On August 21, 2013, during a game between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays, Ichiro Suzuki stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the first inning. On the sixth pitch, Ichiro swung lightly, sending the ball skimming past the third baseman. Moments later, all the Yankees players approached first base to congratulate him, while even the opposing team joined in with applause. This was the moment Ichiro achieved an astounding 4,000 career hits across Japan and MLB.

"The Ichiro Phenomenon"

In 2001, this term shook Major League Baseball. Ichiro Suzuki, in his debut MLB season, led the league in batting average and stolen bases, and earned both Rookie of the Year and MVP honors*. His unprecedented performance made him the top vote-getter in the All-Star selection and introduced his name to fans worldwide.

* Ichiro and Fred Lynn (1975) are the only players in MLB history to win both Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season.

After his sensational debut, Ichiro continued to prove his irreplaceable value, recording over 200 hits each year from 2001 to 2010, and winning Gold Gloves for ten consecutive years. Notably, he set a single-season record with 262 hits in 2004*.

Ichiro marked his 4,000th hit in 2013, and by his retirement in 2019, he amassed a total of 4,367 hits, securing his place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the player with the most hits in professional baseball history.

* Ichiro broke the previous record of 257 hits, set in 1920, and MLB later named his 262-hit season as one of the most unbreakable records in baseball.

Despite his global success, Ichiro faced challenges early in his career. Due to his "unconventional batting stance," he spent his first two years in Japan's minor leagues. His breakthrough came under Orix BlueWave manager Akira Ogi, who saw Ichiro's potential and promoted him to the leadoff spot, suggesting he use his first name "Ichiro"* as his registered name, making it easier for fans to remember*.

* Suzuki is the second most common surname in Japan, and using "Ichiro" was an unusual but effective branding decision. Recently, Kim Ha-seong has adopted a similar approach by using "KIM-HASUNG" instead of just "KIM" in MLB.

"I have never broken a promise to myself."
- Ichiro Suzuki

Ichiro's remarkable consistency is credited to his rigorous self-discipline, known as the "Ichiro Routine." He was a relentless worker, taking only five days off a year, and maintained strict routines for his diet, sleep, and pre-batting rituals. This meticulous approach helped ensure his batting average never fell below .300 in his MLB career.

* Ichiro even ritualized his meals, eating a salmon rice ball 90 minutes before every game.

"If being a genius means effortlessly excelling at something, then I'm definitely not a genius. But if a genius is someone who achieves greatness through relentless hard work, then I am."
- Ichiro Suzuki

In 2025, Ichiro Suzuki will be eligible for the Hall of Fame. Will he become the first Asian player inducted into MLB's Hall of Fame? Fans can find the ball from Ichiro's 4,000th hit game at the ELAND Museum.