Title: Legendary Hockey Player Bobby Hull Diagnosed with CTE, Shedding Light on Brain Injury in Sports
Post:
Hall of Famer Bobby Hull, known for his incredible skills on the ice, has recently been diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease commonly found in athletes with a history of head trauma. This revelation has sparked conversations about the long-term effects of concussions in sports and the importance of player safety.
Hull’s diagnosis serves as a stark reminder of the risks that athletes face when participating in contact sports, and the need for increased awareness and prevention strategies. As a pioneer in the sport of hockey, Hull’s case sheds light on the potential dangers of repeated head injuries and the importance of proper concussion management protocols.
Researchers are now urging sports organizations to take proactive measures to protect their athletes from the devastating effects of CTE. By implementing stricter safety guidelines, increasing education on the signs and symptoms of concussions, and prioritizing player well-being, we can work towards creating a safer environment for athletes of all levels.
Hull’s story serves as a sobering reminder that even the most talented and celebrated athletes are not immune to the long-term consequences of brain injuries. It is crucial that we continue to advocate for player safety and work towards preventing future cases of CTE in sports.
Boselli, new head coach Liam Coen and Jacksonville’s next general manager will be tasked with forming “a football leadership unit that will collaborate and align on all major football decisions, develop a long-term strategy for sustainable on-field success, and provide counsel to the team owner,” the Jaguars said.
Coen and the new GM, like Boselli, will report to Khan.
“My passion for this team, these fans and this city has defined my football life, to the point it is now engrained in my family’s legacy,” Boselli added in a statement. “Today, that relationship has evolved to include this exciting opportunity, and I find my emotions remarkably similar to what I felt upon being drafted as a Jacksonville Jaguar in 1995. I am so excited and deeply humbled to work with and alongside Shad Khan, the Khan Family, Liam Coen, our new general manager and the entire Jaguars front office. We will come together to build a lasting foundation and winning tradition that Jaguars fans will be proud of.”
Boselli’s hire is the latest change to Jacksonville’s power structure in what has been a whirlwind offseason. The Jaguars fired coach Doug Pederson after three seasons following the 2024 campaign, then waited weeks to part with general manager Trent Baalke after struggling to reel in a new head coach. Jacksonville eventually hired Coen on Jan. 24, but remain in search of a new GM.
A hulking left tackle in his day, Boselli was the second overall pick of the 1995 draft out of USC. Over seven seasons in Duval, the offensive lineman reached five Pro Bowls and was thrice named first-team All-Pro. Boselli was the first player to be inducted into Jacksonville’s Pride of the Jaguars and was also selected to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s. In 2022, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in his 16th year of eligibility and sixth as a finalist.
Boselli has been around the organization for years since his retirement after the 2001 season. He most recently served as the Jags’ game-day radio analyst and a contributor to the team’s website.
Now, he won’t be covering the Jaguars, but rebuilding them.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have made a major move by hiring Hall of Famer Tony Boselli as their new executive vice president of football operations. Boselli, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role.
In his new position, Boselli will oversee all aspects of the Jaguars’ football operations, including player personnel, scouting, and roster management. His leadership and expertise are sure to have a positive impact on the team as they look to build a winning culture and compete for championships.
Boselli’s impressive resume includes five Pro Bowl selections and three First-Team All-Pro honors during his playing career with the Jaguars. He has also worked as a football analyst for ESPN and the Jaguars Radio Network, giving him valuable insights into the game from both on and off the field perspectives.
Jaguars fans can look forward to seeing the impact that Boselli will have on the team as they strive for success in the upcoming seasons. With his leadership and football acumen, the future looks bright for Jacksonville under his guidance.
Saturday’s highly anticipated Royal Rumble event has not yet started, but the Rumble festivities have been in full swing in Indianapolis. On the kickoff show for Saturday’s show, WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio staked his claim on a second Royal Rumble victory, all for one special fellow Hall of Famer: the late, great, Eddie Guerrero.
Mysterio appeared alongside Pat McAfee and Michael Cole Friday to speak about the historic Rumble event. McAfee asked Mysterio to detail his chances of claiming a second Royal Rumble victory. After taking to the supportive crowd for their cheers, Mysterio began to speak about his intentions for his first Rumble in two years.
“Two years of me being out of the Rumble due to injuries,” Mysterio explained. “I want to repeat history, and I want to do it for that friend that we all know.”
The Indianapolis crowd began shouting the late, great Guerrero’s name, much to Mysterio’s enjoyment. With a smile, Mysterio motioned to Cole, and mentioned Guerrero’s past with the veteran commentator.
“Man, if that energy from Eddie doesn’t fill me up … I don’t know what will,” Mysterio concluded. “Let’s repeat history [tonight]!”
Cole forwarded his well wishes to Mysterio, and similarly hoped for a repeat of his incredible 2006 Royal Rumble victory. Mysterio’s 2006 performance also allowed him to break a record for the longest performance in a Royal Rumble match, where he survived for an hour and two minutes before becoming the last man standing. Mysterio’s record held strong for twelve years until Daniel Bryan (now known as Bryan Danielson) broke it in 2018 with his hour and sixteen minute-long performance at the Greatest Royal Rumble.
After Mysterio’s 2006 victory, he contributed his victory to Guerrero, who had passed away that past November due to heart failure. Whether Mysterio will invoke the “Latino Heat’s” energy to bring home another Rumble victory remains to be seen.
Rey Mysterio Wants To Win His Second Royal Rumble For This Fellow WWE Hall Of Famer
Rey Mysterio, the high-flying luchador, has his sights set on winning his second Royal Rumble match. But this time, he has a special motivation driving him – his fellow WWE Hall of Famer, Eddie Guerrero.
Guerrero, who tragically passed away in 2005, was not only a close friend and mentor to Mysterio, but also a fierce competitor in the ring. The bond between the two wrestlers was evident in their matches together, showcasing their incredible chemistry and mutual respect for each other.
Mysterio has been vocal about his desire to honor Guerrero’s memory by winning the Royal Rumble and dedicating the victory to his fallen friend. He knows that Guerrero would be proud of his accomplishments in the ring and wants to pay tribute to him in the best way possible.
As Mysterio prepares for the upcoming Royal Rumble match, he is channeling his emotions and determination into his training, knowing that he has a special guardian angel watching over him. With Guerrero’s spirit by his side, Mysterio is more motivated than ever to secure his second Royal Rumble victory and continue to make his friend proud.
