I thought to myself if this is customary in America, I might not make it here. It lasted an incredible 84 years until Ichiro came along. Its just an absurdly impressive throw. Associated Press. ", Let's not forget this one either. It just kept carrying, and youre waiting for it to bounce, and it just never did., Thats one of the greatest throws Ive ever seen in my life, Rizzs says. Seattles franchise icon was beginning a 16-minute speech -- which he gave in English -- in conjunction with being enshrined in the Mariners Hall of Fame. He was 75. I wasn't ready for 116 kisses from the manager.. Not only was Ichiro an incredible hitter, he had elite speed on his side, as well. SEATTLE (AP) Ichiro Suzuki's otherworldly talents made an early impression on Dave Niehaus, the Hall of Fame voice of the Seattle Mariners. In the bottom of the inning, he replaced Anthony Sanders in right field and proceeded to show what set him apart. David Arnold Niehaus (February 19, 1935 - November 10, 2010) was an American sportscaster.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. Speaking of Ichiros speed and All-Star Games, his first trip to the midsummer classic had another memorable moment created by his feet. Daves call elevated it to superhuman stature, Seattle Times columnist Larry Stone says. Follow Unfollow. 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. 24. After he broke the hits record, you would see him on a lot of billboards in Japan, Whiting says. 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. Since that time, millions of baseball fans around the world have subscribed to MLB.TV, the live video streaming product that airs every game in HD to nearly 400 different devices. 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.. "You just look at the talent and say it's easy to come over and play like that, but it's not. Yet his influence and importance shouldn't be understated. Over the first half of his rookie season, Ichiro changed more than just defensive alignments around the league. Do you know who had the second highest? When I threw a good split down and away, or when I threw a good sinker in, or when I threw a curveball down over the plate, he found a way to hit that ball harder than anyone else that I would face, says Mulder, who gave up 17 hits to Ichiro in 38 career encounters. Likewise, the fans invited Dave into their homes as he brought to life on the radio the heroics of such Mariners legends as Alvin Davis, Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, Jay Buhner, Randy Johnson, Ichiro, Felix Hernandez and the list goes on and on.. Dave was the voice of spring and summer in the Northwest . 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. 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. For many, Ichiro wasnt just a baseball player; he was a transcendent figure who demanded to be seen in person. In 2004, he broke a then-84 year record, logging 262 hits in a single season and surpassing George . Hes going to beat you., McLaren laughs when thinking about how opponents shifted to account for Ichiros spray chart. 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 Mariners were 60-102 that season and drew only 813,537 fans, the lowest full-season total in club history. He then addressed the current team, which eagerly watched the ceremony from the home dugout rail. 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. It is one of the best memories of my career, and I will never forget that feeling. SEATTLE (AP) Ichiro Suzuki's otherworldly talents made an early impression on Dave Niehaus, the Hall of Fame voice of the Seattle Mariners. http://www.courtsidetweets.comRookie Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners shows off his cannon in right field by throwing out Terrence Long of the Oakland A. Niehaus died at his . 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. Even though the couple ultimately split as her relationship with heroin and alcohol grew, he still . From the beginning: Hired to be the Mariners' play-by-play voice for their first season in 1977, Niehaus witnessed 5,284 of the team's 5,385 games. George Sisler of the St. Louis Browns had 257 hits for the St. Louis Browns in 1920, setting a major league record. Inside the Tokyo Dome as a Mariners employee, Id be the only scout there, he says. Lou kissed me right here on the cheek, Ichiro said. As the longtime Mariners radio voice Rick Rizzs remembers it, the newly signed phenom kept lining shots over Lous head in the folding chair. Despite Ichiro often firing his hips and hitting scorchers to the right side in Japan, the outfielder had yet to drive anything there that spring, and looked outmatched against MLB pitching. Facing Randy Johnson, another famous former No. In August 2002, MLB.com streamed the first-ever live, full length MLB game when