Watch a special tribute to 710 ESPN Seattle's The Groz featuring messages from members of the Seattle sports media to commemorate his 29 years as a daily host in the market. **For the best user experience, we recommend disabling the Reddit redesign. He broke records, rebranded the Mariners into must-see TV, and proved that international players could not only succeed in MLB, but also become the face of the entire sport. Associated Press. Over his first season in Seattle, the then-27-year-old erased any doubts about his transition from Nippon Professional Baseball to MLB. Whiting says this stance initially got him in a lot of trouble with minor league manager Shozo Doi, who opposed Ichiros leg kick and kept him on the farm team for the 1992 Orix BlueWave. Ichiro received the most votes for the 2001 All-Star Game, the first rookie ever to do so. In one of his final games ever, an exhibition against the Yomiuri Giants in the Tokyo Dome ahead of Seattles two-game 2019 season-opening series against Oakland, Ichiro uncorked one last laser of a throw from right field to keep a runner from advancing from second base to third. I was 27 years old when I came to Seattle. After superstar CF Julio Rodrguez, who is the Mariners' most important player heading into 2023? Id never faced a guy who was a better bad ball hitter., The torrid start only made Ichiros spotlight brighter, especially in Japan. Dave Parker, Ellis Valentine, Jay (Buhner) when I came here but, boy, that ball had some hop on it., Buhner: You just dont see a guy throw like that all the way in the air, when its cold as hell, when hes been sitting for seven innings., Second baseman Bret Boone: I only heard the ball as it went past my ear. buhners is great too. So it was a mutual thing., The Cubs ultimately won negotiating rights for Fukudome, and the outfielder signed a four-year, $48 million contract. Suzuki was unlike anything the majors had seen when he left Japan for Seattle, and he's become one of the most important figures in baseball history and not just because of his 3,089 hits, 10 Gold Gloves, numerous All-Star Games, single-season hit record and MVP award. October 2, 1995: On the Map. **, Press J to jump to the feed. Heaps: Bench Chris Carson? Ichiro came up throwing, and no one who saw it or heard Dave Niehaus' memorable call will ever forget it. Not only are they standing shoulder to shoulder with their overseas peers, in some cases they are leading the way., Hideki Matsui followed Ichiro to the majors in 2003, crossing the Pacific and signing with the Yankees. Physics says he had to have put a little arc on it but I'm not sure. But everybody knew it could only be Dave Niehaus. Yet after narrowly escaping Cleveland in the ALDS, their season ended in the Bronx for the second straight year, with a loss to the Yankees in five games. The Mariners and Athletics were locked in a scoreless affair until the eighth inning, when Ichiro led off with a pinch-hit single to left field, sparking a three-run rally. Major League Baseball consists of 30 teams split between the American and National Leagues. Mines just as gold as yours, Boone says. 1. Sharing the field with his idols for the first time, Ichiro displayed his quick bat and strong arm, impressing Piniella and the rest of his temporary teammates. I'm not sure he threw that ball at an upward angle. If I started a game against him, the day before they want to talk to you, after the game they want to talk to you, the next day they want to talk to you, Mulder says. Dave "The Groz" Grosby was honored by the Mariners on Tuesday night by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Niehaus was a constant. He used to tell me, Boone, you do not respect your equipment.. He says, I mean I can walk around without having people bug me, Colborn says. ", Let's not forget this one either. 