Fans around the world are eagerly anticipating Mysterio’s performance in the Royal Rumble, hoping to see him achieve his goal and pay homage to the legendary Eddie Guerrero. The stage is set for an emotional and unforgettable moment in WWE history, as Mysterio aims to win it all for his dear friend.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful (via Fightful Select) reports that Nikki Bella is in Indianapolis ahead of WWE Royal Rumble on Saturday. It’s not known whether she will be in the match or making an appearance at the show.
Since Nikki Bella attended the WWE RAW on Netflix premiere earlier this month, she has teased potentially returning to WWE on multiple occasions. Bella has not wrestled since she competed in the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble, which was a one-off return.
WrestleZone will provide more information as it becomes available, and we will have coverage of WWE Royal Rumble as it airs on February 1st.
“I’ve missed it for quite a few years,” Nikki said. “I miss being Nikki Bella. I miss being around that family. I definitely miss being in that ring. When they put me in the crowd that night and to feel the energy and see the Bella Army, whether they were in the crowd or online, it starts to give you these feels.”
“Going home to WWE, I don’t think people understand, I started at 22. That’s all I ever knew up until a little bit ago. So, that’s been the biggest home for me and to go back and be home and the environment there is so incredible. The women were just, what a great locker room. They were just so awesome and together and one and unity and everyone back there was just so happy. You could tell the energy there right now is just incredible.”
Nikki also stated that she felt like she still had “it”, and she would see what the future held.
Exciting News: WWE Hall Of Famer Spotted In Town Ahead Of WWE Royal Rumble!
The WWE universe is abuzz with excitement as a legendary Hall of Famer has been spotted in town ahead of the highly anticipated WWE Royal Rumble event. Fans have been flocking to the streets in hopes of catching a glimpse of their favorite wrestling icon.
Rumors are swirling about a possible surprise appearance at the Royal Rumble, with speculations running rampant about who this mystery Hall of Famer could be. Could it be a returning legend looking to make a statement in the ring once again? Or perhaps a special guest appearance to add some extra star power to the already star-studded event?
Regardless of the details, one thing is for certain – the WWE Royal Rumble is shaping up to be an event for the ages. Stay tuned for more updates as we eagerly await the reveal of this iconic Hall of Famer’s role in the upcoming event.
Tags:
WWE Hall of Famer, WWE Royal Rumble, wrestling legend, WWE event, wrestling fan, WWE superstar, WWE news, wrestling history, WWE Hall of Fame, WWE event update
No one has helped revolutionize women’s wrestling more than Trish Stratus, the WWE Hall of Famer and record seven-time WWE Women’s Champion. Stratus, along with her greatest rival, Lita, were the first women to main event Monday Night Raw and showed that women could, and would, grapple as well as the men, and were more than just pretty faces on the screen.
In an exclusive interview with ScreenRant ahead of the Royal Rumble, Stratus spoke about the introduction of the Women’s midcard championships, her thoughts on the inaugural champions, Chelsea Green and Lyra Valkyria, and how it’s helped the women’s division become just as dominant as the men’s roster. When asked what advice she’d give to the new champions, Stratus had some strong advice for Green.
I would tell Chelsea Green to stop being such a b*tch. That might help. You know, people really dislike her, and sometimes in life, you won’t get far if you’re disliked, you know? You may become US Champion but a lot of people don’t like you and people want friends. So Chelsea Green, if you want friends, stop being a b*tch.
Could Stratus Strong Words For Chelsea Green Set Up Rumble Drama?
Not Sure If It Was Advice Or A Warning, To Be Honest
WWE.com
Could those be fighting words? The Rumble is as much about micro-narratives as it is about the showcase itself, and the most memorable moments add a greater level of emotional depth than flashy spots. With rumors of Stratus’ potential participation in the Royal Rumble match, her comments set up the tantalizing prospect of one of those mini-storylines during the 2025 tentpole. According to WrestleVotes, Stratus’ participation in the Royal Rumble has been discussed, which would mark the Hall of Famer’s first appearance since her match with Becky Lynch at WWE Payback in 2023:
I know it’s been discussed. I know she will be in Indianapolis, I know WWE is bringing her in. I don’t know specifically if it is for a Rumble appearance, but I know it’s been discussed. There’s only so many women’s legends they can call on, especially those that can still do it, and she’s one of them.
Such conflict would represent something of a cyclical moment for Green, whose WWE debut was intended to build towards a copycat storyline that would have emulated how Stratus was booked with Micke James 15 years earlier. Reports from Fightful Select confirmed Green had filmed segments with James before plans changed at the last minute:
The story had a pretty solid plan and we’re told that several in creative were very excited about it, but it inexplicably got scrapped. The story that we’ve heard would have had Mickie James put in Trish Stratus’ shoes from 15 years ago.
It went a lot further than a pitch. We’re told that Mickie James and Chelsea Green had actually filmed content to start the angle. Everything was a go, and plans were abruptly changed only hours before it was set to air. Green didn’t appear on TV for months after.
In a notably different tone, Stratus also revealed her thoughts on Lyra Valkyria:
And Lyra is awesome, and I’m so excited to see her get this opportunity. I feel like she came in with a bang and I was waiting for the momentum. It felt like it stopped a little bit. I think this is a great way to catapult her and just continue the momentum that she deserves.
Stratus Loves The New Women’s Midcard Titles
She Sees Them As Another Building Step In The Women’s Division
In 2024, WWE introduced two new Women’s championships to the division, giving exposure to their rising stars who weren’t in the main event picture just yet. Stratus sees this as a win for the division, and that the women can finally be seen as equals to their male counterparts in WWE.
“[I] Love it, and it’s just things that – I’ll tell you what, me being back at this present time around and seeing it all happen is everything we wished for back in the day. So [I’m] seeing it and [it’s] still in my time, it’s happening. Even when I got to go back and dip my toes in the water of the current landscape was very special to me, like even to be in a cage match, something I would’ve never thought could have been a possibility.
So to see now, like we are – and I used to say, ‘man, if we could be just equal with the men…’ It’s not even about the length of the match or anything like that, it’s just like viewed equally, equal contributors to the show as a whole. I think you’ll see more exposure for the women, more opportunities for the women, and I think it’s fantastic.
Stratus’ comments actually echo those of Chelsea Green, who recently spoke to “The Sports Agents” to reveal how Paul Levesque’s tenure as WWE’s driving force has changed the culture for the company’s female stars:
I come to work, I love my job, I feel safe, I feel supported. Triple H makes women specifically feel absolutely equal to men,” Green commented. “We are out there main eventing WrestleManias now, something that unfortunately that previous era didn’t get to experience but they set the table for us and now we’re sitting at it. We’re enjoying these amazing meals, and I couldn’t be happier.
