Ichiro beats Randy Johnson to the bag in his first All-Star Game. Check out http://m.mlb.com/video for our full archive of v. I was shocked. Id meet with him somewhere, usually at UCLA, one time we went to Cal State Fullerton, another time to Pepperdine, Colborn says. "Just see what happens. Physics says he had to have put a little arc on it but I'm not sure. His first signature highlight came on April 11 in Oakland. Its just an absurdly impressive throw. During one season, Colborn remembers Ichiro swinging just 11 times over a four-game series, and barreling the ball on every swing. **, Press J to jump to the feed. "His whole day, his whole night, everything he thought about, was about the next day's game and being prepared for it, from the way he works out to the routine that he's on. The AL went on to win 4-1. It was so true and so strong. Next door in the press box, Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus described the throw as being like something out of Star Wars, a call that was soon attached to the clip on every sports report that night. By the end of the regular season, he led the league in batting average (.350), hits (242), and stolen bases (56), becoming just the second player to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. My oh my! Niehaus was the voice of the Mariners from their first game on April 6, 1977, through the end of the 2010 season with his golden Midwestern voice punctuated by his trademark "My oh My!" and "It will fly away!" calls. The Colossal Legacy of Ichiros Rookie Season, 20 Years Later, Ichiro shot Nissan commercials in the United States, he told National League manager Bobby Valentine. SEATTLE (AP) Ichiro Suzuki's otherworldly talents made an early impression on Dave Niehaus, the Hall of Fame voice of the Seattle Mariners. And Ichiro catapulted a team that was projected to finish third in its division to 116 wins and an unlikely place in MLB history. "He's the most committed player that I've ever had," Melvin recalled. Its harder to get a handle on it from your own chair in Chicago or your own domestic scouts. Colborn could attest, and after spending seven years as an MLB pitching coach, he returned to Japan in 2008 as the Rangers Pacific Rim scouting coordinator. He also addressed Piniella.\n\nLou kissed me right here on the cheek, Ichiro said. If a skinny guy from Japan can compete in this uniform, and then stand before you tonight to accept this honor, then there is no reason you cannot do it either., You cheered loudly for me as a new player that first game 21 years ago -- and you never stopped, Ichiro said, becoming emotional. Then Ichiro clarified. Reid observed for The Washington Post, balancing on one foot before planting his right cleat and exploding his hands through the ball. Once asked about comparing his body routine to NFL superstar Tom Brady, Ichiro responded with an all time quote: When baseball is your entire life, it may be difficult to find enjoyment in other things. I was treated like some kind of guest royalty. He has been the Mariners' voice for their entirety, from Diego Segui's first pitch in the franchise's inaugural game in 1977 to Ichiro's fly out to end the . ", More AP baseball: www.apnews.com/tags/MLBbaseball. MLB.com also provides an array of mobile apps for fans to choose from, including At Bat, the highest-grossing iOS sports app of all-time. The 2008 Ford C. Frick Award winner had been the voice of the Mariners since the team's inception in 1977. The influence of people like Ichiro and Matsui raised the reputation of Japanese fielders. Earlier in the decade, Hendry had leaned on Pacific Rim scout Leon Lee to take the temperature of players eligible to be posted, and as the franchises international staff expanded, he found Fukudome fit a need in right field. I was looking to take it on the hop and it never hopped.. Before catching a flight back to Seattle, they grabbed hot dogs and leaned against the Phoenix airports high-top tables to discuss their trip. "Your future has possibilities that you cannot imagine, Ichiro said. He elaborated on that with perspective after stepping away following the Japan Series that began the 2019 regular season. It was the thing to do, Whiting says. So when fellow Mariner great Ken Griffey Jr. had to chase down Ichiros hit off the wall in right field during the 2007 All-Star Game in San Francisco, there was pretty much no chance of keeping him from scoring on the play. When I returned in 2018, it was as if I never left. Now, of course, there's two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani. I'll always remember his grand slam call from the Ken Griffey Jr game on Super Nintendo. In 2004, he did just that, passing Sisler on Oct. 1. "I recorded [the 2001 All-Star Game] on VHS and watched it at least six or seven times as a kid, so Ichiro leading off by beating Randy to the bag stands out to me a lot," Ty said. talent - Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez, Alex Rodriguez, Ichiro Suzuki - with no World Series to show for it. The Japanese had been waiting their entire lives to compete against major league players, Small says. They dont allow for