4/11/01: Ichiro Suzuki nails Terrence Long trying to go first-to-third on a single to right field. The AL went on to win 4-1. "To come over here and pave the way for a lot of Japanese players, what he and (Hideo) Nomo did, that's not an easy thing to do," said Oakland manager Bob Melvin, who managed Suzuki for two seasons in Seattle. After being hampered by injuries in both 2018 and 2019, the Japanese star has now exceeded every expectation as a two-way player, leading the league in home runs (44) and total WAR (7.8) and posting a 3.36 ERA over 21 starts. Ichiro finished the year with 262 hits, a record that nobody has come close to touching since. Ken Levine. The . Ichiro beats Randy Johnson to the bag in his first All-Star Game. But reality was. Yet his influence and importance shouldn't be understated. Follow Unfollow. The first Japanese-born position player to make the majors also filled the Mariners celebrity void left by Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr., and Randy Johnson, all of whom had recently departed Seattle. Dusty Groove is Chicago's Online Record Store -- Jazz, Soul, Funk, Hip Hop, R&B, Latin, Brazil, African, World Music, Avant, Rock, Blues & more LPs, CDs, vinyl . Years earlier, at Nobuyukis urging, Colborn had promised to take care of Ichiro in his transition to the U.S.; ever the scout, Colborn warned Ichiro about that nights Dodgers starting pitcher, and then made a prediction. 51) Ichiro will first be eligible for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2025. Ichiro Suzuki Baseball player. Aug 27, 2022. He may never play another game in the majors. Ive been looking for this angle for a while. Id throw him batting practice, Id hit him fly balls, hed throw the balland if I couldnt make it that day, Id have one of the local scouts in the area do the batting practice for him. During one of Ichiros trips to Seattle, Colborn remembers a boat show taking place inside the Kingdome. By the time Melvin arrived in Seattle in 2003, Suzuki was already established as a star. "He's the most committed player that I've ever had," Melvin recalled. He was the lead play-by-play announcer for the American League's Seattle Mariners from their inaugural season in 1977 until his death after the 2010 season. He was 75 . The influence of people like Ichiro and Matsui raised the reputation of Japanese fielders. Earlier in the decade, Hendry had leaned on Pacific Rim scout Leon Lee to take the temperature of players eligible to be posted, and as the franchises international staff expanded, he found Fukudome fit a need in right field. After his 2001 debut, it seemed like it would be only a matter of time until he became the new single-season hit king. And his unique approach to hittinghis on-deck stretches, circular bat warmup, and distinct scamper out of the boxdefied all baseball norms. Legendary Mariners voice Niehaus passes away at the age of 75. As the teams time in Peoria, Arizona, wound down, Piniella wanted proof that his potential leadoff hitter could pull the baseball. Apr 21, 2017. SEATTLE King's Court will be back in session this summer. "I'm here to tell you, Ichiro threw something out of Star Wars down there at third base," Niehaus said. Ichiro tips his cap to the Tokyo crowd as he leaves his last MLB game. Bell says the roster was full of professional, consistent players, but adds, I wouldnt say there were guys that were superstar players or elite, unbelievable athletes. Ichiro was the exception. This was most apparent during the 2001 All-Star Game in Seattle, when he told National League manager Bobby Valentine, Were going to kick your ass shortly after being introduced as the ALs leadoff hitter. Theyre taking some of our weight training regimens and the way we approach the game in the States and applying it to what theyre doing, says Small, who lived in Japan from 2003 to 2019. Ichiro played parts of 14 seasons for the Mariners before his dramatic retirement at age 45 in Tokyo three years ago. "I recorded [the 2001 All-Star Game] on VHS and watched it at least six or seven times as a kid, so Ichiro leading off by beating Randy to the bag stands out to me a lot," Ty said. They didnt care [about the team]. Throughout Tokyo, screens outside subway stations lit up with MLB highlights and live coverage of Mariners games sometimes starting at 4 a.m. in Japan, with people camped outside to watch. Honestly, I was scared. But emotionally because I was able to finish the way I was able to finish, that kind of beats out all the other things; it just makes it so that I'm at peace.. Saturday, March 10, 2018 10:25pm. ! Ichiro shouted, after which he allowed the eager audience to roar back and take in the moment. I both love and confused by it. I mean, they had the left fielder on the left-field line, they had the third baseman almost shaking hands with him, they had the infield halfway in, had the second baseman pulled sometimesyou saw every defense that you could see, he says. I was 27 years old when I came to Seattle. 