the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees faced off at Yankee Stadium. But he comes to play every day and hes got a looseness to him, and you dont see any argumentative confrontations on the field that you want to cast him as the bad guy, Colborn says. Seattle Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus, who passes away Wednesday, poses at the old Yankee Stadium before Game 2 of the American League Championship Series in Oct. 2000. ", I'm just gonna leave this here. In honor of one of the most exciting players to ever grace Major League Baseball, our team at Inside the Mariners put together a list of their favorite Ichiro moments. Mines just as gold as yours, Boone says. **For the best user experience, we recommend disabling the Reddit redesign. Hall of Fame broadcaster Dave Niehaus passed away on Wednesday in his Bellevue, Wash., home at the age of 75. Fukudome might not have had the reputation that Ichiro had, but he was a really good hitter, and I think there was more of a comfort zone that even though he wasnt going to be a big power guy, everyone thought he was going to hit for a high average and hit for average power and play great defense in right field, which he did, Hendry says. Mariners insider Shannon Drayer has insight from Scott Servais on what the M's are asking ace pitcher Luis Castillo to do in 2023. The 6 stages that come with each of his starts, Ichiro's April 11, 2001 throw in Oakland was the first of his many memorable defensive plays. Even though I retired as an active player, baseball and Seattle have never left my heart, Ichiro said. After making adjustments in spring training, he revised his stance, keeping both feet on the ground to better catch up to fastballs. George Sisler of the St. Louis Browns had 257 hits for the St. Louis Browns in 1920, setting a . David Arnold Niehaus (February 19, 1935 - November 10, 2010) was an American sportscaster. Niehaus was one of the greats. Seattle won 40 games over the first two months of that season, leaning on free-agent additions like Boone and key veterans like Edgar Martinez. Ichiro had the April 11 game off against Oakland left-hander Mark Mulder, replaced by Anthony Young, who played all of nine games in his Seattle career. Tom Tango comes up with the idea of fun points based on fan polls to determine which players generate the most fun. Wednesday night, a photo of Niehaus could be seen on the big screen from outside an empty Safeco Field. These Japanese athletes had taken the Japanese sports inferiority complexthe sense that the Japanese are not physically or experientially ready for world competitionand proved it wrong. Masijuma added, I believe that these athletes are not just about athletic talent. Niehaus died at his home in suburban Bellevue, according to his family. 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. Fann: 6 most important Mariners highlights from spring training so far, Servais: How Mariners are helping Julio handle superstar spotlight, Mariners Notebook: The plan to get even more out of Luis Castillo. **For the best user experience, we recommend disabling the Reddit redesign. And the qualities that endear those players to fans resemble what resonated about Ichiro in 2001. From Diego Segui's first pitch on April 6, 1977, through the end of the 2010 season, Niehaus called 5,284 of the Mariners' 5,385 games. Love Raible. Thus, over the next few years, Colborn found it easy to court Ichiro, bringing him jerseys of Griffey Jr., his favorite player. The National League, originally founded in 1876, consists of the following teams: Arizona Diamondbacks; Atlanta Braves; Chicago Cubs; Cincinnati Reds; Colorado Rockies; Los Angeles Dodgers; Miami Marlins; Milwaukee Brewers; New York Mets; Philadelphia Phillies; Pittsburgh Pirates; San Diego Padres; San Francisco Giants; St. Louis Cardinals; and Washington Nationals. Walk-off homers were a rarity off the Yankees legend. 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. Everything was like clockworkhed get his massage, hit off the tee, light weights, stretch, snack. 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. 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. Ichiro played parts of 14 seasons for the Mariners before his dramatic retirement at age 45 in Tokyo three years ago. If they're not careful he'll take third too. Over the past 20 years, MLB has struggled to market and amplify its best players, until this latest wave of international stars: Ohtani, Fernando Tatis Jr., Ronald Acua, and more. But reality was. Happy Felix Day? 1. He has been the Mariners' voice for their entirety, from Diego Segui's first pitch in the franchise's inaugural game in 1977 to Ichiro's fly out to end the . My oh my! same result as his first game as a member of the Mariners, Groz Remembers: Ichiros Star Wars throw in 2001. But hes never wanted to be an imposing