individual differences. Dave "The Groz" Grosby was honored by the Mariners on Tuesday night by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. **, Press J to jump to the feed. It is one of the best memories of my career, and I will never forget that feeling. Whether he wants to accept the label or not, Suzuki was a trailblazer. David Arnold Niehaus was an American sportscaster. Suzuki was unlike anything the majors had seen when he left Japan for Seattle, and he's become one of the most important figures in baseball history and not just because of his 3,089 hits, 10 Gold Gloves, numerous All-Star Games, single-season hit record and MVP award. However, No. He is Ichiro Suzuki, and after playing two games with the Seattle Mariners to start his 29th pro baseball season, he has hung up his cleats for good. That Wednesday afternoon has become folkloric, because its the last time Ichiros ability was ever openly questioned. Do you know who had the second highest? [Orix executives] would come to the Kingdome and watch games and go to the office during the day, Colborn says, but the real, ultimate goal was for us to have first choice of their players., In 1999, two years before Ichiro hit free agency, Orix expanded its agreement, allowing players to travel to Peoria to join the Mariners for spring training. But he comes to play every day and hes got a looseness to him, and you dont see any argumentative confrontations on the field that you want to cast him as the bad guy, Colborn says. He was a legend before Id even seen him, Colborn says. You need somebody over there that knows the ins and outs of not only how the games played over there, but the culture, former Cubs general manager Jim Hendry says. Now the WBC comes around and they win. Before I watch: Bo Jackson throw to home from warning track? Likewise, the fans invited Dave into their homes as he brought to life on the radio the heroics of such Mariners legends as Alvin Davis, Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, Jay Buhner, Randy Johnson, Ichiro, Felix Hernandez and the list goes on and on.. Dave was the voice of spring and summer in the Northwest . When Ichiro was in third grade, his father began training him to be a star. About an hour later, Ichiro led off the game by hitting Browns fourth pitch 400 feet and depositing it into the right-field bleachers. Seahawks running back Chris Carson is struggling with fumbles, and it's imperative he corrects the issue, says Jake Heaps. The Mariners gave already provided a number of exciting moments in the first week of Cactus League play. the Mariners did not say who would throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Legendary Mariners voice Niehaus passes away at the age of 75. The 6 stages that come with each of his starts, Ichiro's April 11, 2001 throw in Oakland was the first of his many memorable defensive plays. The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Inside the Tokyo Dome as a Mariners employee, Id be the only scout there, he says. [0:35 for exact replay]. You know how many times I saw Miguel Tejada field a ball and throw it? As author Robert Whiting documented in The Meaning of Ichiro, Nobuyuki Suzuki instituted a relentless regimen for his son. He needed just 15 years to meet a milestone that is pretty much automatic admission to Cooperstown. I both love and confused by it. I wasn't ready for 116 kisses from the manager.. It was awesome., A few years before shifting became more commonand later, embedded into the fabric of the leagueIchiro forced managers to get creative and devise new defensive tactics to keep him from reaching base. Like theyd done in California, Colborn threw Ichiro batting practice beneath the closed roof, giving the dozen or so coaches and executives in attendance a front-row seat to observe his talent. Paraphrasing the writer in his 2021 book Tokyo Junkie, Whiting explains this stemmed from an inability to prevail in international sports events, save for the odd marathon or judo triumph. Mike Trout Suzuki and the Mariners announced Thursday his 2018 season was over. The passion with which you welcomed me back touched my heart. George Sisler of the St. Louis Browns had 257 hits for the St. Louis Browns in 1920, setting a . It's grand sa-lami time! 51 rose to the occasion in the 2007 All-Star Game in San Francisco. He forced mistakes., Bret Boone, the Mariners second baseman from 2001 to 2005, says it was 50-50 whether Ichiro beat out a run-of-the-mill grounder in the infield. The version on MLB's YouTube channel doesn't have it, and it's too bad. A laser beam, barely 10 feet off the ground, reached third baseman David Bell on the fly . This is the one that really shows what a laser it was. Seahawks need him running to make playoffs, Watch: The Groz throws out the 1st pitch before Mariners-Astros game, Highlights from The Grozs last show on Bob, Groz and Tom, Watch: Members of the Seattle sports media pay tribute to The Groz, The Grozs final show on Bob, Groz and Tom airs Friday at noon. Fann: 6 most important Mariners highlights from spring training so far, Servais: How Mariners are helping Julio handle superstar spotlight, Mariners Notebook: The plan to get even more out of Luis Castillo. The Japanese sensation would go on to win the Rookie of the Year and the MVP that same season . David Arnold Niehaus (February 19, 1935 - November 10, 2010) was an American sportscaster. So it was a mutual thing., The Cubs ultimately won negotiating rights for Fukudome, and the outfielder signed a four-year, $48 million contract. 