WWE‘s 2025 Royal Rumble takes place on Saturday, February 1st from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN, with an earlier start time of 6pm ET/3pm PT on Peacock and Netflix around the world. Check your local listings for start times in your area.
WWE Hall Of Famer Trish Stratus recently shared some valuable advice with Chelsea Green as she prepares for a rumored return at the upcoming Royal Rumble. In an exclusive interview, Stratus revealed her words of wisdom for the talented wrestler as she gears up for one of the biggest events in WWE.
Stratus, who is no stranger to the Royal Rumble herself, emphasized the importance of staying focused, confident, and prepared for whatever challenges may come her way in the ring. She also stressed the significance of making a memorable impact and seizing every opportunity to showcase her skills and make a statement to the WWE Universe.
As Green eagerly anticipates her potential return to the ring, Stratus’s guidance and support are sure to be invaluable as she looks to make a splash at the Royal Rumble. Stay tuned for more updates on Chelsea Green’s rumored comeback and her journey to success in the WWE.
Tags:
WWE, Hall of Famer, Trish Stratus, Chelsea Green, Royal Rumble, return, advice, wrestling, legend, women’s wrestling, WWE Hall of Fame, championship, comeback, career advice
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Former NBA player Dwyane Wade has revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer.
The now-retired point guard and shooting guard said Thursday on his podcast The Why with Dwyane Wade, that 40 percent of his right kidney was removed over one year ago. The surgery came shortly after he first received the news that he had cancer.
The former Miami Heat player learned of the diagnosis after years putting off his annual check-up. After reflecting on his father’s experience with prostate cancer, Wade finally made an appointment and explained that he had symptoms including stomach issues, cramps, and was urinating slowly.
He was “checking, like, ‘Why is my piss coming out slow, why is my stream ain’t powerful? Why is it a little weak?’” he told his podcast co-host, Bob Metelus.
After receiving a full-body scan the doctor discovered a “cyst/tumor” on one of his kidneys and told Wade he needed kidney surgery, which multiple other doctors confirmed.
Wade received the kidney surgery in December 2023 (Getty Images for Out.com / equal)
“I made a decision to have surgery on December 18, 2023,” Wade said. “My father was there to walk me into the hospital. My wife was there when I woke up. There’s only two people you can have in hospital.”
The biopsy after the surgery confirmed that the tumor was cancerous. “Obviously, at 41 years old [I’m a] pretty healthy guy that did have cancer,” the former athlete said.
“Thank God that I did do the surgery because the tumor was cancerous. So, I have one kidney and I have another kidney that is [at] 60 percent. They took 40 percent of my kidney to make sure they can get all the cancer off it.”
Wade did not reveal any further details about his health. But he did reveal how difficult it was to be vulnerable with his loved ones amid his diagnosis and surgery.
He shares children Zaire, 22, and Zaya, 17, with ex-wife Siovaughn Funches, son Xavier, 10, with ex Aja Metoyer and daughter Kaavia, 6, with his current wife Gabrielle Union.
As for “my own journey to have that surgery, I think it was the first time that my family, my dad, my kids, they saw me weak,” Wade said. “That moment was probably the weakest point I’ve ever felt in my life.”
The “moment I was by myself, I was struggling, dog,” he added. “One thing you never want to do as a man … is [for] your family to see you weak. It’s tough.”
He expressed how grateful he was for his family, however, to step in during his recovery as he vowed to “do things differently.”
“I saw everybody show up for me and be there for me,” Wade said. “In that process of my weakness, I found strength in my family, in my friends, in my group.”
In a shocking revelation, NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade has announced that he has been diagnosed with cancer following a recent kidney surgery. The retired basketball star took to social media to share the news with his fans and followers.
Wade, who is known for his successful career with the Miami Heat, expressed his gratitude for the support he has received from his loved ones during this difficult time. He also urged his followers to prioritize their health and get regular check-ups to catch any potential health issues early on.
Fans and fellow athletes have flooded social media with messages of support for Wade as he embarks on his journey to fight cancer. The basketball legend has always been known for his resilience and determination on the court, and it seems like he will be bringing that same fighting spirit to his battle against cancer.
We wish Dwyane Wade all the best in his recovery and send him our thoughts and prayers during this challenging time. Stay strong, D-Wade! #PrayersForDwyaneWade #FightAgainstCancer
Tags:
NBA Hall of Famer, Dwyane Wade, cancer diagnosis, kidney surgery, health update, basketball news, celebrity health, Dwyane Wade health update
Jey Uso is among the most beloved stars in professional wrestling. WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry recently made an interesting claim about the former Intercontinental Champion’s popularity among fans.
During his recent appearance on the Busted Open podcast, The World’s Strongest Man said people have chosen Jey Uso. He claimed that the Stamford-based company had not tried to shove the 39-year-old down the audience’s throats, something they seemingly did with Roman Reigns.
“He [Jey Uso] is not being shoved down our throats like Roman Reigns was shoved down our throats at the beginning. He is not a part of a group that has people standing behind him helping bully his way in. [It] is because the people have chosen. That means everything when the fans will sign for you and the fans love you,” said Henry.
The wrestling legend added that the crowd gets behind Uso every time he enters the squared circle. Henry believes Jey should win a major title before it is too late.
A WWE Hall of Famer isn’t a John Cena fan. More details HERE
“Man, when he comes into the arena, and the whole crowd is going. When he’s taking a** whooping, he never has a pound of mat to get the people to come with him. When he’s taking a whooping, they [are] like, ‘Get up.’ It’s like Rocky. He’s got it, bro. I don’t understand like why anybody would not co-sign for him because he’s one of the chosen ones. […] If Jey got it, the people would go ballistic. It’s time. If they don’t do it now, it might be too late,” Henry added.
You can check out Mark Henry’s comments in the video below.
The clip shared on Busted Open’s Instagram account caught the attention of The YEET Master. He posted a one-word message in the comments section to describe Mark Henry.
“OG,” he wrote.
Jey Uso reacts to praise from Mark Henry [Photo Credits: Busted Open Instagram]
Jey Uso lost a championship match at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event
Jey Uso challenged Gunther for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at the latest edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event. It was the third singles encounter between the two in the last twelve months.
The Ring General entered the contest with a massive advantage over Uso, having defeated him in both the previous matches. The champion put forth an impressive performance to secure a hat trick of wins over the OG Bloodline member to retain his title.
The YEET Master is set to enter the Men’s Royal Rumble match on Saturday. It remains to be seen how he will perform in the star-studded match at the premium live event.
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WWE Hall of Famer Booker T recently made an interesting claim about current WWE Superstar Jey Uso, stating that he believes Uso has the potential to become a future world champion.