figure. Retirement wasn't the 'R' word used Thursday for the how and why of Suzuki moving off the field. Whether he wants to accept the label or not, Suzuki was a trailblazer. ROOT Sports analyst Mike Blowers talked to Bob, Groz and Tom about Lewis and what makes him stand out. Period, man, you are out. And was he ever out., Bell: I knew he had a great arm, but I was a little surprised. "Just see what happens. He also addressed Piniella. He swatted away those stigmas with an AL MVP Award, 242 hits and a Gold Glove Award in his rookie season. Importantly, Japanese players could measure themselves against Ichiro, who measured himself against MLB, Colborn says. He was a legend before Id even seen him, Colborn says. It's all about being prepared to play a major league baseball game. "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.". In just the second game of the season, he went over the wall in left field to rob Clevelands Jose Ramirez of a home run. Hed come in the clubhouse [and] he did the same thing right in a row, McLaren says. [But Ichiro] wasnt just going to sit back and cry because they lost. He also thanked Mariners ownership for the opportunity to contribute as a special advisor in his post-playing days. As author Robert Whiting documented in The Meaning of Ichiro, Nobuyuki Suzuki instituted a relentless regimen for his son. 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. He used to tell me, Boone, you do not respect your equipment.. Among fans nationwide and his peers, Niehaus was . He had a more avant-garde sense of fashion.. Rarely do you see a throw start that low and carry that far. Ball-tracking angle of Ichiro's throw in 2001. THE MARINERS ARE GOING TO PLAY FOR THE AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP! I remember seeing his face, and this sounds strange, but he didnt seem dejected, he seemed pissed, Small says. Saturday, March 10, 2018 10:25pm. 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. Suzuki carried the burden of an entire country in coming to America, and his success created opportunity for the countless others who have followed. Major League Baseball consists of 30 teams split between the American and National Leagues. Simply put, it was vintage Ichiro. Seahawks running back Chris Carson is struggling with fumbles, and it's imperative he corrects the issue, says Jake Heaps. You need somebody over there that knows the ins and outs of not only how the games played over there, but the culture, former Cubs general manager Jim Hendry says. Colborn smiled. Though naturally right-handed, he learned to hit lefty by practicing with a coal shovel, a move that gained him valuable extra steps out of the batters box. Did Buhner throw that ball?. Within a couple of years, however, the teams leadership had come to embrace Ichiros unorthodox style. He is Ichiro Suzuki, and after playing two games with the Seattle Mariners to start his 29th pro baseball season, he has hung up his cleats for good. I was shocked. And Ichiro catapulted a team that was projected to finish third in its division to 116 wins and an unlikely place in MLB history. . When the Miami Marlins made a rare trip to Seattle for a series in 2017, many wondered if it would be the last time Ichiro played at Safeco Field. That doesn't happen in Japan. How did he not tear the muscles in his entire body making that throw. Ichiro received the most votes for the 2001 All-Star Game, the first rookie ever to do so. 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. When I returned in 2018, it was as if I never left. I knew it was going to be special., Earlier in his courtship, Colborn had taken Ichiro to Peoria to tour the Mariners facility and visit Griffeys locker. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. just drops and shakes his head, Ichiro was the only one in the video not surprised by that throw, It was going to take a perfect throw to get me. "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. If a skinny guy from Japan can compete in this uniform, and then stand before you tonight to accept this honor, then there is no reason you cannot do it either., You cheered loudly for me as a new player that first game 21 years ago -- and you never stopped, Ichiro said, becoming emotional. I need Ichiro to take a little batting practice, Piniella told him, before turning to his future star. While I was playing at NPB and watching Ichiro playing well in the major leagues, my motivation became strong [to] play at the top level, Fukudome says through an interpreter. You know how many times I saw Miguel Tejada field a ball and throw it? Heaps: Bench Chris Carson? Niehaus was the voice of the Mariners from their first game on April 6, 1977, through the end of the 2010 season with his golden Midwestern voice punctuated by his trademark "My oh My!" and "It will fly away!" calls. 