He stops the ball with the greatest of ease. Why did he run when I was going to throw him out? -- Ichiro, Dave Niehaus is a Seattle legend. Then Ichiro unleashed what would be dubbed The Throw, a laser beam that met David Bells glove knee-high and allowed the third baseman to gently apply a tag for the out. This was most apparent during the 2001 All-Star Game in Seattle, when he told National League manager Bobby Valentine, Were going to kick your ass shortly after being introduced as the ALs leadoff hitter. Even though the couple ultimately split as her relationship with heroin and alcohol grew, he still . Legendary Mariners voice Niehaus passes away at the age of 75. SEATTLE (AP) Ichiro Suzuki's otherworldly talents made an early impression on Dave Niehaus, the Hall of Fame voice of the Seattle Mariners. Who cares if your glove is clean? He didnt have to put a good swing on the ball to get a base hit. SEATTLE King's Court will be back in session this summer. SEATTLE -- It began like an outdoor concert for an iconic rock star, and in many ways, Ichiro Suzuki carries that reputation in these parts. Speaking of Ichiros speed and All-Star Games, his first trip to the midsummer classic had another memorable moment created by his feet. I used to tease him. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Not only does Ichiro have 3,089 MLB hits, he also owns 1,278 from his nine seasons prior in Japan. Mr. Niehaus was more than just an announcer, he was family to the Mariners players and management. It was the thing to do, Whiting says. New Seattle Mariner player Ichiro Suzuki answers questions from Seattle fans through team scout and translator Hide Sueyoshi while team announcer. When the Mariners were eliminated, current MLB vice president of international Jim Small couldnt help but notice Ichiros reaction on TV. Its tough to end things, and the way it ended, there's just no other way to do that. 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 . 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. I want our players to know that I am with you in your fight to be the best. The call by Dave Niehaus may be as good as . Before catching a flight back to Seattle, they grabbed hot dogs and leaned against the Phoenix airports high-top tables to discuss their trip. That was a much better call. In the bottom of the inning, he replaced Anthony Sanders in right field and proceeded to show what set him apart. The passion with which you welcomed me back touched my heart. 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. "I'm here to tell you, Ichiro threw something out of Star Wars down there at third base," Niehaus said. Rarely do you see a throw start that low and carry that far. The reality of being 44 years old, being unable to consistently catch up to 95 mph fastballs, being a step or two slower trying to beat out an infield single. MLBlogs: That brought up pinch hitter Ramon Hernandez, who delivered a ground ball base hit to right. Three weeks into spring training, Lou Piniella had seen enough to be concerned. Dave "The Groz" Grosby signed off as a full-time Seattle sports radio host Friday on Bob, Groz and Tom with visits from several notable names from his career. His breakthrough offered a glimpse of the sports past and future, all while distinguishing him as a singularly timeless talent. "You just look at the talent and say it's easy to come over and play like that, but it's not. The Double: The most popular . I thought to myself if this is customary in America, I might not make it here. During the previous three years, he broke the countrys single-season hit record (he had 210 hits in 130 games), won the first of seven straight batting titles, and transcended the limits of the Pacific League. Every time I faced him, our team would shift and theyd leave the gap between left and center, and that was easy money for him, says Santana, who now plays for the Royals and allowed the third most hits to Ichiro of any pitcher. The Japanese sensation would go on to win the Rookie of the Year and the MVP that same season . I believe that they represent a new way of thinking, a new philosophy that has arisen within Japanese society, and that this new philosophy will have a tremendous influence., As Whiting notes, because Ichiro played every day, he became daily national news, a sort of baseball emissary beating up American pitchers. 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. 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 . He is a great model to follow., Indeed, Ichiros 2001 season provided a master class in unflappability, a model for excelling while living in a fishbowl existence. It is one of the best memories of my career, and I will never forget that feeling. Related:Groz Remembers: Ichiros Star Wars throw in 2001. It's grand sa-lami time! Sitting on the horizon is Seattle's season-opening series in Tokyo next season, and the possibility for Suzuki to shine again in his home country. 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. Feb 17, 2012 - Dave Niehaus. The Mariners and Athletics were locked in a scoreless affair until the eighth inning, when Ichiro led off with a pinch-hit single to left field, sparking a three-run rally. Every day from 3:30 to 7 p.m., Ichiro would hit soft toss and take fungo drills in a nearby park. He was the lead playbyplay announcer for the American League's Seattle Mariners from their inaugural season in 1977 until his death after the 2010 season. "April 11, 2001: Ichiro throws an absolute rope from right field to gun down the A's' Terrence Long at third base. 