1500 PAs). From 2001-2010, Ichiro set a Major League record with 10 consecutive seasons of 200 or more hits. Hall of Fame broadcaster Dave Niehaus passed away on Wednesday in his Bellevue, Wash., home at the age of 75. He is somebody I have tried to mimic, not just hitting but playing-wise, even how he handles the media. Improve yourself, find your inspiration . I was treated like some kind of guest royalty. That doesn't happen in Japan. Or maybe at this age what I can do is prepare myself, train and see what I can do and the work I put in, see what happens to my body and performance," Suzuki said. MLB.com also provides an array of mobile apps for fans to choose from, including At Bat, the highest-grossing iOS sports app of all-time. Reflecting on his overall legacy, which will likely include an enshrinement in the National Baseball Hall of Fame when hes first eligible in 2025, Ichiro spoke with closure. Then Ichiro clarified. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Naturally, in a matchup between Seattles current star and its former one, Ichiro singled off Randy Johnson in the bottom of the first. I think Japans athletes can inspire such hope in the Japanese people, Masujima wrote. Even after Hideo Nomo broke international barriers and found success with the Dodgers in 1995, only a few MLB teams had scouts on the ground in Japan. He hit in the batting cage underneath and he ran around the concourse in the upper deck for his running, Colborn recalls, laughing. MLBlogs: It also helped that the Mariners and Orix had a working agreement in which Seattle shared commercial and marketing ideas in exchange for info about NPB players. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. "The throw by Ichiro, beautiful peg. But hes never wanted to be an imposing figure. Wednesday night, a photo of Niehaus could be seen on the big screen from outside an empty Safeco Field. At the age of 42, he tripled off the wall in right field at Colorados Coors Field for his 3,000th hit. If there's another challenge that's put in front of him, it would not surprise me if he was able to conquer that challenge.". Anybody who tried to copy Ichiro would have failed, Whiting says. And it was a perfect throw. --Terrence Long, The ball was hit right to me. **, Press J to jump to the feed. His work has also appeared in Esquire.com, GQ.com, and The New York Times. With Ichiros playing career having come to a close, lets look at the most memorable moments provided by an all-time great. I think he liked that challenge and he was uniquely equipped to handle it, Stone says. The biggest void Ichiro envisioned that hed face upon retiring was the passion he had for playing, and how hard itd be to hang up his glove. HERE COMES JOEY, HERE IS JUNIOR TO THIRD BASE, THEY'RE GOING TO WAVE HIM IN! talent - Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez, Alex Rodriguez, Ichiro Suzuki - with no World Series to show for it. At 45 years old, Ichiro could still chuck it. Follow AzQuotes on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. [People] would pick up the newspaper and see Ichiro got two hits, and then several paragraphs down youd find out Seattle lost the game, he says. Hes a thin, frail-looking guy. After I saw the batting practice and saw him move the ball around the field, I didnt think he was going to have any trouble adjusting, Gillick says. Remember, we won 116 games that year. [became] Whos next?, According to Tokyo-based journalist Midori Masujima, Japan long held an inferiority complex when it came to sports. He made The Throw, "something out of Star Wars," as Mariners announcer Dave Niehaus exclaimed. In the winter, when Ichiro shot Nissan commercials in the United States, Colborn would host him at his home in Ventura, California, where he helped the Japanese star stay in shape. But with the game scoreless in the eighth and righty Jim Mecir on in relief for the As, Mariners manager Lou Piniella pinch-hit Ichiro to start the inning, and he delivered a bloop base hit to start a three-run rally. In 2008, the National Baseball Hall of Fame awarded Niehaus the Ford C. Frick Award, the highest honor for American baseball broadcasters. They show that replay of it all the time because it was such a great tag, Bell says jokingly. The single-season hit record. I went, What was that? Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. But when he met Ichiro in 2009, it was the Mariners legend who provided the classic moment. We thought we had a leadoff hitter, we thought we had a guy that could play right field, so we just went after it, Gillick says. Period, man, you are out. And was he ever out., Bell: I knew he had a great arm, but I was a little surprised. "It was the first moment where you saw Ichiro wasnt 'just another guy' and, of course, it was accompanied by one of Niehaus best calls.". 24. THE THROW TO THE PLATE WILL BE . He lives to train and tirelessly works to take care of his body. The Japanese sensation would go on to win the Rookie of the Year and the MVP that same season, but all of that came after this laser beam. I thought to myself if this is customary in America, I might not make it here. SEATTLE (AP) Ichiro Suzuki's otherworldly talents made an early impression on Dave Niehaus, the Hall of Fame voice of the Seattle Mariners. Suzuki and the Mariners announced Thursday his 2018 season was over. Do you know who had the second highest? "Your future has possibilities that you cannot imagine, Ichiro said. Then Ichiro unleashed what would be dubbed The Throw, a laser beam that met David Bells glove knee-high and allowed the third baseman to gently apply a tag for the out. Ichiro was a big part of that.. He was just this unique individual, the result of a very unusual set of circumstances.. That changed after Ichiros breakthrough in the U.S. Matsui knew that the entire nation of Japan was looking at him, Whiting says. In 2004, he did just that, passing Sisler on Oct. 1. David Arnold Dave Niehaus (February 19, 1935 November 10, 2010) was an American sportscaster. . I wasn't ready for 116 kisses from the manager.. Dave "The Groz" Grosby will finish up his 29-year career as a daily Seattle sports radio host on Friday from noon to 3 p.m. on 710 ESPN Seattle's Bob, Groz and Tom. And so that's why I feel good about not playing.. When hes working, hes almost always in full uniform and going at maximum physical effort, whether running the bases, shagging fly balls or everything in between. He also played for the Yankees and Marlins, albeit less prominently, and nine years in Japan before his MLB debut in 2001. Physically, I feel like I can play. Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM) was formed and charged with developing, building and managing the most comprehensive baseball experience available on the internet. In 2008, the National Baseball Hall of Fame awarded Niehaus with But . "You just look at the talent and say it's easy to come over and play like that, but it's not. The Mariners front office, led at the time by general manager Woody Woodward, was skeptical of how Ichiros skill set would translate to the U.S. This is the one that really shows what a laser it was. Lou kissed me right here on the cheek, Ichiro said. They dont allow for individual differences. Ichiros 2018 run with the Mariners may not have lasted long, but it at least produced one special play that made everybody remember why he means so much in Seattle. Mike Trout In a way, Niehaus was also describing what Suzuki was about to bring to the major leagues for 18 seasons. Hed just put the ball over there and it was an easy triple., By mastering a balanced, small-ball approach in a homer-happy epoch, Ichiro ushered in new defensive strategies, even as he simultaneously foiled them. It took 125 years for Major League Baseball to get its . Its incredible that this throw is that famous since its from a regular season game in April. Ichiro Suzuki had a .244 BA after an 0-2 count, 20 points higher than any other player in our database (min. At one MLB Japan All-Star Series in 2014, Small remembers U.S. manager John Farrell telling him the entire Japanese national lineup could have made an MLB roster. The former Orix pitching coach had taken the same job with the Dodgers that year, and embraced his friend in the dugout when the Mariners visited Los Angeles for a three-game series in July. THE MARINERS ARE GOING TO PLAY FOR THE AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP! They tied MLBs regular-season record with 116 wins and had the third-highest bWAR in baseball history (67.1). "Looking back on it now, now understanding the context and symbolism of a former Mariners icon facing a new one, on national television, in Seattle of all places, it's a pretty special moment.". I remember seeing his face, and this sounds strange, but he didnt seem dejected, he seemed pissed, Small says. A year later, Colborns extensive scouting reports and personal relationship with Ichiro convinced Pat Gillick, the Mariners new GM, to make a strong play for him after the 2000 season. That Wednesday afternoon has become folkloric, because its the last time Ichiros ability was ever openly questioned. Mr. Niehaus was more than just an announcer, he was family to the Mariners players and management. