In 2004, Seattle Mariners Japanese outfielder Ichiro Suzuki got his 258th hit of the season, breaking George Sisler’s 84-year-old MLB single-season record. Suzuki ended the season with 262 hits and his record for the most single-season hits stands today. Suzuki also achieved 10 consecutive 200-hit seasons, the longest streak by any player in MLB history. Between his major league career in Japan and the United States, Suzuki has the most hits by any player in top-tier professional leagues (4,367). In the MLB, Suzuki has recorded the most hits of all Japanese born players in MLB history. In total, Suzuki’s combined professional career spanned 28 seasons. His first nine seasons were spent with the Orix BlueWave of Nippon Professional Baseball. In the U.S., Suzuki joined the Seattle Mariners for 14 seasons. Suzuki also had brief stints playing with the New York Yankees (2012-2014) and the Miami Marlins (2015-2017).
Despite his shortened career in the MLB, Suzuki’s 3,089 hits ranks him no. 24 on the MLB career hits leaders list. Standing at 5’9, Suzuki is remembered for his incredible work ethic and the concentration he had for improving his game. Suzuki’s other accolades include Japan’s Series champion (1996), AL Rookie of the Year, AL MVP, 10x Gold Glove Award, 3x Silver Slugger Award, 2x AL batting champion, and 10x MLB All-Star. Suzuki retired in 2019, and will be eligible for the Baseball of Fame in 2025.
