Ken Griffey Jr. is getting attention with a surprising message to Mariners HOF Ichiro Suzuki
One of the biggest players in Seattle Mariners history has officially punched his ticket to Cooperstown. After an almost unanimous vote, Ichiro Suzuki was hired to baseball Hall of Fame.
With a career spanning more than 19 years apart from three different clubs (Mariners, New York Yankees and Miami Marlins), Suzuki is one of the most transcendent figures baseball has ever seen. One of his former Seattle teammates, Ken Griffey Jr., was officially inducted in July 2016. surprised him during a live interview Tuesday on MLB Network.
“Congratulations, Ichiro,” Griffey said. “Truly deserved.” i am happy I can tell you that my wife was running around when she found out you got the call. It’s an honor. I can’t wait to see you. Just one thing, bring Sake because beginners have to do that. You are now a beginner for the first time in 25 years. So I expect a nice bottle of sake for both of us.
Griffey and Ichiro spent a short time together as teammates from 2009-2010, but it’s clear they have an enduring friendship – now as fellow Hall of Famers.
Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners becomes the first Japanese player in the HOF
Related Seattle Mariners NewsThe article continues below
Ichiro is not alone the first Japanese player to achieve this honorhe is also the first Japanese player in the position to appear in an MLB game, according to Adam Jude of the Seattle Times.
In 2001, he won both the AL MVP and Rookie of the Year awards with the Mariners, and contributed 10 Gold Gloves, 10 All-Star selections and two hitting titles during his long career. Entering the Hall of Fame remained at the top of the list of milestones.
“As a baseball player, this is the greatest honor you can achieve,” Ichiro said Tuesday on MLB Network, through his longtime translator Allen Turner.
He leads the Mariners in hits all-time with 3,089.
Derek Hrin is an associate editor at ClutchPoints specializing in NFL and NCAA football coverage. Derek was previously a fantasy football expert at DK and SB Nation, and has been featured on FanSided, USA Today, NBC Sports, The New York Post and others.
2025-01-22 02:01:00
