Perched atop the Seattle Mariners team website sits a graphic marking Ichiro Suzuki’s hits total for this season. The numbers have been frozen at 184 since August 23, when Ichiro Suzuki was benched with a left calf strain.
After Suzuki missed the first eight games of the season due to injury his streak of consecutive 200 hit seasons came into question. Now as we enter the home stretch of the season that initial concern may be coming to fruition yet again. There is no guaranteed timetable for Ichiro’s return, but it MLB.com reports that it is not likely that Ichiro will be heading to the disabled list.
Even with a one-week benching, Ichiro is still on pace to continue one of the most impressive streaks in the history of the game. DiMaggio’s 56 games hitting streak (1941) and Ripken Jr.’s 2,632 consecutive games played streak (1982-98) will be joined by Ichiro Suzuki’s streak of nine consecutive seasons with 200+ hits- A record that was previously held by Highlanders (Yankees), Superbas (Dodgers), Orioles, and Giants hall of famer Willie Keeler who completed his streak between 1894 and 1901.
This season could mark the ninth straight season where Ichiro Suzuki has not only accumulated 200+ hits, but also batted .300+.
The Record:
What is finally starting to come to the surface is how amazing this streak truly is. Other than in 2005, when Ichiro Suzuki only hit .303 with 206 hits while playing in all 162 games, you can’t even say that there is any era-specific quality to his numbers.
If you took away the eight games that were added during before 1961 baseball season, Ichiro would likely have still accumulated over 200 hits in every season of his MLB career -except maybe, 2005. The whole “put an asterisk by the extended-season records” movement has already come and gone however. Take away as many games as you want and Ichiro had the 200 mark in 2004. It was in that year that he totaled 262 hits to surpass George Sisler as the all-time single-season hits leader.
To help you understand how significant it is to have 200 hits in nine consecutive seasons I’m going to delve into the past and pull out some names and figures for you.
(Please note: Most of the players listed played in only 154 game season and this list is of writer-selected players; chosen for their hit totals and status as some of the best players in history. )
Ichiro is 16 hits short of 200 with 31 games left in the 2009 regular season. His ninth 200 hit season will take him one step closer to Pete Rose’s record of 10 (only 3 consecutive however)and bring him that much closer to the, hall of fame affirming, 3,000 hit mark.
In collecting his 195 hit of the 2009 season, Ichiro will reach 2,000 hits in his career. At his current pace, he could collect his 3,000th hit before his 40th birthday (he turns 36 in October).
Now in his ninth season of Major League Baseball, Ichiro has played as many years here as he did in Japan. In his time here, Ichiro has been almost the perfect leadoff hitter and outfielder.
While some would say that they want more power out of their outfielders these days, can you really argue with a .333 career average, 339 stolen bases (only caught stealing 78 times), 1989 hits, 958 runs scored, 505 RBI, eight Gold Gloves, two batting titles, the combination of rookie of the year and league MVP in 2001, and the aforementioned streak? …Didn’t think so.
When all is said and done, Ichiro Suzuki will be a first ballot hall of famer and the first Japanese born player ever to enter the hall. Start paying attention as the season nears its end. You will be watching history – and if you can, get out to a game in Seattle or against them and you could be a part of history as well.
(Here is a list of other amazing hits records. As you will see, Ichiro is not a stranger to this page.)
Blogger Question(s):
Will Ichiro collect 3,000 career hits?
Where does this consecutive hits record rank amongst other all-time records?
September 23rd, 2010 at 9:28 pm
[...] Part 1. – Ichiro and the Streak. Part 2. – Ichiro and the Streak – Update. Part 3. – Once in a Century. [...]