In an interview with Sportskeeda, Booker T praised Uso’s in-ring abilities and his recent success as part of the SmackDown Tag Team Champions alongside his brother, Jimmy Uso. He went on to say that he sees a lot of potential in Jey Uso and believes that he has what it takes to make it to the top of the WWE.
However, RAW star Seth Rollins had a different opinion on the matter. In a tweet responding to Booker T’s comments, Rollins expressed his doubts about Uso’s potential as a world champion, stating that he doesn’t see Uso as a main event player.
The debate over Jey Uso’s potential as a future world champion has sparked a lot of discussion among wrestling fans, with some agreeing with Booker T’s assessment and others siding with Rollins’ skepticism. Only time will tell if Uso will be able to prove his critics wrong and make a run for the WWE Championship.
Tags:
WWE Hall of Famer, Jey Uso, RAW star, wrestling news, WWE, Hall of Fame, Jey Uso claim, wrestling rumors, wrestling updates, RAW response, WWE Hall of Famer claim, Jey Uso controversy
The WWE Hall of Famer took to X (formerly Twitter) to thank Rhodes, Marshall, MJF, Butcher, Blade, as well as Wardlow and The Bunny who ran interference during the match. Page also thanked former AEW EVP Cody Rhodes for putting together the finish of the match, which saw DDP leap onto most of the members of the match at ringside, before MJF rolled up QT Marshall for the pinfall. Furthermore, Page had not wrestled in ten years prior to the match, outside of battle royal appearances in WWE which required little physicality.
Five years ago today I wrestled my last match. What a great time I had. @CodyRhodes was the one who put the finish together. Couldn’t think of a better way to have my last match. Thanks Champ!
“Knowing what my body has been through … I’m still a Ferrari but I’ve got 998,000 miles on me,” Page said in an interview before the match. “The way I eat. The way I train. Our DDPY program says it all. I’ve had one of the most blessed careers ever in professional wrestling. Starting at 35, having my career blow up when I was 40, I’m gonna leave it all out there.”
DDP is not the only high-profile retirement AEW has hosted, as the company held former WCW World Heavyweight Champion Sting’s retirement match in Greensboro, NC in 2024, and will play host to the last year of former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett’s AEW contract this year.
In a recent interview, WWE Hall of Famer Diamond Dallas Page opened up about his last match of 2020 and reflected on his career in the ring.
Page, who is known for his innovative moves and charismatic personality, faced off against a younger opponent in what turned out to be a hard-fought battle. Despite his age, Page showed that he still has what it takes to compete at a high level and put on a memorable performance for the fans.
Reflecting on the match, Page shared that it was a special moment for him to be able to step back into the ring and showcase his skills once again. He expressed gratitude for the support of the fans and his fellow wrestlers, who have been instrumental in his success throughout his career.
As he looks back on his time in the ring, Page remains grateful for the opportunities he has had in the wrestling world and the memories he has created along the way. He continues to stay active in the industry, using his platform to inspire others to pursue their dreams and live a healthy lifestyle.
Overall, Diamond Dallas Page’s last match of 2020 was a fitting end to a successful year in the ring, and fans can look forward to seeing more from this wrestling legend in the future.
Tags:
WWE Hall of Famer Diamond Dallas Page, DDP, last match, 2020, wrestling, reflections, career highlights, professional wrestling, WWE Hall of Fame, DDP Yoga, wrestling legend
WrestleVotes has reported that “significant discussions have taken place” regarding Nikki Bella returning to WWE, following an appearance in the 2022 women’s Royal Rumble match.
The talk comes after she appeared at the Netflix premiere of Raw on 1/6, marking her first appearance in the company since she and sister Brie departed in 2023.
In an interview on the red carpet for the event, Nikki said she considers WWE home, teasing the possibility of an in-ring return from the pair:
Ohhh, will we ever see the Bella Twins back? Good question. You know, I just may be here looking at my competition soon. So — stay tuned.
The WWE Hall of Famer is currently starring in season three of The Traitors, a reality series airing on Peacock.
According to recent reports, WWE is reportedly in “significant discussions” to bring back a Hall of Famer to the company. While the identity of the Hall of Famer has not been revealed yet, fans are buzzing with excitement and speculation about who it could be.
The return of a legendary wrestler to WWE could shake up the current landscape of the company and add a new level of excitement to upcoming events and storylines. With so many iconic names in the Hall of Fame, the possibilities are endless as to who could be making a comeback.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as details continue to emerge. Who do you think could be the Hall of Famer making a return to WWE? Let us know in the comments below!
Tags:
WWE, Hall of Famer, return, wrestling, significant discussions, rumors, sports entertainment, WWE news, wrestling news, professional wrestling, WWE Hall of Fame
Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.
Jan 21, 2025, 07:00 AM ET
Ichiro Suzuki will become a Hall of Famer — and possibly the second unanimous selection ever — when the Baseball Writers’ Association of America reveals its ballots Tuesday night. Ichiro’s stat line over more than two decades of excellence, first in Japan and then in MLB, makes his induction a slam dunk, but the legend of Ichiro is about much more than his 3,089 major league hits and .311 career average during 19 seasons with the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees and Miami Marlins.
As the iconic outfielder gets his Cooperstown call, we asked former teammates, opponents and other MLB greats to describe what it was like playing with, pitching to and simply witnessing Ichiro during his legendary career.
First impressions of Ichiro
When Ichiro came to the majors, there was plenty of skepticism about how a Japanese hitter would fare in MLB since nobody had made the jump. Starting with his Mariners teammates, he found ways to turn heads from the beginning.
John Olerud, teammate with Mariners, 2001 to 2004: “I heard Bobby [Valentine] talking about this one guy that was really good and that he could play here in the big leagues. Ichiro was the first Japanese position player to come, so nobody knew if they could have success here at Major League Baseball. And so I remember the first time I met him in the clubhouse with Seattle, he knew who I was and I didn’t immediately know who he was. And talking to Tom Robson, who’s the hitting coach, he said Ichiro is bigger than Elvis in Japan, just to give me a frame of reference. And still, as big as he was in Japan, there was still a question of whether position players could compete over here.”
Mike Cameron, teammate with Mariners, 2001 to 2003: “My favorite story was his first year in spring training. Our manager was Lou Piniella. Ichiro was hitting foul balls over the third-base dugout and over the third baseman and he would get a lot of his base hits between first and second, short and third and over the shortstop’s head. And one day Lou got pissed off. He was standing on the top step, and Ichiro was coming back to the dugout. I think he had grounded out or something like that. And Lou always rattled out anything he wanted to say, and was talking so loud — I’m sure Ichiro heard it — he’s asking our bench coach, ‘Can this guy f—ing pull the ball one time?’ And sure enough, the next at-bat, he got up there, he hit a homer to right.