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. After making adjustments in spring training, he revised his stance, keeping both feet on the ground to better catch up to fastballs. The AL went on to win 4-1. But the way my career ended in Japan at the Tokyo Dome, and how the fans embrace me there, that is what makes this an easier exit. Associated Press. Yet the idea of playing again is another maybe final challenge for Suzuki. The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Much like David Bells reaction when he caught Ichiros original Star Wars throw, the look on current Mariners third baseman Ryon Healys face tells the story. In Japan, practice is more important than necessarily the game, and if you dont get the desired goal, its kind of OK to cry. There were a whole slew of guys that were maybe All-Stars in Japan but just not as outstanding a player [as Ichiro], but they found that there could be a role in MLB for those types of players., In 2008, Hendry engaged in a bidding war for star outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, a member of the Chunichi Dragons who had seen Ichiros success and was inspired to play abroad. Ichiro was such an exciting player, and for the rest of the baseball world to get to see him do something like this on the national stage was so special. Thus, over the next few years, Colborn found it easy to court Ichiro, bringing him jerseys of Griffey Jr., his favorite player. "He's the most committed player that I've ever had," Melvin recalled. ROOT Sports analyst Mike Blowers talked to Bob, Groz and Tom about Lewis and what makes him stand out. Id throw him batting practice, Id hit him fly balls, hed throw the balland if I couldnt make it that day, Id have one of the local scouts in the area do the batting practice for him. During one of Ichiros trips to Seattle, Colborn remembers a boat show taking place inside the Kingdome. I wasn't ready for 116 kisses from the manager.\n\nHe also thanked Mariners ownership for the opportunity to contribute as a special advisor in his post-playing days.\n\nMost days, I still wear the Mariners uniform, and I do so proudly, Ichiro said. Well, he fielded it differently when Ichiro hit it. Id never faced a guy who was a better bad ball hitter., The torrid start only made Ichiros spotlight brighter, especially in Japan. 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. Holy crap, I don't think I've seen this online before. Youve got to be really, really good to break that mold., As Orixs pitching coach between 1990 and 1993, Jim Colborn remembers hearing Ichiros name echoing constantly throughout the organization. They didnt care [about the team]. Throughout Tokyo, screens outside subway stations lit up with MLB highlights and live coverage of Mariners games sometimes starting at 4 a.m. in Japan, with people camped outside to watch. Ichiro, charging, fields a single cleanly, takes an abbreviated crow-hop and launches an absolute laser that never gets more than 10 feet off the ground, never takes a bounce and never forces third baseman David Bell to move his glove, other than to apply the tag to a stunned Long. In 2004, he did just that, passing Sisler on Oct. 1. Its just an absurdly impressive throw. This is the one that really shows what a laser it was. I was shocked. October 2, 1995: On the Map. In 2001, Ichiro Suzuki made his MLB debut for the Seattle Mariners. Go go go go Ichiro. As author Robert Whiting documented in The Meaning of Ichiro, Nobuyuki Suzuki instituted a relentless regimen for his son. George Sisler of the St. Louis Browns had 257 hits for the St. Louis Browns in 1920, setting a . "Looking back on it now, now understanding the context and symbolism of a former Mariners icon facing a new one, on national television, in Seattle of all places, it's a pretty special moment.". Heaps: Bench Chris Carson? "This is truly devastating news," said Seattle Mariners chairman Howard Lincoln. Anyone know what that means? Here's the call from 1995: "The stretch. What started as, What the heck is this guy? Drayer: 10 months of preparation led up to Ichiros last two games, Ichiro came off the field one final time as a Seattle Mariners player on Thursday. Mariners outfielder Kyle Lewis hit his fifth home run in eight games in the big leagues on Wednesday. He was the lead play-by-play announcer for the American League's Seattle Mariners from their inaugural season in 1977 until his death in 2010. Dave Niehaus. "If this team is going to go to the playoffs, they have to have Chris Carson running the football.". 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. There was a sellout crowd on a summer Saturday night, and the introduction had all the parallels when the center of attention was finally introduced. Do you know who had the second highest? Over his first season in Seattle, the then-27-year-old erased any doubts about his transition from Nippon Professional Baseball to MLB. The Mariners gave already provided a number of exciting moments in the first week of Cactus League play. And nobody has seen one since. He got him. Even after Hideo Nomo broke international barriers and found success with the Dodgers in 1995, only a few MLB teams had scouts on the ground in Japan. In his rookie season of 2001, he threw a frozen rope to nail Oaklands Terrence Long trying to go from first to third on a base hit. Suzuki and the Mariners announced Thursday his 2018 season was over. 