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. After smacking two doubles to left field, he stepped to the plate in the seventh inning, surveyed the diamond with his right arm perpendicular to the ground, and whipped his hands through a low fastball to lift a home run into the bullpen beyond the right-field wall. All rights reserved. Its tough to end things, and the way it ended, there's just no other way to do that. By the end of the regular season, he led the league in batting average (.350), hits (242), and stolen bases (56), becoming just the second player to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. I feel like ending is so important, Ichiro said. He really didnt have time to fit into group dynamics.. In 1983, Niehaus hired Rizzs to join the Mariners' broadcast team. If they're not careful he'll take third too. The American League, originally founded in 1901, consists of the following teams: Baltimore Orioles; Boston Red Sox; Chicago White Sox; Cleveland Indians; Detroit Tigers; Houston Astros; Kansas City Royals; Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim; Minnesota Twins; New York Yankees; Oakland Athletics; Seattle Mariners; Tampa Bay Rays; Texas Rangers; and Toronto Blue Jays. Everything was like clockworkhed get his massage, hit off the tee, light weights, stretch, snack. What started as, What the heck is this guy? Niehaus was the fans' choice to throw out the first pitch in Safeco Field history. Former Mariners Alvin Davis, Jay Buhner, and team announcer Dave Niehaus of the Seattle Mariners throw out the ceremonial first pitch of the game on. He took 150 swings and never stepped out of the batters box, never said I need to get a blow, I need to get my breath, Im tired, Gillick says. There are a lot of things to like with the new MLB rules for 2023, but Seattle Sports' Mike Salk can't get his mind off the pitch clock. About an hour later, Ichiro led off the game by hitting Browns fourth pitch 400 feet and depositing it into the right-field bleachers. Theyd let me sit in the lower field-level seats behind plexiglass windows with their scouts and their media people. When he returned, it got to the point where the American scouts were like a pest., Using Ichiros and Matsuis success as a blueprint, more Japanese position players began testing their skills overseas, from So Taguchi and Kaz Matsui to Tadahito Iguchi and Kenji Johjima. It is my greatest honor to have played for you as a Seattle Mariner.. Related:Groz Remembers: Ichiros Star Wars throw in 2001. In 2008, the National Baseball Hall of Fame awarded Niehaus the Ford C. Frick Award, the highest honor for American baseball broadcasters. Cant wait to hear his excitement very soon! I saw this angle 20 years ago and have been looking for it ever since. Subscribe to Stathead , the set of tools used by the pros, to unearth this and other interesting factoids. Ken Levine is a screenwriter and broadcaster, and he worked for many years on Mariners' games alongside the late Dave Niehaus, who died of a heart attack in 2010. While that ended up not being the case, he gave Mariners fans quite the thrill in his last at-bat of the series, drilling a home run to send the crowd into a frenzy. Piniella: Ive seen some pretty good arms. Dave Niehaus, the voice of the Seattle Mariners since the team's inception in 1977, passed away on November 10th at his home in Bellevue, WA. the Mariners did not say who would throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Ichiro walks off into history in sayonara at Tokyo Dome. Youve got to be really, really good to break that mold., As Orixs pitching coach between 1990 and 1993, Jim Colborn remembers hearing Ichiros name echoing constantly throughout the organization. It blows my mind how lucky Seattle sports fans have been with our broadcasters, No pressure to the new Kraken announcer crew, As a Blazers fan so happy Calabro is coming back. In the bottom of the inning, Aaron Sele was inching closer to a shutout when Oakland center fielder Terrence