“He came around the bases with no animation or anything, same dry face that he always has with his shades on, then he takes his helmet off, takes his gloves off, puts his bat in his bat rack, his personal bat rack that was on the bench, and he sat down and he said, ‘How was that?’
“And everybody just died laughing.”
Bret Boone, teammate with Mariners, 2001 to 2005: “We had no idea how to take him at first. I now had a teammate with his first name on his back. No one had ever seen that before. He had his own program and BP and things, and everybody knew his credentials in Japan but had no idea how it was going to translate. And he kind of went through spring training like a pro. Guys were asking him to do this and do that. And he kind of looked at you like, ‘No, I know what I’m doing.’ And he had an OK spring, still everybody’s waiting to see what he was going to do and came out of the chute, bang. And that was that first season — it was pretty awesome. He gave me rice balls every day. He was great and really fit into that dynamic. I mean, it was a strange year for all of us because the Japanese press was here and it was almost like having a postseason press conference every day.”
Chef Jeremy Bryant began a 20-plus-year stint with the Mariners in 1999, when what’s now called T-Mobile Park opened. He was told a year in advance that Ichiro would be joining the team, with a staff member referring to him as “the Michael Jordan of Japan,” and so Bryant spent a summer learning Japanese cooking. When Ichiro arrived, Bryant was ready — his fridge stocked with gourmet Japanese food, his mind prepped for how to make it to the superstar’s liking. Then, Ichiro walked into the room with a question Bryant was not expecting.
“Do you have cheeseburger?”
Bryant: “I didn’t have a cheeseburger. I didn’t even think he would want that. I was suggesting all these things and I’m like, ‘How ’bout wings?’ He goes, ‘Oh yeah, wings! Very good.’ I had started marinating them Mexican style. I put some lime juice, garlic, and before I went too far, I put a bunch of teriyaki sauce on them, and so I joked with him, like, ‘These are my signature Mexi-yaki wings.’ He went out, had his Opening Day, everything went good. And the next day he was like ‘Wings, again, please.’ I left the stadium to buy some more wings, came back, made them again, and then Day 3, again. I swear to God, man — 10 years, he had those wings. Every game that we played at night, Ichiro had those wings. … Same time — 5:05 every day because he was the first one out of batting practice. He ate them in the same exact chair. He never sat in a different place in our little dining lounge. And he used the same plate. I even cooked them in the same pan. … And then on getaway days, whenever the team was flying out, he didn’t want wings on those days. He wanted two corn dogs. Just two, and they had to be the basic, regular — I would get them at Costco, the frozen ones. I had all this gourmet stuff ready for this guy, and he loved two corn dogs on getaway days.”
Even as he quickly turned his teammates — and team staffers — into believers, Ichirohad to prove himself to the rest of the league. Of course, batting .350 on his way to American League MVP and Rookie of the Year honors in 2001 helped matters immensely.
Tim Salmon, opponent with Angels, 2001 to 2006: “I remember seeing him for the first time and how slight of build he was. He wasn’t a big guy. My thought was, ‘OK, this will be interesting to see how this plays out.’ He’s a right fielder. Most right fielders are big guys, power guys.
“He was such a slight build but had all this amazing talent, and he could be whatever he wanted to be. And his arm, I mean, he was just phenomenal. He had a cannon in the outfield and just the gracefulness that he went about things, whether he was charging the ball and his footwork and being able to get off that perfect throw every time or running the bases. He just glided, and he just did everything with a gracefulness. That was really rare to see.”
Joe Maddon, longtime opposing manager with Rays and Cubs (and bench coach for Angels in 2001): “I really believe that he could look at the field and decide where he wanted to hit the ball and then he would hit it in a manner that would fall in front of outfielders. Although he had pop in his bat, he knew how to just hit it over infielders — almost like his bat was a fungo — and as if the pitcher was just tossing it up in the air and he would hit it somewhere; it was just really maddening to defend it.”
Mike Sweeney played with and against Ichiro for many years in the American League. They also shared an All-Star locker room several times. Sweeney remembers the first time he met Ichiro — while Sweeney was playing first base for the Royals in 2001.
Sweeney:“He leads off the game with a line drive to left-center field for a base hit and he gets over to first base, and all I could think about was when I was in Japan playing against the Japanese all-stars, anytime that an American would get a base hit up on the jumbotron would be this big huge graphic, almost kind of like a 1950s/1960s graphic from Batman and Robin. Like ‘Pow!’ or ‘Boom!’ And it would say, ‘Nice batting.’ And so over the loudspeaker, you’d hear the PA announcer say, ‘Nice batting.’ And you’d see these big graphics up on the jumbotron.
“So being a kid from Southern California that doesn’t speak any Japanese, I don’t know what to say to Ichiro. I don’t even know if he knows English. He had just gotten here in spring training. So I look over at him and I pat him on the back and say, ‘Ichiro, nice batting.’ And I don’t know what kind of response I’m going to get. And he looks at me — never met him before — and he goes, ‘Mike Sweeney, nice ass.’ I just started dying laughing. I’m like, oh my gosh, his English was perfect. No accent. And I’m going, oh my gosh, this guy, he’s going to be great.”
With a major league career spanning nearly two decades, Ichiro ended it playing with the same players who were watching him in awe from afar when he broke in with the Mariners.
Chris Rusin, Rockies pitcher who gave up Ichiro’s 3,000th hit:“I watched him growing up. I went to a couple of Tigers games, and they just happened to be playing Seattle. Never thought I’d be playing against him or pitching against him, let alone giving up the 3,000th hit.”
Christian Yelich, teammate with Marlins, 2015 to 2017: “I grew up watching Ichiro as a kid. In middle school, high school and stuff like that. So when we first signed him, I was like, ‘Oh s—, I’m going to be playing with Ichiro. That’s crazy.’ And you don’t have very many moments like that — at least, I didn’t in the big leagues — where you’re playing catch with a guy in the outfield and you’re kind of like, ‘Oh s—, I’m playing catch with Ichiro right now.’ That’s a weird feeling. And he was so normal too, though. He was a great teammate and a good friend, and it was an awesome experience playing with him and getting to watch him achieve a bunch of milestones because it was later in his career, so it felt like every game he was passing or tying somebody.”
A front-row seat to the Ichiro show
Randy Winn played 115 games batting one spot behind Ichiro in 2004, when he set an MLB single-season record with 262 hits. Winn referred to his spot in the order as a “pleasure” because he benefited from how much energy Ichiro absorbed from opposing pitchers, either during long at-bats or consistently applying pressure on the bases.