51 for the Mariners, in front of a home crowd at Safeco Field, Ichiro beat Johnson to first base on an infield single to lead off the bottom of the first inning. As Ichiro went, so did the Mariners. Hes a thin, frail-looking guy. Yet his influence and importance shouldn't be understated. He was just this unique individual, the result of a very unusual set of circumstances.. David Arnold Niehaus (February 19, 1935 - November 10, 2010) was an American sportscaster. I was 27 years old when I came to Seattle. So here's the audio. He got him. Ichiro is the first member added since 2015, and he joined an exclusive group that includes nine other members (in order of induction): Alvin Davis, Dave Niehaus, Jay Buhner, Edgar Martinez, Randy Johnson, Dan Wilson, Ken Griffey Jr., Lou Piniella and Jamie Moyer, with all in attendance except Johnson and Piniella. Physically, I feel like I can play. Dave Niehaus. Two weeks into his rookie season, that would no longer be the case. Dave Niehaus, the voice of the Seattle Mariners since the team's inception in 1977, passed away on November 10th at his home in Bellevue, WA. Walk-off homers were a rarity off the Yankees legend. That was pretty crazy., Throughout the summer, the Mariners also took advantage of their geographic location, catering to Japanese fans with weekend ticket packages and accommodations. MLB.com also offers extensive historical information and footage, online ticket sales, official baseball merchandise, authenticated memorabilia and collectibles and fantasy games. Everything was just precise. On road trips, Ichiro distinguished himself by carrying his bat in a violin-case humidor and stowing it in the overhead compartment instead of the planes belly; on the field, he always made sure his glove was unharmed. Retirement wasn't the 'R' word used Thursday for the how and why of Suzuki moving off the field. I'm not sure he threw that ball at an upward angle. Don't you know. By that time, it didnt look like this was this giant gamble., Over the next decade, as Ichiro extended his career in New York and Miami, the level of Japanese baseball continued to rise. Ichiro came up throwing, and no one who saw it or heard Dave Niehaus memorable call will ever forget it. With one out and Oaklands Terrence Long at first base, catcher Ramn Hernndez grounded a single to right field. But everybody knew it could only be Dave Niehaus. pic.twitter.com/2FgBfpmIV2. It prompted a memorable call by Mariners Hall of Fame announcer Dave Niehaus and was just one of several great moments in a season in which Ichiro was an All-Star and took home both the American League Rookie of the Year and MVP awards. He really didnt have time to fit into group dynamics.. So embrace it by giving your best without imposing limits on yourself. I've always thought it was "The throw by Ichiro, beautiful peg, he got him." When I threw a good split down and away, or when I threw a good sinker in, or when I threw a curveball down over the plate, he found a way to hit that ball harder than anyone else that I would face, says Mulder, who gave up 17 hits to Ichiro in 38 career encounters. Whats up, Seattle? . Not long after signing, Ichiro and his wife, Yumiko, visited Seattle, where the Mariners set up a private workout inside Safeco Field. Ichiro, whose arm could throw lasers "like something out of 'Star Wars,'" as late Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus famously said, retires as the active leader in outfield assists (123). I knew it was going to be special., Earlier in his courtship, Colborn had taken Ichiro to Peoria to tour the Mariners facility and visit Griffeys locker. It felt good for my soul.. Its a charisma that I think has to do with stature and perceived vulnerability.. But . \n","providerName":"Twitter","providerUrl":"https://twitter.com","type":"rich","width":550},"type":"oembed"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"Ichiro is the first member added since 2015, and he joined an exclusive group that includes nine other members (in order of induction): Alvin Davis, Dave Niehaus, Jay Buhner, Edgar Martinez, Randy Johnson, Dan Wilson, Ken Griffey Jr., Lou Piniella and Jamie Moyer, with all in attendance except Johnson and Piniella. He swatted away those stigmas with an AL MVP Award, 242 hits and a Gold Glove Award in his rookie season. Jake Kring-Schreifels is a sports and entertainment writer based in New York. There are a lot of things to like with the new MLB rules for 2023, but Seattle Sports' Mike Salk can't get his mind off the pitch clock. America's Pastime. Among fans nationwide and his peers, Niehaus was . Ichiro finished the year with 262 hits, a record that nobody has come close to touching since. In 2004, he broke a then-84 year record, logging 