Ichiro Suzuki Arrival

First MLB player to enter the Meikyukai; 4,367 career hits.

Ichiro Suzuki (born October 22, 1973) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder who played 28 seasons, including 12 with the Seattle Mariners. He was the first MLB player to enter the Meikyukai (The Golden Players Club).

Quick Facts

Debut season: 2001
Previous league: Nippon Professional Baseball (Orix BlueWave)
Jersey number: 51
Major awards: AL MVP, AL Rookie of the Year
Position: Outfielder

Lore & Background

Ichiro was the first MLB player to enter the Meikyukai (The Golden Players Club). He was a ten-time MLB All-Star and won the 2007 All-Star Game MVP Award. He won a Gold Glove in each of his first 10 MLB seasons and had an AL-record seven hitting streaks of 20 or more games. He set MLB's single-season record for hits with 262 and had 10 consecutive 200-hit seasons. He finished with 4,367 professional hits across Japan and the United States, the most of any player at the top level of baseball.

Reader's Guide

Ichiro played his first nine professional seasons with the Orix BlueWave of NPB, then 12 seasons with the Seattle Mariners, two and a half with the New York Yankees, three with the Miami Marlins, and returned to the Mariners for his final two seasons. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, becoming the first Japanese player and first Asian-born player elected, receiving 99.7% of the vote. The Mariners retired his number 51.