates had grew up admiring him his whole life, and had finally got the chance to play with him and broke out in tears during his goodbye.

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It would seem that the baseball world was sad today as another legend has left the mound.

Suzuki, known by many as simply “Ichiro,” is a 10-time MLB All-Star.

After playing baseball for 28 seasons — 19 seasons in the MLB and 9 seasons in Japan — Suzuki will now have much more free time on his hands.

After the game, Suzuki took the time to instill some words of wisdom to the fans, and encouraged young people to follow their dreams. Suzuki also played for the New York Yankees and the Miami Marlins.

“Pursue what you love and find your passion,” Suzuki told fans in Tokyo.

Ichiro Suzuki is switching jobs within the Seattle Mariners organization.

Ichiro Suzuki To Work In Mariners’ Front Office

The team announced Thursday that for the rest of the 2018 season, the 44-year-old Japanese outfielder will transition to a front-office position as a special assistant to the team’s chairman.

According to ESPN, Suzuki will not sit “behind a desk” for the job, but rather will simply be similar to that of an assistant coach who will assist with improving “outfield defense, base-running and hitting,” per ESPN.

Thus, Suzuki will still have a strong presence in the clubhouse.

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“During the game I will be doing the same preparations I’ve been doing the entire time. Nothing is going to change for me that I did as a player,” Suzuki told ESPN. “But I can’t say for certain that maybe I won’t put on a beard and glasses and be like Bobby Valentine and be in the dugout.”

The Mariners actually released Suzuki to open up a spot on the roster. Erik Goeddel, a right-handed pitcher, was called from Triple-A Tacoma to replace Suzuki.

Seattle (18-12) is third in the AL West, five games behind the first-place Los Angeles Angels (19-12). The Mariners defeated the Oakland Athletics 4-1 at home on Thursday, the finale of a three-game series. Seattle — whose outfield has recently suffered several injuries — next hosts the Angels at 10:10pm EST on Friday.

The Mariners and A’s are set to face off for two games in Japan at the beginning of the 2019 season, according to ESPN.

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Suzuki was the 2001 American League Rookie of the Year, and also won MVP honors with the Mariners, whom he joined on a one-year deal in March. Suzuki previously played for the team from 2001 to 2012.

A 10-time All-Star, he has also played for the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins. Suzuki has also won seven Golden Glove awards.