SPORTS
April 1, 2019
THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 13
Ichiro walks off into history in “sayonara” at Tokyo Dome
PROLIFIC PLAYER. Fans of Seattle Mariners
right fielder Ichiro Suzuki cheer with banners reading
“Ichiro” at the spectators’ stand prior to game one
of a Major League Baseball opening series between
the Mariners and the Oakland Athletics at the Tokyo
Dome in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)
By Stephen Wade and Tim Booth
AP Sports Writers
OKYO — At times, it seemed as if
he’d go on hitting forever.
But on the night of March 21, a
player who defined baseball at its very best
on two continents for a generation, took his
final swing.
The great Ichiro has said “sayonara.”
Now 45, Ichiro Suzuki left the Tokyo
Dome field in the eighth inning, waving
goodbye to the packed crowd amid hugs
from Seattle Mariners teammates in a
three-minute walk that signaled to all his
monumental run was over.
“I have ended my career and decided to
retire,” Ichiro said, speaking in Japanese
at a news conference after a 5-4 win over
Oakland in 12 innings.
He said his contract was through the two
games in Japan, and said he decided before
arriving to step away.
“After the reception I got today, how
could I possibly have any regrets?” he said.
“I couldn’t play well enough in spring
training to earn an extension.”
Ichiro went 0 for 4 in his farewell. In his
last at-bat, he came up with two outs, a
runner on second, and a tie score in the
eighth. He hit a slow grounder to shortstop
and, still hustling the whole way, was
barely thrown out at first.
He took his spot in right field in the
eighth, then was pulled by manager Scott
Servais and the walk into history began in
front of a sellout of 45,000. He strolled in,
turned, and waved to the crowd, with all of
the usually reserved Japanese fans on
their feet.
To chants of “Ichiro, Ichiro, Ichiro” he
was greeted at the dugout — and later in
the dugout — by emotional embraces from
teammates.
Yusei Kikuchi, the Japanese rookie
pitcher who started the game in his big
league debut, openly broke down crying
when he embraced Ichiro.
Kikuchi later took a full minute to
compose himself before responding about
Ichiro’s impact. And he cried when the two
embraced in the dugout after the game.
“Since spring training to this day, Ichiro
told us it is a gift for him to play in Tokyo,”
Kikuchi said speaking through a
T
translator. “But for me, he gave me the
greatest gift that I can play with him.”
Yet when Mariners teammate Dee
Gordon bowed, Ichiro broke into a laugh —
like, “not necessary, bro.”
Oakland players stood solemnly and
watched camera flashes and iPhones catch
the historic scene. All over the stadium
signs read: “Ichiro We Love You” and
“Ichiro is Life.” Fans wore his famous No.
51 in all shades, colors, and from all eras.
The fans got one more chance to salute
when he came back on the field after the
game and acknowledged their ovations.
Ichiro was 0 for 5 in the two
regular-season games against the A’s in
Tokyo, leaving him with 3,089 hits in 19
seasons — a sure Hall of Fame résumé. He
had 1,278 before that over nine years in
Japan, making him baseball’s all-time hits
leader.
Ichiro struggled in spring training with
only two hits in 25 at-bats. And in two
exhibition games in Tokyo against the
Tokyo Giants he was 0 for 6.
“I really wanted to play until I was 50,
but I couldn’t do it,” he said. “It was a way
of motivating myself and, if I’d never said
it, I don’t think I would have come this far.”
Ichiro praised his countrymen, who are
famous for being reserved. Not tonight.
Not on this night.
“Japanese people I have always thought
don’t in general express themselves,” he
said. “But today’s experience blew that
away. They were incredibly passionate
tonight.
“When I look back on my career, I know I
will remember today as the most
memorable day, without a doubt.”
For years, Ichiro’s at-bats were must-see
TV in his homeland, with fans tuning in
during breakfast and their morning
commute. A star before he left, he became
an even bigger sensation once he proved
that yes, a Japanese hitter could indeed
succeed across the ocean in the majors.
He said he’d probably train Friday,
keeping up his workout routine, but wasn’t
sure what comes next. He joked he lacked
the “charisma” to be a manager.
