Ichiro sets record straight in emotional night at Safeco
But don`t try telling me this wasn`t a huge moment in Mariners` lore Friday night when Ichiro Suzuki made history with his 257th, 258th and 259th hits of 2004.
``I think,`` said Ichiro after breaking George Sisler`s major-league hits mark, ``that`s definitely the most emotional I`ve gotten in my life. It was definitely the highlight of my career.``
Good things don`t happen often to teams mired in last place and fighting to avoid 100 losses. But this was good, this night in Seattle baseball.
There were two records set at Safeco on a gorgeous fall Friday evening. One for most base hits in a season, the other for most flash bulbs popped during a game between two teams playing out the string.
Some folks think tonight`s Edgar Martinez retirement party signals an end to the magnificent run of Mariners popularity. But that misses the point of Friday`s gala affair.
Surely Martinez is the departing king of M`s baseball and will be thus honored tonight. Yet Ichiro awaits as a worthy emperor. The baton pass seems near complete. These are Ichiro`s Mariners now. Or they will be in 2005, when Ichiro leads a new wave of M`s players into the future.
He`ll need some big boppers in support. He`ll need hitters behind him in the order, able to drive home the man who has become a singles machine. But Ichiro established something special during this season of struggles.
He kept alive a dying team. He proved capable of filling the stadium. He kept fans dialed into a disappointing season. He proved good records sometimes come in small packages.
And most importantly, he imprinted another unforgettable baseball moment into the minds of Mariners` fans who discovered they can still love this team in the worst of times.
Ask Bob Melvin for perspective.
``If you`re talking about sending a guy up there for a hit, in the history of the game, this is the guy you want,`` said the M`s manager. ``This is the most prolific hitter that`s played this game.``
There`s some sentiment that Ichiro`s record chase didn`t receive the national attention it deserved, with an underlying current of racism.
Indeed, it seems curious that 145 extra Japanese media members swarmed Safeco Field Friday night, while the normal U.S. press covering the Mariners was embellished by only a single writer from the New York Times.
``I`m surprised we`re not seeing more national people out here, to tell you the truth,`` said Melvin. ``I just think on the national basis, it should get more exposure. This is one of the great records, right here.``
But let`s not cry over missing media members. Just enjoy what Ichiro accomplished.
``I think when I look back on this, it will be very special,`` said Ichiro.
``You can`t compare him to the home run record,`` said Melvin. ``You can`t compare him to Bonds. You can`t compare him to home run hitters, because that`s not his job. He is the best at what he does. Now ift hat doesn`t have the teeth that the other records have in some people`s eyes, then so bet it. But it certainly does in ours here.``
We saw what Ichiro`s record meant Friday night. We saw the tremendous relief in his face when he broke the mark. We saw Melvin lead a charge of Mariners players out of the dugout to surround their teammate in his moment of triumph.
We felt the tingle when Ichiro doffed his batting helmet and saluted the Safeco crowd, over and over again, as the sellout crowd of 45,573 stood and cheered and fireworks exploded and history was made.
We saw the sincerity in Ichiro`s eyes as he ran over to shake hands with Frances Sisler Drochelman, the 81-year-old daughter of former record holder George Sisler, and four other Sisler grandchildren.
The respect was returned from a family proud to pass on one of baseball`s longest-standing and nearly forgotten records.
``I think he would have been delighted to know what a fine person it was that broke his record,`` said Drochelman, the lone daughter among Sisler`s four children.
``My grandfather really respected the game of baseball,`` said William `Bo` Drochelman, 58. ``He cherished it. He played every minute to the hilt. And I think that part of Ichiro is something he would have loved. The man is dedicated to the game and is a hard-working person and I think it would have made him proud that that type of person broke his record.``
The Sisler family understood what this moment meant. They`ve known the pride of owning a piece of baseball history for 84 years.
Now Ichiro inherits that position atop the greats of the game. It`s something he can cherish forever. And so can Seattle sports fans who found another reason to appreciate Ichiro and the art of hitting.
Hitting coach Paul Molitor figures we might not even have seen the best of Ichiro yet. Have we?
``I want to ask that question to myself,`` said Ichiro.
In other words, he wonders, too. And there`s another reason to look forward to Mariners` seasons for years to come.
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