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. Nobody had seen a player quite like him. Game after game, the Mariners skipper had watched Ichiro Suzuki slap and bloop and pepper fastballs everywhere between left field and the third-base dugout. 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. Its only fitting that two decades after Ichiro exploded onto the scene, Shohei Ohtani is having his own supernova MLB season. Ichiros 2018 run with the Mariners may not have lasted long, but it at least produced one special play that made everybody remember why he means so much in Seattle. The former Orix pitching coach had taken the same job with the Dodgers that year, and embraced his friend in the dugout when the Mariners visited Los Angeles for a three-game series in July. "I want to be like a researcher or a student of the game. Fukudome might not have had the reputation that Ichiro had, but he was a really good hitter, and I think there was more of a comfort zone that even though he wasnt going to be a big power guy, everyone thought he was going to hit for a high average and hit for average power and play great defense in right field, which he did, Hendry says. The Mariners were 60-102 that season and drew only 813,537 fans, the lowest full-season total in club history. WARNING: awesome, What the fuck? I could never imagine my career in America would last 19 seasons and that I would still be in Seattle today.. Utter disbelief. 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. 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. Mariners superstar Julio Rodrguez is in the spotlight as one of MLB's top players. Joe Fann details the six biggest. Improve yourself, find your inspiration . Former Mariners Alvin Davis, Jay Buhner, and team announcer Dave Niehaus of the Seattle Mariners throw out the ceremonial first pitch of the game on. Mike Trout Walk-off homers were a rarity off the Yankees legend. Remembering Dave Niehaus. [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. Reflecting on his overall legacy, which will likely include an enshrinement in the National Baseball Hall of Fame when hes first eligible in 2025, Ichiro spoke with closure. He then addressed the current team, which eagerly watched the ceremony from the home dugout rail. Major League Baseball consists of 30 teams split between the American and National Leagues. He was 75. The Mariners front office, led at the time by general manager Woody Woodward, was skeptical of how Ichiros skill set would translate to the U.S. Wednesday night, a photo of Niehaus could be seen on the big screen from outside an empty Safeco Field. "Your future has possibilities that you cannot imagine, Ichiro said. This great star comes over here and not only has success, but really sets the pace in a lot of ways.. Of course, when I still run and do things, I feel like I can still play. It's all about being prepared to play a major league baseball game. After smacking two doubles to left field, he stepped to the plate in the seventh inning, surveyed the diamond with his right arm perpendicular to the ground, and whipped his hands through a low fastball to lift a home run into the bullpen beyond the right-field wall. So I've often said that he was the easiest guy I've ever had to manage because all you had to do was tell him what time the game was and you knew he'd be ready and committed to go.". Tom Tango comes up with the idea of fun points based on fan polls to determine which players generate the most fun. (AP). With MLBs newly established posting system (which negated much of Colborns and the Mariners groundwork), Gillick leaned on ownershipparticularly principal owner Hiroshi Yamauchi, a Nintendo chairman who loved watching Ichiro play in Japanto make a competitive offer. 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. ", More AP baseball: www.apnews.com/tags/MLBbaseball. As the longtime Mariners radio voice Rick Rizzs remembers it, the newly signed phenom kept lining shots over Lous head in the folding chair. Despite Ichiro often firing his hips and hitting scorchers to the right side in Japan, the outfielder had yet to drive anything there that spring, and looked outmatched against MLB pitching. "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. 51) Ichiro will first be eligible for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2025. He elaborated on that with perspective after stepping away following the Japan Series that began the 2019 regular season. Put them together and it makes him the all-time pro baseball hit king, a title he passed Pete Rose for in 2016. Years earlier, at Nobuyukis urging, Colborn had promised to take care of Ichiro in his transition to the U.S.; ever the scout, Colborn warned Ichiro about that nights Dodgers starting pitcher, and then made a prediction. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. He lives to train and tirelessly works to take care of his body. Terrance Long was over halfway from second to third when Ichiro picked up that ball. Ichiro Suzuki had already made a positive impression by the time he entered into legend status. That doesn't happen in Japan. 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. 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. 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