Winn: “He had three 50-hit months. I’m fortunate enough to have one in my career, and it felt like I fell out of bed every day with two hits in my pocket. It was amazing. I’m serious. You went to the park every day like, ‘Oh, I already got two hits? Wow, this game is easy.’ He did it three times in one year! I can’t even fathom. That to me is so mind-blowing, I can’t even put it into words.”
When Winn arrived in Seattle in 2003, he worried about a potential language barrier while sharing the outfield with Ichiro. Winn quickly learned it was a nonissue — Ichiro spoke far more fluent English than he had realized. Winn was intent on giving Ichiro his space, but he often sought opportunities to pick the brains of great players. One spring, he saw an opening with Ichiro. The two stayed back while most of the other veterans traveled for a Cactus League game, and Winn approached Ichiro in the weight room to ask him about his mindset leading off games.
“Randy,” Ichiro replied, “I want five.”
“What?” Winn responded.
“Five,” Ichiro said in perfect English. “Every day, I want five hits.”
“That’s the expectation,” Winn said. “‘I put myself in a position where I expect to get five hits. I expect to execute and get five hits.’ And then I was like, ‘Heh, OK, now I understand why you get 262 hits.’”
Unforgettable moments
Long after the initial frenzy of his arrival in 2001, Ichiro captivated the sport again as a 42-year-old in pursuit of his 3,000th hit in the majors (in addition to the 1,278 he collected in Japan). He reached the milestone while playing for the Marlins in 2016 — hitting a stand-up triple at Coors Field in Colorado.
Rusin: “The atmosphere, it was crazy. You could kind of feel the crowd was expecting something because for a Miami-Colorado game to have quite a few fans there, and it got pretty loud when he gets up to the box. You kind of could feel it a little bit.
“I think I went 2-and-0 on him and then I left a cutter over the middle of the plate. He kind of pulled off of it, hit off the end of the bat, and it traveled further than I thought it was going to go, and the outfielder kept going and going and going. I was like, ‘Please don’t go out. Just not a home run. I’ll take anything but a home run.’ And it went off the wall and he ended up getting a triple, and I think I ended up getting out of the inning. But yeah, anytime you faced a hitter like that in a big situation where he has something on the line or whatever, you don’t want to be a part of it, but as long as it’s not too bad, it’s OK. It’s not too bad to be a part of it.
“Then after the game, I’m sitting at my locker and I got all the media around me wanting to talk about giving up that hit, and I explained everything and then at the end I said, ‘The only thing that I asked for is you go back and ask him for an autographed bat. By the time he leaves, just send it over.’ And by the time I left the stadium, he had already sent the bat over and signed it. Great guy.”
Yelich: “After he got it, we were in the outfield together playing catch the next half inning, warming up for the bottom of whatever against the Rockies at Coors Field. And I remember playing catch with him and me thinking, ‘Don’t you dare throw this ball over Ichiro’s head and have him go running to the wall to go get this ball or something.’ With all these cameras and people watching him right now, all over the world, you just don’t want to airmail it in the outfield and send him running. That’s what I remember thinking.”
It wasn’t just milestones but also Ichiro’s ability to make any moment extraordinary. There’s perhaps no better example than his unreal April 2001 throw from right field to get A’s outfielder Terrence Long out at third base.
Long: “When he threw me out at third, early in the year we were in Seattle, same scenario, ball hit to right field, but it was a little bit more towards the gap, and I went first to third, no problem. So this time I’m thinking, ‘OK, I went first to third one time before,’ but this one was right at him. And I watched the replay. I was already three or four steps across second before he got it. So I’m thinking, there’s no way he’s throwing me out, and I’m running, and then you can look at the third baseman’s eyes and you can see him looking at this ball. And I’m saying to myself, I’m like, ‘OK, this ball is about to pass me.’ So I was like, two things are going to happen. Either way it goes, you’re going to be on ESPN forever. So the smart thing to do is just slide, just to make it look close. The worst thing I could have done was just go in, stand it up, and it would’ve been even more embarrassing. So I was like, ‘I’m just going to slide.’ But as soon as I got ready to slide, you see this ball come right past me. I was like, ‘Oh my God, there’s no way he just made that throw.’”
Even routine plays became the stuff of legend when Ichiro stepped onto the field.
Salmon: “We were playing in Seattle one year, and the grass always has a dew on it, a dampness to it. Anyway, he hit a line drive at me. This is along the lines of how hard he hit the ball. They just rocketed off his bat. And it was just going to be a nice easy one-hopper. And I came up to get it, and it hit the ground and it skipped so hard. I didn’t get my glove down in time, and it hit me in the nuts. And literally, I did everything I could to keep from rolling over or whatever. I mean, I picked up the ball and I threw it in and I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ And I was walking around the outfield and I swear it was burning so bad down there. I figured I must be bleeding. And I kept trying to glance down looking at it like, ‘Am I bleeding?’
“I’m 200 feet away. That ball, it hit the ground and it just had so much on it. It looked like a normal line drive, one-hop routine, and it skipped on me — but he hits the ball so hard that you really got to be on your toes. And I remember hearing infielders talk about that. He’d hit a hard one- or two-hopper that would just get through, past the infielder, because the ball came off that different.”
Joe Girardi, manager with Yankees, 2012 to 2014: “My favorite Ichiro story is actually when he played with the Mariners against us. I remember him taking Mariano Rivera deep [a walk-off] in a game, throwing the cutter inside and it getting hit. He had the ability to pull his hands inside and hit the ball out of the ballpark. And when you would watch him take BP, he hit ball after ball after ball out. But he knew his game was getting on base and stealing bases. So he never tried to be something that he wasn’t. The ground that he covered was incredible and people just didn’t run on him, or he probably would’ve had a lot more assists. And it’s a guy that had over 500 stolen bases. So I don’t know if he could really ask a player to do much more.”
Legendary skills and work ethic
None of his achievements would have been possible without a combination of baseball skills and work ethic that set Ichiro apart from his contemporaries.
Cameron: “He was a locker mate of mine and he was my right fielder for the three years that we played together. What jumps out is just his consistency. His consistency and his work ethic. He calls it a word in Japanese: it’s called kaizen, and in Japanese that means never-ending [or continuous improvement]. So he was never satisfied. And I don’t think he really worked off the numbers other than the fact that he loved the idea of getting base hits. The guy was driven about getting base hits, and obviously that’s evident in that he came over here and played all those years and got 3,000-something hits and has the all-time hit record in a season. So he was driven by that, although he had the capability of hitting the homer, which I don’t think everyone really knew that.