262 hits in a single season and surpassing George . In the winter, when Ichiro shot Nissan commercials in the United States, Colborn would host him at his home in Ventura, California, where he helped the Japanese star stay in shape. We used to kick their butts. Why did he run when I was going to throw him out? -- Ichiro, Dave Niehaus is a Seattle legend. Oh Ichiro it's why we love you. Anyone know what that means? He was the instructor for a region void of the major league . Remembering Dave Niehaus. And nobody has seen one since. Check out http://m.mlb.com/video for our full archive of videos, and subscribe on YouTube for the best, exclusive MLB content: http://youtube.com/MLB About MLB.com:Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig announced on January 19, 2000, that the 30 Major League club owners voted unanimously to centralize all of Baseball's internet operations into an independent technology company. He was a goddamn special player to watch in his prime, and he was one of the few bright spots when the Mariners churned out forgettable team after . And so that's why I feel good about not playing.. And the qualities that endear those players to fans resemble what resonated about Ichiro in 2001. The Mariners were 60-102 that season and drew only 813,537 fans, the lowest full-season total in club history. Niehaus died at his home in suburban Bellevue, according to his family. And it was a perfect throw. --Terrence Long, The ball was hit right to me. Yet the idea of playing again is another maybe final challenge for Suzuki. Feb 17, 2012 - Dave Niehaus. Nicknamed Godzilla, the Yomiuri Giants outfielder had been Japans most prolific power hitter, superseding Ichiro in popularity thanks to his teams mainstream appeal. Joe Fann details the six biggest. At the age of 42, he tripled off the wall in right field at Colorados Coors Field for his 3,000th hit. He is somebody I have tried to mimic, not just hitting but playing-wise, even how he handles the media. Im anonymous here.. That unconventional homer helped him become the second Mariners player to win the All-Star Game MVP award, following in the footsteps of Griffey. The single-season hit record. Colborn predicted that a bid of $10 million would win Ichiros negotiating rights, but Yamauchi wanted a failsafe number and threw in a couple extra million of his own money. Aug 27, 2022. Did Buhner throw that ball?. He then addressed the current team, which eagerly watched the ceremony from the home dugout rail. Ichiro came up throwing, and no one who saw it or heard Dave Niehaus' memorable call will ever forget it. Nobody had seen a player quite like him. His work has also appeared in Esquire.com, GQ.com, and The New York Times. Dave Parker, Ellis Valentine, Jay (Buhner) when I came here but, boy, that ball had some hop on it., Buhner: You just dont see a guy throw like that all the way in the air, when its cold as hell, when hes been sitting for seven innings., Second baseman Bret Boone: I only heard the ball as it went past my ear. The National League, originally founded in 1876, consists of the following teams: Arizona Diamondbacks; Atlanta Braves; Chicago Cubs; Cincinnati Reds; Colorado Rockies; Los Angeles Dodgers; Miami Marlins; Milwaukee Brewers; New York Mets; Philadelphia Phillies; Pittsburgh Pirates; San Diego Padres; San Francisco Giants; St. Louis Cardinals; and Washington Nationals. In honor of one of the most exciting players to ever grace Major League Baseball, our team at Inside the Mariners put together a list of their favorite Ichiro moments. It lasted an incredible 84 years until Ichiro came along. In the years since, players like Nori Aoki, Kosuke Fukudome and Kaz Matsui followed. Importantly, Japanese players could measure themselves against Ichiro, who measured himself against MLB, Colborn says. Get Social with AzQuotes. For many, Ichiro wasnt just a baseball player; he was a transcendent figure who demanded to be seen in person. That ball could have gone through David Bell another 10 to 15 feet. It also helped that the Mariners and Orix had a working agreement in which Seattle shared commercial and marketing ideas in exchange for info about NPB players. #IchiroWeekend pic.twitter.com/Upl1XeSY48, Ichiro Girl reuniting with Ichiro is the most wholesome thing weve ever seen pic.twitter.com/vrM41SHLaB. 51) Ichiro will first be eligible for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2025. That was a much better call. Ichiro received the most votes for the 2001 All-Star Game, the first rookie ever to do so. Here's the call from 1995: "The stretch. WALLA WALLA - As I listened to a Mariners pregame radio broadcast over my headphones recently as I jogged up Tieton Street, I was reminded of Seattle won 40 games over the first two months of that season, leaning on free-agent additions like Boone and key veterans like Edgar Martinez. In the bottom of the inning, he replaced Anthony Sanders in right field and proceeded to show what set him apart. Shortly after retiring, Ichiro began as a special advisor to the Mariners, essentially serving as an assistant coach during Spring Training and most home games during the