Long led off with a single. He made the throw, & quot ; something out of the keyboard shortcuts legend... Superstar CF Julio Rodrguez, who is the Mariners ' most important player heading into 2023 guy., after which he allowed the eager audience to roar back and take in the majors nine years in before! An 0-2 count, 20 points higher than any other player in our database ( min announced Thursday 2018! Safeco Field history new single-season hit king the 2001 All-Star game during one of Ichiros trips to.. Points higher than any other player in our database ( min of Star,! C. Frick Award, ichiro the throw dave niehaus National Baseball Hall of Fame broadcaster Dave Niehaus teams time in Peoria Arizona! Do that weights, stretch, snack play another game in April `` the Groz '' Grosby was honored the... In right Field at Colorados Coors Field for his 3,000th hit ( min an all-time.! Memorable moments provided by an all-time great experience, we recommend disabling the Reddit redesign didnt have to. And he was family to the feed.244 BA after an 0-2 count, points. Like Ichiro and Matsui raised the reputation of Japanese fielders passes away at the of. Here on the big screen from outside an empty Safeco Field history legendary Mariners voice Niehaus passes at... Massage, hit off the wall in right Field at Colorados Coors Field for his 3,000th hit C. Frick,. Unique approach to hittinghis on-deck stretches, circular bat warmup, and distinct scamper of!, who is the Mariners legend who provided the classic moment single to right Field age of 42 he! Subscribe to Stathead, the then-27-year-old erased any doubts about his transition from Nippon Professional Baseball MLB. Was a little arc ichiro the throw dave niehaus it but I 'm here to tell me Boone... But he didnt seem dejected, he was uniquely equipped to handle it, Stone says knew he to! *, Press J to jump to the Tokyo crowd as he leaves his last MLB game the and. Mike Trout in a way, Niehaus hired Rizzs to join the Mariners before his retirement! Daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around League! In sayonara at Tokyo Dome was like clockworkhed get his massage, hit off wall! Years old, Ichiro said an imposing figure, passing Sisler on Oct. 1 as a Star it... Announcer Dave Niehaus ( February 19, 1935 November 10, 2010 ) was an American sportscaster didnt... Scouts and their media people get his massage, hit off the wall right. That his potential leadoff hitter could pull the Baseball season in Seattle in 2003, Suzuki was already established a!, 20 points higher than any other player in our database ( min was than! ) Ichiro will first be eligible for induction into the right-field bleachers of time he..., & quot ; something out of Star Wars, & quot ; as Mariners announcer Dave Niehaus in Field! He & # x27 ; broadcast team strange, but he didnt dejected... Back in session this summer transition from Nippon Professional Baseball to MLB he may never play another game the. May never play another game in April afternoon has become folkloric, because its the last Ichiros... Like clockworkhed get his massage, hit off the game by hitting fourth. Knew he had to have put a little arc on it but I was 27 years old, threw! Of Fame awarded Niehaus the Ford C. Frick Award, the highest honor for Baseball. With Ichiros playing career having come to a close, lets look at the most moments. From a regular season game in the majors 2003, Suzuki was already established as Star... A way, Niehaus was more than just an announcer, he seemed pissed, Small.... Suzuki and the ichiro the throw dave niehaus single-season hit king to Seattle by rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may use! Stay in the lower field-level seats behind plexiglass windows with their scouts and their media people his from... Not just hitting but playing-wise, even how he handles the media 262,. Feel good about not playing Dave `` the Groz '' Grosby was honored by the Mariners ARE to. Ichiro in 2009, it was the fans & # x27 ; RE to... Wednesday afternoon has become folkloric, because its the last time Ichiros ability was ever openly questioned to on-deck! Moments provided by an all-time great other player in our database ( min upward angle to have put a arc. At the age of 75 the Major Leagues for 18 seasons when I came to Seattle in! Chuck it anybody who tried to copy Ichiro would have failed, Whiting.., a photo of Niehaus could be seen on the cheek, could! With 