“The guy used to go in even on off days and work out. It was every day for him. That’s all he knew. I always used to ask him, ‘What drives you to do this kind of stuff?’ He’s like, first of all, his name means ‘the one.’ So he’s destined to be this one person. And he was also very particular about everything that he did, from his bats to having his own special bat case with a humidifier there. He was a competitor.”
Mark Teixeira, teammate with Yankees, 2012 to 2014: “I got to see Ichiro at his best. There were only a handful of players in baseball that I thought were more impactful to the game. I just thought he was one of the top five players in all of baseball when I played against him.
“What impressed me the most is that he worked harder, took his job more seriously than anybody I’ve ever played with. And this is a guy who was a Hall of Famer, a legend in Japan. He could have just kind of ridden off into the sunset. He wasn’t even playing every day, but yet, he took his craft more seriously than anybody.”
Girardi: “I think his durability was absolutely incredible. Coming over here at 27 years old and playing really every day until he was 41. It was amazing. I’m looking at his stats when he was 41 years old. He appeared in 153 games, and he worked really hard. There’s really three facets of the game, and he was really good at all of them. Offensively, just his bat-to-ball skills were absolutely incredible and [he] had the ability to hit a home run — in a sense — when the team needed it.”
Beyond all of his other gifts, it was that unparalleled ability to put the bat on the ball that stands out most to those who watched Ichiro — or attempted to get him out.
Mark Buehrle, longtime opponent with White Sox, Marlins, Blue Jays (Ichiro hit .409 in 66 career at-bats against him): “He was so good with making contact and just putting the ball where he wanted to. I remember a game — I think he had all the hits during that game — he got on first base after his third hit, and I had run over to cover. It was like a base hit through the right side of the infield. And I went over to cover and he was standing on first base, and I just threw my arms up. ‘Are you s—ting me?’ And he just did his whole, ‘My bad,’ shrugging his shoulders. But he was just so good at putting the ball where he wanted to. I swear he would put it where guys were not at.
“I think the only time that I ever moved any position guys on the infield was against him. There was a game, he got two hits between third and shortstop. And I remember the third at-bat. I looked over at [third baseman Joe] Crede and I’m like, ‘Scoot over, he hits the ball right there every time, scoot over.’ So I pointed [him to] move over towards the shortstop and what’s Ichiro do? He hits it right down the freaking line, right where Crede would’ve been at. And I’m like, ‘Yep, I’m never moving anybody ever again.’”
Those who have witnessed his batting practice over the years swear there is another element to Ichiro’s game that defies his modest 119 career home runs.
Long: “He just hits, hits, hits — but what impressed me the most about that guy was batting practice. His first couple of rounds, he is just working on his line drives, and then his last round of BP, he hits balls further than anybody I’ve ever seen. And still to this day, people don’t believe it. I’ve watched him take BP a lot. He hits balls farther than any of the big guys you can name in that era in batting practice.”
Olerud: “You watch him take batting practice and I would put him against any home run hitter in Major League Baseball because he just hit one home run ball after the other and way, way out. It was impressive how far he could hit the ball home-run-wise and then get in the game and he’d go to slapping the ball the other way and running hard out of the box. It was just so different. And so for me, it was always, ‘Hey, you practice like you play in the game.’ And I never really asked Ichiro what his thinking was in batting practice, but he kind of blew that theory out of the water.”
Bob Melvin’s first managing job was in 2003 with the Mariners. Ichiro was a megastar in the United States by that point, yet Melvin called him the easiest player he ever coached. He was so committed, so regimented, that Melvin often joked that his only job was to inform Ichiro what time the game started. But when Melvin first came on board, he was given a different task — to schedule days off for Ichiro as often as he could. Ichiro never wanted to take them, but he often needed them. So Melvin identified an early date on the calendar that, in his mind, made sense — Saturday, May 3, in the middle of a weekend series against the White Sox.
Melvin informed Ichiro earlier that week that he would not be in the starting lineup for that game and reminded him the day prior. He told him not to take batting practice and to make it a point to arrive at the ballpark later than he normally would. If he needed him, Melvin said, it wouldn’t be until the eighth or ninth inning anyway. Then Melvin walked into the dugout half an hour before the first pitch and saw Ichiro sitting on the bench in full uniform — batting gloves on, bat to his side, one of his knees twitching uncontrollably.
“I’m ready,” Ichiro declared.
Melvin: “Just then, this kid walked by with an Ichiro jersey on. And he looked at me and he just kind of nodded his head to the kid. And it just dawned on me that people come to watch him play, and he’s very aware of it. And he’s an entertainer, as well. And he wants to put on a show. And here we are in Chicago, the only time that year playing the White Sox, he’s not in there, and it was almost his way of telling me, ‘That’s one of the reasons I don’t want days off.’ I just looked at him and I said, ‘I get it.’”
One-of-a-kind personality
Two things were clear about Ichiro’s off-field persona: He was really into fashion, and his comedic timing was impeccable.
Those two traits collided one afternoon in the mid-2000s. Kangaroo court was being held, and one of the Mariners’ players proposed fining Ichiro $500 for wearing another one of his eccentric, fashion-forward, Italian-inspired outfits that seemed more appropriate for a European runway than a major league clubhouse.
Raul Ibanez, teammate with Mariners, 2004 to 2008, and Yankees, 2012: “So Ichiro stands up very calmly and starts speaking very eloquent Japanese in a calm, very distinguished cadence. And then the translator goes, ‘Ichiro-san wants to know how much we’re going to fine you for making him watch all the s— that you guys wear every day.’ It was sometime in September, I think everyone on the 40-man roster was there, and the whole room erupted.”
When Ichiro returned to Seattle as a 44-year-old in 2018, it was Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto who orchestrated the deal with longtime agent John Boggs in early March, in the middle of spring training. But Dipoto had never met Ichiro.
A news conference was scheduled at the Mariners’ facility in Peoria, Arizona. Dipoto and Boggs agreed that the front office people could wear polos and khakis and Ichiro would probably conduct his news conference in his baseball uniform. So, a casual affair. Then that morning, a row of black SUVs pulled into the parking lot. Ichiro hopped out of one of them.
Dipoto: “I’d be conservative in saying I think he’s wearing about a $20,000 suit, his hair perfectly groomed and jet black, and he’s got on what I would qualify as the nicest pair of sunglasses I’ve ever seen. He walks in and spreads his arms out and says, ‘Jerry!’ I looked at him, and my first instinct, I like, give him a little backhand slap in the chest. I said, ‘I thought we were going casual.’ And he looked at me and laughed. He said, ‘This is casual for me, my friend!’”