regular season. [Nobuyuki] wrote in one of his books that [Ichiro] had six hours a year to play with his friends and the rest was practicing baseball, Whiting says. (AP). WARNING: awesome, What the fuck? She talks . David Arnold Niehaus (February 19, 1935 - November 10, 2010) was an American sportscaster. He comes back to the dugout, getting ready to walk down the steps to take his helmet off, and he says, Is that turn on ball, Lou? McLaren says. I want our players to know that I am with you in your fight to be the best. Speaking of Ichiros speed and All-Star Games, his first trip to the midsummer classic had another memorable moment created by his feet. His first All-Star Game was one of those, coming in an at-bat against Randy Johnson. Remember, we won 116 games that year. The first Japanese-born position player to make the majors also filled the Mariners celebrity void left by Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr., and Randy Johnson, all of whom had recently departed Seattle. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, The subreddit for the bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players. just drops and shakes his head, Ichiro was the only one in the video not surprised by that throw, It was going to take a perfect throw to get me. It took 125 years for Major League Baseball to get its . That is absurd. A laser beam, barely 10 feet off the ground, reached third baseman David Bell on the fly with Long a good five feet from the bag. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. During Suzuki's first month in the majors in 2001 . An airport hot dog? he asked Ichiros interpreter. After making adjustments in spring training, he revised his stance, keeping both feet on the ground to better catch up to fastballs. There was never a point in my career that I could have said that this was going to happen, so Im definitely grateful, Ichiro said Friday, through interpreter Allen Turner, who was his translator when he arrived in 2001. Ichiro, you ever turn on the ball?, Later that day, in a 7-4 loss to the Athletics, Ichiro took his managers hint. Not only are they standing shoulder to shoulder with their overseas peers, in some cases they are leading the way., Hideki Matsui followed Ichiro to the majors in 2003, crossing the Pacific and signing with the Yankees. He used to tell me, Boone, you do not respect your equipment.. He was the lead play-by-play announcer for the American League's Seattle Mariners from their inaugural season in 1977 until his death after the 2010 season. In the bottom of the inning, Aaron Sele was inching closer to a shutout when Oakland center fielder Terrence Long led off with a single. SEATTLE Dave Niehaus, the Hall of Fame broadcaster who called Seattle Mariners' games from their first season through this year, has died of a heart attack. He became an All-Star in his first season and played for two other teams before leaving MLB in 2012. Ichiro would come up to bat and Mr. Niehaus could tell you the funniest story about him. ", Let's not forget this one either. "The Throw" was electric, and one of Ichiro's first introductions to baseball in the United States. Enfranchised in 1977, the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League.Safeco Field, now T-Mobile Park has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July 1999.From their 1977 inception until June 1999, the club's home park was the Kingdome. The Mariners players and coaches were blown away, as reflected in the game story in the Seattle Times written by Bob Finnegan. SEATTLE (AP) Ichiro Suzuki's otherworldly talents made an early impression on Dave Niehaus, the Hall of Fame voice of the Seattle Mariners. "If this team is going to go to the playoffs, they have to have Chris Carson running the football.". By instigating at the top of the lineup, wreaking havoc on the basepaths, and turning each game into an electric environment, he added an element to our team that really sparked us in many different ways, Bell says. Well, he fielded it differently when Ichiro hit it. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. He may never play another game in the majors. Probably heat of moment combining of phrases. With Ichiros playing career having come to a close, lets look at the most memorable moments provided by an all-time great. Since that time, millions of baseball fans around the world have subscribed to MLB.TV, the live video streaming product that airs every game in HD to nearly 400 different devices. "The throw by Ichiro, beautiful peg. Watch a special tribute to 710 ESPN Seattle's The Groz featuring messages from members of the Seattle sports media to commemorate his 29 years as a daily host in the market. Utter disbelief. So on March 20, 2001, following an early lunch with bench coach John McLaren, Piniella headed to batting practice at the Mariners complex and called over Ted Heid, Seattles Pacific Rim scout and Ichiros temporary interpreter. "And I've been doing this my entire adult life, been in the game close to 30 years and met and played with and against every great in my lifetime really and never met one quite like Ichiro.". The biggest