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. Ichiro, whose arm could throw lasers "like something out of 'Star Wars,'" as late Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus famously said, retires as the active leader in outfield assists (123). But . The Japanese had been waiting their entire lives to compete against major league players, Small says. So it was a mutual thing., The Cubs ultimately won negotiating rights for Fukudome, and the outfielder signed a four-year, $48 million contract. "Your future has possibilities that you cannot imagine, Ichiro said. He was just this unique individual, the result of a very unusual set of circumstances.. In Japan, practice is more important than necessarily the game, and if you dont get the desired goal, its kind of OK to cry. Its only fitting that two decades after Ichiro exploded onto the scene, Shohei Ohtani is having his own supernova MLB season. Not long after signing, Ichiro and his wife, Yumiko, visited Seattle, where the Mariners set up a private workout inside Safeco Field. Niehaus was the fans' choice to throw out the first pitch in Safeco Field history. By the All-Star break, it held a 19-game lead over the second-place As. 2023 Bonneville International. Ken Griffey Jr., Jamie Moyer, manager Lou Piniella and broadcaster Dave Niehaus. The version on MLB's YouTube channel doesn't have it, and it's too bad. 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. Most ballplayers, theyd wear polo shirts and golf pants, but hed have baggy jeans and a cap on backwards. Put them together and it makes him the all-time pro baseball hit king, a title he passed Pete Rose for in 2016. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Every day we present the best quotes! But the way my career ended in Japan at the Tokyo Dome, and how the fans embrace me there, that is what makes this an easier exit. Ichiro was such an exciting player, and for the rest of the baseball world to get to see him do something like this on the national stage was so special. As part of these punishing workouts, Ichiro honed his distinctive swing. Life Sports Mariners. Julio Rodrguez had a brief moment that caused concern when he crashed into the wall in center field on Monday's Mariners spring trainng game. Drayer: 10 months of preparation led up to Ichiros last two games, Ichiro came off the field one final time as a Seattle Mariners player on Thursday. I was treated like some kind of guest royalty. 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. So here's the audio. Bump & Stacy make their picks. That ball could have gone through David Bell another 10 to 15 feet. "I want to be like a researcher or a student of the 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. In 2001, Ichiro Suzuki made his MLB debut for the Seattle Mariners. SEATTLE -- It began like an outdoor concert for an iconic rock star, and in many ways, Ichiro Suzuki carries that reputation in these parts. 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. This might actually be the greatest catch of all-time. Ichiro beats Randy Johnson to the bag in his first All-Star Game. The Colossal Legacy of Ichiros Rookie Season, 20 Years Later, Ichiro shot Nissan commercials in the United States, he told National League manager Bobby Valentine. I think Ichiro and Matsui broke the ice, and from the Japanese players point of view, they wanted to come over here too, and prove they could play in the highest league in the world, Hendry says. 0 Followers. So embrace it by giving your best without imposing limits on yourself. 51 for the Mariners, in front of a home crowd at Safeco Field, Ichiro beat Johnson to first base on an infield single to lead off the bottom of the first inning. Youre going to hit a home run off Kevin Brown tonight, Colborn remembers telling him. "The Throw," one of Ichiro's signature moments in his Major League . I feel like ending is so important, Ichiro said. What anyone who saw that throw that night or the next morning . I root for MN where Max Kepler and Byron Buxton wouldn't attempt that throw if they were picking it up while the runner was on second base. Every time I faced him, our team would shift and theyd leave the gap between left and center, and that was easy money for him, says Santana, who now plays for the Royals and allowed the third most hits to Ichiro of any pitcher. The version on MLB's YouTube channel doesn't have it, and it's too bad. Its incredible that this throw is that famous since its from a regular season game in April. He charged the ball and he threw a bullet to home plate and I did a double take. His first signature highlight came on April 11 in Oakland. There was an arrogance there, like going to Paris and seeing the Eiffel Tower.. He stops the ball with the greatest of ease. In 1983, Niehaus hired Rizzs to join the Mariners' broadcast team. I went, What was that? Next door in the press box, Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus described the throw as being like "something out of Star Wars," a call that was soon attached to the clip on every sports report . "The throw by Ichiro, beautiful peg. 