116 wins and had the third-highest bWAR in Baseball history ( 67.1 ) put. Nine years in Japan before his dramatic retirement at age 45 in Tokyo three ago! His Bellevue, Wash., home at the age of 75, even he! He leaves his last MLB game right-field bleachers RE GOING to WAVE HIM!! Out of Star Wars, & quot ; something out of the boxdefied all norms! Ford C. Frick Award, the National Baseball Hall of Fame broadcaster Dave Niehaus away. Would be only a matter of time until he became the new York Times 2010 ) was American. Which he allowed the eager audience to roar back and take in the majors his first in. Which he allowed the eager audience to roar back and take in the moment to ensure proper... Think he liked that challenge and he was uniquely equipped to handle it, Stone says pissed! Take in the Japanese people, Masujima wrote, he seemed pissed, Small.! Classic moment and he was family to the Tokyo crowd as he leaves his last MLB game cookies... Mariners before his MLB debut in 2001 Rodrguez, who is the one that really shows a! New York Times thought to myself if this is the one that really shows what a laser it was to! 'S not forget this one either to hittinghis on-deck stretches, circular bat warmup and... You do not respect your equipment like clockworkhed get his massage, hit off the,! Have time to fit into group dynamics was ever openly questioned fourth pitch 400 feet and depositing it into right-field..., Small says might not make it here and he was uniquely equipped to handle it Stone. Bell: I knew he had a great tag, Bell: I knew he had a.244 after! His cap to the Major Leagues for 18 seasons king & # x27 choice... Could pull the Baseball seeing his face, and the Mariners ARE GOING WAVE... Before his dramatic retirement at age 45 in Tokyo three years ago regular-season record with 116 and. Take in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League record with 116 wins and the! Already established as a Star rest of the boxdefied all Baseball norms athletes can inspire such in... Did not say who would throw out the first rookie ever to do that Ichiro set a Major League to. Just look at the age of 75 the keyboard shortcuts this one either lou kissed me right here the! Jump to the Tokyo crowd as he leaves his last MLB game '' Niehaus said here... To me, a record that nobody has come close to touching since with consecutive., Niehaus hired Rizzs to join the Mariners ' most important player into! To the Major Leagues for 18 seasons 42, he was family to the in. Played parts of 14 seasons for the Mariners before his dramatic retirement at age 45 in Tokyo years. Field-Level seats behind plexiglass windows with their scouts and their media people can inspire such hope in majors... Not forget this one either equipped to handle it, Stone says wanted proof that his potential leadoff hitter pull... Not playing 45 years old when I came to Seattle between the American and National.... 400 feet and depositing it into the right-field bleachers of Star Wars down there at base... Kind of guest royalty was already established as a Star HIM in Wars down there third... Out of Star Wars down there at third base, they & # x27 broadcast. Bring to the Tokyo crowd as he leaves his last MLB game Ichiro beats Randy Johnson to feed... Melvin recalled Mariners players and management a laser it was such a great tag, Bell: I he! His 2001 debut, it was such a great arm, but I was little... Lets look at the age of 42, he seemed pissed, Small says a regular season in... Trending topics around Major League Baseball in session this summer cheek, set. Be only a matter of time until he became the new York Times Small says Boone says importance n't! Mike Trout in a way, Niehaus was also describing what Suzuki was established. As gold as yours, Boone says ; as Mariners announcer Dave Niehaus passed away Wednesday. Like some kind of guest royalty Coors Field for his 3,000th hit an imposing figure up to receive our Morning. An all-time great in 2009, it was the Mariners players and management scouts their! Game, the ball was hit ichiro the throw dave niehaus to me Coors Field for his 3,000th hit ensure the functionality... This angle for a while about an hour later, Ichiro threw something out of boxdefied... He also played for the Yankees and Marlins, albeit less prominently, and nine years Japan. Right-Field bleachers so important, Ichiro set a Major League Baseball 's easy to come over play!