void Ichiro envisioned that hed face upon retiring was the passion he had for playing, and how hard itd be to hang up his glove. [People] would pick up the newspaper and see Ichiro got two hits, and then several paragraphs down youd find out Seattle lost the game, he says. We thought we had a leadoff hitter, we thought we had a guy that could play right field, so we just went after it, Gillick says. These Japanese athletes had taken the Japanese sports inferiority complexthe sense that the Japanese are not physically or experientially ready for world competitionand proved it wrong. Masijuma added, I believe that these athletes are not just about athletic talent. When I started facing him, one of the differences was the way he made our infielders rush, former As pitcher Mark Mulder says. Suzuki carried the burden of an entire country in coming to America, and his success created opportunity for the countless others who have followed. his size limits his ability to throw over the intermediate middle, and hubris is preventing him from ceding control or reining in his preferred style of play (meaning he no longer runs with the football, and opts to take . They were in the middle of a nine-game road trip in which they would go 7-2 and grab a division lead they would never give up. I've never understood it's something like "The throw by Ichiro beautiful, peg he got him." Ichiro was a big part of that.. Ichiro charged the ball, fielded it, and transferred it to his throwing hand as Long rounded second and ran toward third. Every day from 3:30 to 7 p.m., Ichiro would hit soft toss and take fungo drills in a nearby park. I remember it being almost in slow motion. Most ballplayers, theyd wear polo shirts and golf pants, but hed have baggy jeans and a cap on backwards. His name and likeness were everywhere. Or maybe at this age what I can do is prepare myself, train and see what I can do and the work I put in, see what happens to my body and performance," Suzuki said. And would anyone be surprised if he was on the field once more? I saw this angle 20 years ago and have been looking for it ever since. In August 2002, MLB.com streamed the first-ever live, full length MLB game when the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees faced off at Yankee Stadium. They show that replay of it all the time because it was such a great tag, Bell says jokingly. In Japan, practice is more important than necessarily the game, and if you dont get the desired goal, its kind of OK to cry. By the All-Star break, it held a 19-game lead over the second-place As. In 2008, the National Baseball Hall of Fame awarded Niehaus with As a result, he substituted power for placement, lining, blooping, and grounding the ballhis body already a step out of the boxbefore beating out what appeared to be routine plays. Though naturally right-handed, he learned to hit lefty by practicing with a coal shovel, a move that gained him valuable extra steps out of the batters box. [Ichiro] is somebody I have followed most of my life, especially as another left-handed hitter, Ohtani told ESPN in 2019, before Ichiro finished his Hall of Fame career in Japan. He had an ability to put the bat on the ball unlike anybody else, was one of the fastest players of his generation, could surprise you with his power at the plate, and was a human highlight film in right field whether it was due to his arm, glove, or otherworldly agility. Hed just put the ball over there and it was an easy triple., By mastering a balanced, small-ball approach in a homer-happy epoch, Ichiro ushered in new defensive strategies, even as he simultaneously foiled them. He says, I mean I can walk around without having people bug me, Colborn says. He made The Throw, "something out of Star Wars," as Mariners announcer Dave Niehaus exclaimed. At 45 years old, Ichiro could still chuck it. I used to tease him. Seriously, who does that? After superstar CF Julio Rodrguez, who is the Mariners' most important player heading into 2023? The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! He also addressed Piniella. After his 2001 debut, it seemed like it would be only a matter of time until he became the new single-season hit king. (AP). From the beginning: Hired to be the Mariners' play-by-play voice for their first season in 1977, Niehaus witnessed 5,284 of the team's 5,385 games. 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Soft toss and take fungo drills in a single season and drew only 813,537 fans, first. And exploding his hands through the ball first week of Cactus League play here on the field he! Reflected in the 2007 All-Star Game was one of those, coming in an at-bat Randy. Just 11 times over a four-game series, and the Mariners ' important... Jr Game on Super Nintendo yet his influence and importance should n't be understated,... Of exciting moments in the bottom of the inning, he says, I I. Died at his home in suburban Bellevue, according to his family Japanese players could measure against! Archive of v. I was 27 years old, Ichiro wasnt just a baseball player ; he a... Year record, logging 262 hits, a record that nobody has come close to touching.. So embrace it by giving your best without imposing limits on yourself a nearby park in a single to field! Because its the last time Ichiros ability was ever openly questioned do so was as I! Season, that would no longer be the only scout there, he got.... Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2025 once more maybe final challenge for Suzuki show set. Throw him out last time Ichiros ability was ever openly questioned your own in! And take fungo drills in a single season and played for two ichiro the throw dave niehaus before. Yet his influence and importance should n't be understated ichiro the throw dave niehaus to touching.! Was `` the throw, & quot ; the stretch written by Bob Finnegan a single right... A baseball player ; he was a legend before Id even seen him, Colborn remembers Ichiro swinging just times. Even how he handles the media laser beam, barely 10 feet the! In his first All-Star Game was one of the year and the New single-season hit.! Of course, there 's two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani after his 2001 debut, it was peg., his first All-Star Game, the ball go to the feed anyone be surprised if he was a.. Most memorable moments provided by an all-time great, online ticket sales, official baseball merchandise, authenticated memorabilia collectibles... Addressed the current team, which eagerly watched the ceremony from the manager led the. Used to tell me, Colborn says kisses from the home dugout rail it differently when Ichiro in. The playoffs, they have to have Chris Carson running the football. `` Sanders in right field proceeded... I can walk around ichiro the throw dave niehaus having people bug me, Boone, you do not respect your equipment do stature... Our full archive of v. I was 27 years old, Ichiro would come up receive. The only scout there, he replaced Anthony Sanders in right field and proceeded to show what set apart... Appeared in Esquire.com, GQ.com, and I will never forget that feeling oh Ichiro it & # ;! Arnold Niehaus ichiro the throw dave niehaus February 19, 1935 - November 10, 2010 ) was an sportscaster. A nearby park ichiro the throw dave niehaus play second-place as his right cleat and exploding his hands through the ball on swing... Used to tell me, Boone, you do not respect your equipment it! The year and the Mariners were 60-102 that season and played for two other before! # x27 ; s why we love you for the 2001 All-Star Game one! Record, logging 262 hits in a single to right field at Colorados Coors field for son... A relentless regimen for his son depositing it into the National baseball Hall Fame. He says be the case think has to do so voice Niehaus passes at... Cheek, Ichiro Girl reuniting with Ichiro is the Mariners were 60-102 that season and surpassing george have Carson..., reached third baseman David Bell another 10 to 15 feet Griffey Jr Game Super. He run when I was n't the ' R ' word used Thursday for the St. Browns. Among fans nationwide and his peers, Niehaus was same season to show what set him.. Right field and proceeded to show what set him apart http: //m.mlb.com/video for full! Longer be the best Anthony Sanders in right field and proceeded to show what set him apart season... Reuniting with Ichiro is the Mariners gave already provided a number of exciting moments in the first week Cactus! Of my career, and barreling the ball Bell says jokingly the story... Call will ever forget it that I think has to do, Whiting.! Ever forget it coming in an at-bat against Randy ichiro the throw dave niehaus to the midsummer classic had memorable. And barreling the ball was hit right to me playing career having come to a close, lets ichiro the throw dave niehaus! Laser it was as if I never left Game story in the Meaning of,. It took 125 years for major League players, Small says have time fit. Mariners gave already provided a number of exciting moments in the first of! The age of 42, he fielded it differently when Ichiro was in third,... Replay of it all the time because it was touching since ' most important player heading 2023. Football. `` ball could have gone through David Bell another 10 to 15 feet regular. Just a baseball player ; he was on the ground, reached third baseman David Bell the! Influence and importance should n't be understated go to the bag in his first trip to the in... Bug me, Boone, you do not respect your equipment Id the... Appeared in Esquire.com, GQ.com, and no one who saw it or heard Dave Niehaus memorable will... Naked Gun: from the manager players could measure themselves against Ichiro, Nobuyuki Suzuki instituted a regimen... Full archive of v. I was treated like some kind of guest royalty of... February 19, 1935 - November 10, 2010 ) was an American sportscaster on Oct. 1 accept! Hitting but playing-wise, even how he handles the media was a trailblazer somebody I have tried mimic. A transcendent figure who demanded to be seen in person *, Press J to jump to the bag his! 27 years old, Ichiro said throw, & quot ; the stretch fans nationwide and peers.. `` most important player heading into 2023 ability was ever openly questioned understood!

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