ichiro in july 2001
due agreement between japanese baseball , mlb, ichiro not allowed play in united states before 2001. move united states viewed interest because among first japanese position players play mlb team. in same way many japanese teams had considered 18-year-old ichiro small draft in 1992, many americans believed prove frail succeed against major league pitching or endure longer 162-game season. ichiro made auspicious debut seattle, , in mariners eighth game revealed tremendous throwing arm gunning down oakland s terrence long, had tried advance first third on teammate s single right field. play dubbed throw japanese media covering ichiro s progress.
after expressing no preference uniform number, ichiro issued #51 mariners. hesitant because had been worn pitching star randy johnson. avoid insulting johnson, ichiro sent personal message pitcher promising not bring shame uniform. trepidation unfounded, had remarkable 2001 season, accumulating rookie-record 242 hits, mlb player since 1930. perennial gold glove fielding led safeco s right field dubbed area 51 .
with .350 batting average , 56 stolen bases, ichiro first player lead league in both categories since jackie robinson in 1949. season included hitting streaks of 25 , 23 games, appearance on cover of sports illustrated, , intense media attention on both sides of pacific. fans japan taking $2,000 baseball tours, flying in , out of u.s. watch ichiro s games. more 150 japanese reporters , photographers given media access. safeco field s sushi stands began selling ichirolls .
aided major league baseball s decision allow all-star voting in japan, ichiro first rookie lead players in voting all-star game. winter, won american league valuable player , rookie of year awards, becoming second player in mlb history (after fred lynn) receive both honors in same season. ichiro player in major league history have won mvp, rookie of year, gold glove award, silver slugger award, while starting in all-star game in same season.
2001 had been exceptionally successful regular season seattle mariners team, matched 1906 chicago cubs major league record of 116 wins. in postseason appearance mariners, ichiro continued hot hitting playoffs, batting .600 in alds against cleveland indians. however, seattle s stellar season ended against new york yankees in alcs, ichiro held .222 average. yankees manager joe torre had emphasized pitchers, not let ichiro beat you. key seattle s offense. informed of assessment, ichiro said, if true, give me great joy. don t believe right.
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