Ichiro’s ability to surprise with his style and wit was evident from the beginning — whether it was with an umpire …
Boone: “One of my favorite moments was: He’s running out for Opening Day and the second-base umpire [Kerwin Danley] was kind of following him out to right field, and everybody thought [Ichiro] didn’t speak English. And I believe the line he dropped on him because Danley came right over to me and he said, ‘I can’t believe what Ichiro just said to me.’ I said, ‘What?’ He said he was running by Ichiro and he kind of gave him the, ‘Hey, good luck to you’ this and that kind of thing. And Ichiro kind of looked at him, he said, ‘What’s happening, home slice?’ and kept running to right field. That stuck with me. That was funny. That’s how he was.”
… or when he charmed the game’s greatest players at his first All-Star Game in 2001.
Sweeney:“[AL manager] Joe Torre gives this beautiful speech, you know, ‘You guys are the best in the world in this locker room. Take a look around. You’re in an elite class. There’s only 70 people in the world that are going to play in this game tonight, and you’re one of them.’ And you look around, you see Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, and you’re looking around the room going, ‘Oh my gosh, this is great.’ So at the very end, we’re all kind of in this feeling of you’re in a cathedral, but yet you’re in a baseball locker room at the same time, and you’re going, where do we go from here? And Joe Torre says, ‘Anybody have anything to add?’ And we’re kind of like, how can you top Joe Torre? And we look around and Ichiro stands up, raises his hand — where’s he going with this? And he goes, ‘Let’s go kick their motherf—ing ass.’ And the place just erupted, the whole locker room.
“It was something I’ll never forget. So then every year in the All-Star Games to follow, it just was like, OK, whoever the manager is, you can say whatever you want, but No. 51 always gets the last word. And it was just an unspoken thing — you look over and you see Jeter, the greatest players of our time. And when the manager would get done, it was like, OK, that was good, but wait until you hear what Ichiro has to say. He gets the last word.”
Sweeney: “I had heard about Ichiro being alienated by his teammates. Some of them were jealous of him, some of them weren’t incorporating him into the team as they should. And I was in shock. I’m like, this guy’s the greatest hitter of all time. How can you not embrace this incredible player? So we go into spring training, Ichiro is in the corner locker right next to Griffey Jr. Then I’m next to Junior and I’m sitting around the locker room looking and saying, man, we have four future Hall of Famers in this locker room. It’s Ichiro, Griffey Jr., Adrian Beltre and Felix Hernandez. And I’m going, man, how can we not win here? We have to find a way to unify this locker room.
“So during spring training, we did little things to bring our team together. We’d meet up for dinners and do fun things in the locker room together. And about halfway through spring training, the WBC started. So Ichiro was obviously on Team Japan and they win, and Ichiro shows back up with five days to go before Opening Day in Minnesota. And he goes to our team doctor and says, ‘Look, I don’t feel good at all.’ So they find out he has a bleeding ulcer and he’s deathly ill. They’re treating him in the hospital. But Ichiro was bound and determined to be ready for Opening Day. But the stress of putting his country on his back; he literally put the country of Japan on his back by representing them in the WBC. He willed the Japanese team to win the WBC championship in 2009, and then he tries to get back to a team that just six months before had turned their back on him and kind of ostracized him and put him on an island. They didn’t embrace him.
“And he has all this internal stress going on, which leads to a bleeding ulcer. And Ichiro met with the doc and said, ‘I’m playing for Opening Day.’ And the doctor actually called the owner and said, ‘Ichiro’s adamant that he wants to play for Opening Day, which is in like four days, and I’m in no position as a team physician to allow that to happen.’ Ichiro asked him what’s the worst thing that could happen. And the doc says, ‘If this bleeding ulcer, which is actively bleeding, if it ruptures, you could die.’ And Ichiro looked him square in the eyes and said, ‘I’ll take my chances.’ And the owner of the team had to step in.
“So as we went into Minnesota — Ken Griffey Jr, myself, Adrian Beltre, Felix Hernandez — we got the team together, and we said, ‘Hey, look, in the past, this is a teammate that you all have pushed to the side, but here’s what he was willing to do for you. He’s willing to die for you to play in tonight’s game.’ So it was very emotional. This is a time to honor him. This is a time to open up our arms to him and really bring him into the team. So that night in Minnesota, our clubhouse manager, Teddy Walsh, we asked for Ichiro’s jersey, and we hung it in the dugout, in the Metrodome. And Ichiro told me that when he watched the game that night from a hospital bed back in Seattle, he knew that there was something different. He had teammates, for the first time since his rookie year, he felt, that loved him.
“So the team ended up just falling just short of the playoffs. On the last day of the season, we carry Griffey off on our shoulders thinking he was going to retire and sail off into the sunset. Carlos Silva [a Mariners pitcher, who reportedly had his issues with Ichiro] was so moved by his love for Ichiro, he thinks what the hell, I’m going to put Ichiro on [my] shoulders and carry him off.
“There’s this beautiful image of us carrying Griffey Jr. off the field as a hero’s exodus, and then Carlos Silva throwing Ichiro up on his shoulders, carrying him off just because he loves his teammate. And Ichiro told me that that was the most fun he had in the major leagues since his rookie year. He said the way his teammates loved him, the way his teammates celebrated him brought him great joy again in baseball for the first time since his rookie year.”
Ichiro Suzuki is undoubtedly a future Hall of Famer, and his impact on the game of baseball is undeniable. But what exactly makes him worthy of a spot in Cooperstown, according to his teammates and opponents?
Teammates of Ichiro rave about his work ethic and dedication to the game. His relentless pursuit of perfection and attention to detail have set him apart from his peers. Ichiro’s commitment to his craft is unmatched, and his teammates admire his ability to consistently perform at a high level year after year.
Opponents, on the other hand, have nothing but respect for Ichiro’s talent and skill on the field. His unique hitting style and ability to spray the ball to all fields have made him a nightmare for pitchers to face. Ichiro’s speed and base-running acumen have also made him a threat on the base paths, keeping opposing teams on their toes whenever he’s on base.
Overall, Ichiro’s combination of skill, work ethic, and dedication to the game have made him a beloved figure in the baseball world. His teammates and opponents alike recognize his greatness and believe that he deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame when his time comes.
Tags:
Ichiro Suzuki, Hall of Famer, baseball legend, baseball career, Ichiro’s teammates, Ichiro’s opponents, MLB, Seattle Mariners, baseball records, iconic player, Japanese baseball player, Ichiro’s impact, sportsmanship, Hall of Fame induction
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