Ichiro Suzuki
Ichiro Suzuki (鈴木一朗, Suzuki Ichirō, born October 22, 1973 in Kasugai, Japan) is the first Japanese-born position player (i.e., non-pitcher) to play in Major League Baseball. He is a right fielder who bats left-handed and throws right-handed.
In 1992, at the age of 18, Ichiro made his debut in the outfield with the Orix Blue Wave in Japan's Pacific League. In 1994, he had a remarkable year, setting a Japanese single-season record with 210 hits and threatening to become the first player in Japan to bat .400. It was the first of a record seven consecutive seasons in which he led the league in batting average. He was a three-time Most Valuable Player in the Pacific League.
After the 2000 season, in which Ichiro posted his best batting average yet (.387), the Seattle Mariners purchased the rights to his contract. He had a remarkable season in 2001, with 242 hits (the most by any player since 1930) and a league-leading .350 batting average, winning both the American League Most Valuable Player and the Rookie of the Year awards. He became only the second player in MLB history to win MVP and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season (the first was Fred Lynn in the American League in 1975). Ichiro also has been a three-time Gold Glove winner between 2001 and 2003.
Currently, Ichiro is the only (and in fact the first) player in Major League Baseball to use his given name (first name in the West, last name in Japan; see Japanese name) on the back of his uniform. As he was coming up in the Japanese Pacific League, he was on a team with several other Suzukis. Consequently, he asked his managers if he could use his given name. They accepted and he has done so ever since, even stateside.
2004
- July 13: For fourth consecutive year, Ichiro was in the American League starting lineup in the All-Star Game