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. So on March 20, 2001, following an early lunch with bench coach John McLaren, Piniella headed to batting practice at the Mariners complex and called over Ted Heid, Seattles Pacific Rim scout and Ichiros temporary interpreter. Three weeks into spring training, Lou Piniella had seen enough to be concerned. "He's the most committed player that I've ever had," Melvin recalled. Scott Servais explains how to help the CF handle it. Awesome. This is the one that really shows what a laser it was. Hes baseballs all-time hit king, was named to 10 straight American League All-Star teams, and is one of only two players ever to win MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season. Legendary Mariners voice Niehaus passes away at the age of 75. #IchiroWeekend pic.twitter.com/Upl1XeSY48, Ichiro Girl reuniting with Ichiro is the most wholesome thing weve ever seen pic.twitter.com/vrM41SHLaB. 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.". Utter disbelief. Aug 27, 2022. Related:Groz Remembers: Ichiros Star Wars throw in 2001. He didnt have to put a good swing on the ball to get a base hit. Yet for all his stops over his 28-year playing career, there was always an affinity for the Mariners. Holy shit. His work has also appeared in Esquire.com, GQ.com, and The New York Times. As a result, he substituted power for placement, lining, blooping, and grounding the ballhis body already a step out of the boxbefore beating out what appeared to be routine plays. He lives to train and tirelessly works to take care of his body. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. [Ichiro] is somebody I have followed most of my life, especially as another left-handed hitter, Ohtani told ESPN in 2019, before Ichiro finished his Hall of Fame career in Japan. The manager gave me a big wet kiss. About an hour later, Ichiro led off the game by hitting Browns fourth pitch 400 feet and depositing it into the right-field bleachers. He was just pissed., Small also reiterates how Ichiros rookie year had much bigger implications than just a championship. Ichiro Suzuki had already made a positive impression by the time he entered into legend status. October 2, 1995: On the Map. In 2008, the National Baseball Hall of Fame awarded Niehaus with 51) Ichiro will first be eligible for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2025. All rights reserved. SEATTLE King's Court will be back in session this summer. It read, "Dave Niehaus, 1935-2010." His empty chair and headpones sat in the broadcast booth . SEATTLE (AP) Ichiro Suzuki's otherworldly talents made an early impression on Dave Niehaus, the Hall of Fame voice of the Seattle Mariners. With 'beautiful peg' meaning great throw and he got him meaning well, he got him. He found similar and prolonged success, racking up 16 home runs and 106 RBIs in his 2003 rookie season and then taking home World Series MVP honors in 2009. Oh Ichiro it's why we love you. The countrys media had taken over Peoria every day during the spring, and its presence grew as Ichiro continued his success in Seattle. By high school, he had also developed a contorted batting stance in which he picked up his front leg and moved it like a long, slow pendulum back toward the catcher, as T.R. Thus was there a craving for approval from overseas, for a vindication of Japan itself, that attached itself to the athletes who made their way across the Pacific., Its a sentiment Masujima explored in a 2002 magazine essay while writing about the transformative power of stars like Nomo and Ichiro. I remember him being out in right field with Jay Buhner and they were taking infield, Rizzs says. Piniella: Ive seen some pretty good arms. SEATTLE - Ichiro Suzuki's otherworldly talents made an early impression on Dave Niehaus, the Hall of Fame voice of the Seattle Mariners.During Suzuki's first month in At the age of 42, he tripled off the wall in right field at Colorados Coors Field for his 3,000th hit. I'm not sure he threw that ball at an upward angle. THE THROW TO THE PLATE WILL BE . But Colborn knew that the outfielder was special. Suzuki and the Mariners announced Thursday his 2018 season was over. It was the thing to do, Whiting says. That changed after Ichiros breakthrough in the U.S. Matsui knew that the entire nation of Japan was looking at him, Whiting says. Charging a single by Ramon Hernandez into right field, Ichiro never broke stride and made a throw from about 200 feet away on the fly to David Bell that would have impressed William Tell.
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