“I’ll be known as the ‘Man Formerly
Known as Ichiro,’” he cracked.
Ichiro’s retirement had been anticipated
for a while.
The outfielder returned to the Mariners
before the start of the 2018 season, then
transitioned last May into a role as the
special assistant to the chairman that
allowed him to still be with the team and
take part in pregame workouts, but meant
he could not play in any games.
Ichiro was a 10-time All-Star, an AL
MVP and Rookie of the Year, and won 10
Gold Gloves. He set the MLB record with
262 hits in a season and wound up with a
.311 batting average.
He became one of the most important
figures in baseball history, and not just
because of his stats and awards.
Ichiro carried the burden of an entire
country in coming to the United States,
and his success created opportunity for the
countless others who have followed.
Whether he wants to accept the label or
not, Suzuki was a trailblazer. His
influence and importance shouldn’t be
understated.
He preceded Hideki Matsui, who had a
stellar career with the New York Yankees,
by two years. In the years since, players
like Nori Aoki, Kosuke Fukudome, and
Kaz Matsui followed. Last year marked
the arrival of two-way sensation Shohei
Ohtani.
Ohtani said he watched highlights of
Ichiro’s final game when he woke up at Los
Angeles Angels’ camp in Arizona.
“I still can’t believe it,” he said through a
translator. “I won’t be able to see him play
anymore but I’ll still have all the
memories.”
At the New York Yankees’ spring
training site, New York Yankees pitcher
Masahiro Tanaka said it was hard to
describe Ichiro’s legacy on aspiring players
in Japan.
“It’s too grand of an impact. I can’t even
put them into words,” Tanaka said
through a translator.
As for the reception at Ichiro’s finale, he
added: “I think that atmosphere, it only
happens to special players. You sense
respect. Because of who he is, that
happened today.”
Ichiro became a one-word, household
name in Seattle. It was only right his final
professional game came with that team.
But it was time for Ichiro to step away.
He hit .205 in 44 at-bats and all nine of his
hits last season were singles. This year, too
often, he looked like a 45-year-old trying to
hang on.
Ichiro admitted he badly wanted to get a
hit in Tokyo. And his fans always wanted
to see him play in the World Series — his
teams made it to the playoffs just twice,
never advancing to the Fall Classic.
He expressed no regrets, however. Well,
maybe one.
“I had 3,089 hits in America,” he said.
“But I think my wife — who always makes
me rice balls before games — said she
made 2,800 rice balls. So I wish I could
have played long enough so she could have
hit 3,000 as well.”
Now Accepting New Patients
Christabeth Boyd, M.D.
Board Certified in Family Medicine
(503) 673-3400
www.portlanddoctor.co
Fluent in English, Tagalog & Visayan
1235 S.E. Division Street, Suite 115, Portland, OR 97202
Affordable Condos
Family-size
5020 N Interstate
Retirement Living
. Studio & One-Bedroom Apartments
. Beauty and Barber Shop
. Activities, Clubs, and Garden Area
. Safety, Security, andCompanionship
. Federal Rent Subsidies Available
Westmoreland’s
Union Manor
Marshall
Union Manor
6404 SE 23rd Avenue
Portland, OR 97202
2020 NW Northrup Street
Portland, OR 97209
503 . 233 . 5671
503 . 225 . 0677
Kirkland
Union Plaza
Kirkland
Union Manors
1414 Kauffman Avenue
Vancouver, WA 98660
3530 SE 84th Avenue
Portland, OR 97266
360 . 694 . 4314
503 . 777 . 8101
www.theunionmanors.org
Homeownership opportunity for current and
former residents of N/NE Portland.
$IIRUGDEOHIDPLO\VL]HFRQGRVZLOOEHDYDLODEOHIRUSXUFKDVHWRTXDOLI\LQJ11(3UHIHUHQFH
3ROLF\DSSOLFDQWV 3UHIHUHQFHJLYHQWRFXUUHQWDQGIRUPHUUHVLGHQWVRI11(3RUWODQG
$SSO\IRUSUHIHUHQFH$SULO0D\
INCOME LIMITS APPLY
Find out how to apply for N/NE housing preference at
www.portlandoregon.gov/PHB/preference or call 503-823-2375
