The Yomiuri ShimbunA great baseball player, who made various monumental achievements, has ended his career. His brilliant plays will be remembered by many people.

Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners has retired at the age of 45. His decision to retire came in the 28th year of his pro baseball career and his 19th year of playing as a major leaguer.

Ichiro was eliminated from the Mariners roster last season, but took part in this spring’s camp to prepare for the opening game. He did not fare well in batting even when the camp entered its final stage, which he cited as a reason for retirement.

No player other than Ichiro has racked up such achievements in both Japan and the United States.

In the major leagues, he achieved a record of at least 200 hits in a single season for 10 straight years. He slapped 262 hits in 2004, breaking the 84-year-old record for most hits in a single season. He collected a combined total of 4,367 hits in Japan and the United States, a figure exceeding the record for hits by a single player in the major leagues.

His skillful bat control, speedy running and strong, accurate arm reminded us of the essential elements of baseball: hitting, running and fielding. At a time when power hitters who aimed solely for home runs were thriving in the major leagues, Ichiro thus surprised even American baseball fans.

Without being distracted by the playing styles in vogue among major leaguers, Ichiro adhered to his own style. Behind his persistent stance could be his pride and confidence in Japanese-style baseball, which is faithful to the basics and is noted for its precise plays.

Love for ballgame

A large number of his superb plays enchanted many Japanese people.

In the second World Baseball Classic in 2009, the clutch hit he made in the final game with South Korea to win a consecutive championship for Japan became legendary.

In 1995, Ichiro played a leading role in the Orix BlueWave rising to be a Pacific League pennant winner under the slogan “Ganbarou Kobe” (Hang on, Kobe), encouraging the people hit by the Great Hanshin Earthquake that occurred that year.

The driving force behind his long career as an active player could be nothing but his love of the ballgame. In the news conference at which he announced his retirement, Ichiro said, in answer to a question about what he did persistently throughout his career, “I loved baseball, and this stance remained unchanged.”

Ichiro was uncompromising in his pursuit of skills and disciplined himself thoroughly with a view to preventing injury. He said he focused on surpassing self-set limits little by little while assessing what would be the most he could do. His stance of repeating training like a seeker of truth enchanted many people.

Not a few children wound up with gloves and bats in their hands due to their longing to play like Ichiro. Some grew up to become pro baseball players themselves. He played a big role in broadening the base for baseball.

During the press conference, he called on children to “find something they can be absorbed in.” It’s a message of encouragement to people of younger generations.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 23, 2019)Speech

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