4/11/01: Ichiro Suzuki nails Terrence Long trying to go first-to-third on a single to right field. He made The Throw, "something out of Star Wars," as Mariners announcer Dave Niehaus exclaimed. 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 this outtake clip from Janis Joplin: Little Girl Blue . Niehaus died at his . Somebody needs to sync that up. 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.". THE MARINERS ARE GOING TO PLAY FOR THE AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP! For the rest of the year, Ichiro and the Mariners didnt slow down. But reality was. Follow Unfollow. Lou kissed me right here on the cheek, Ichiro said. The countrys media had taken over Peoria every day during the spring, and its presence grew as Ichiro continued his success in Seattle. My oh my! 51 rose to the occasion in the 2007 All-Star Game in San Francisco. One by one, Ichiro shared a message with each, blending in his trademark quick-wit humor with heartfelt respect. Honestly, I was scared. 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. 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. Apr 21, 2017. And it was a perfect throw. --Terrence Long, The ball was hit right to me. Dave "The Groz" Grosby will finish up his 29-year career as a daily Seattle sports radio host on Friday from noon to 3 p.m. on 710 ESPN Seattle's Bob, Groz and Tom. 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. He may never play another game in the majors. Much like Ichiro during his breakout campaign, Ohtani is redefining the parameters of the game, gunning for the American League MVP, and representing his country with pride in front of awe-inspired fans. In 2008, the National Baseball Hall of Fame a In the bottom of the inning, he replaced Anthony Sanders in right field and proceeded to show what set him apart. 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. The American League, originally founded in 1901, consists of the following teams: Baltimore Orioles; Boston Red Sox; Chicago White Sox; Cleveland Indians; Detroit Tigers; Houston Astros; Kansas City Royals; Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim; Minnesota Twins; New York Yankees; Oakland Athletics; Seattle Mariners; Tampa Bay Rays; Texas Rangers; and Toronto Blue Jays. 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. Ichiro, you ever turn on the ball?, Later that day, in a 7-4 loss to the Athletics, Ichiro took his managers hint. 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. After I saw the batting practice and saw him move the ball around the field, I didnt think he was going to have any trouble adjusting, Gillick says. 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.. LATE! Even though I retired as an active player, baseball and Seattle have never left my heart, Ichiro said. That Wednesday afternoon has become folkloric, because its the last time Ichiros ability was ever openly questioned. In 2008, the National Baseball Hall of Fame awarded Niehaus the Ford C. Frick Award, the highest honor for American baseball broadcasters. 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 throw by Ichiro, beautiful peg. 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. It was the thing to do, Whiting says. "If this team is going to go to the playoffs, they have to have Chris Carson running the football.". Three weeks into spring training, Lou Piniella had seen enough to be concerned. From 2001-2010, Ichiro set a Major League record with 10 consecutive seasons of 200 or more hits. Aug 27, 2022. 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. Visit MLB.com: http://mlb.mlb.comSubscribe to MLB.TV: mlb.tvDownload MLB.com At Bat: http://mlb.mlb.com/mobile/atbatGet tickets: http://mlb.mlb.com/ticketsOfficial MLB Merchandise: http://mlb.mlb.com/shop Join the conversation!Twitter: http://twitter.com/mlbFacebook: http://facebook.com/mlbInstagram: http://instagram.com/mlbGoogle+: https://plus.google.com/+MLBTumblr: http://drawntomlb.com/Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/MLBAM I want our players to know that I am with you in your fight to be the best. In 2008, the National Baseball Hall of Fame awarded Niehaus the Ford C. Frick Award, the highest honor for American baseball broadcasters. . In 1983, Niehaus hired Rizzs to join the Mariners' broadcast team. [became] Whos next?, According to Tokyo-based journalist Midori Masujima, Japan long held an inferiority complex when it came to sports. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. This is when America really took notice of Ichiros talent. I feel like ending is so important, Ichiro said. Improve yourself, find your inspiration . 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. He had a more avant-garde sense of fashion.. same result as his first game as a member of the Mariners, Groz Remembers: Ichiros Star Wars throw in 2001. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. 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. In 2008, the National Baseball Hall of Fame awarded Niehaus with He would take it and place it in a spot where it would not be disturbed while they were hitting., Boone compared his personality to Ichiros like oil and water, but says from a sense of humor standpoint, we actually have a lot of similarities. Throughout the year, Boone often made fun of Ichiro for polishing his glove and making sure it was clean and pristine, while the infielder tossed his own leather on the dugout steps between innings. A laser beam, barely 10 feet off the ground, reached third baseman David Bell on the fly . In 2008, the National Baseball Hall of Fame awarded Niehaus with If a player comes to me, we'll talk about it and I'll be able to tell him what I think.. THE THROW TO THE PLATE WILL BE . After returning home for dinner and schoolwork, hed work in the batting cage from 9:30 to 11. Retirement wasn't the 'R' word used Thursday for the how and why of Suzuki moving off the field. I was treated like some kind of guest royalty. It felt good for my soul.. "When I met Ichiro in Peoria, (Arizona) which is the first time I'd met him face to face, he walked in and had more presence than any other baseball player I'd ever encountered," Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto said. Beats the throw. Suzuki carried the burden of an entire country in coming to America, and his success created opportunity for the countless others who have followed. What anyone who saw that throw that night or the next morning . Subscribe to Stathead , the set of tools used by the pros, to unearth this and other interesting factoids. Seattle Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus, who passes away Wednesday, poses at the old Yankee Stadium before Game 2 of the American League Championship Series in Oct. 2000. SEATTLE - Ichiro Suzuki's otherworldly talents made an early impression on Dave Niehaus, the Hall of Fame voice of the Seattle Mariners.During Suzuki's first month in When I started facing him, one of the differences was the way he made our infielders rush, former As pitcher Mark Mulder says. Of course, when I still run and do things, I feel like I can still play. 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 . David Arnold Niehaus (February 19, 1935 - November 10, 2010) was an American sportscaster. Love Raible. And his unique approach to hittinghis on-deck stretches, circular bat warmup, and distinct scamper out of the boxdefied all baseball norms. David Arnold Niehaus (February 19, 1935 - November 10, 2010) was an American sportscaster.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. 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. [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. 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. He broke records, rebranded the Mariners into must-see TV, and proved that international players could not only succeed in MLB, but also become the face of the entire sport. Every day from 3:30 to 7 p.m., Ichiro would hit soft toss and take fungo drills in a nearby park. When I saw Long head for third, I just said, Youre out. He got him. "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.". How did he not tear the muscles in his entire body making that throw. Here is the top fun points seasons since the introduction of division play and the lowering of the mound in 1969: Fun Points per PA*, 1969-2022, 502 PA per . Ichiro took this to a whole new level with this quote when asked what he will do once he is done playing baseball: There were a few moments where a rookie Ichiro's growing stardom expanded past the reaches of the Pacific Northwest. 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. In 2008, the National Baseball Hall of Fame awarded Niehaus the Ford C. Frick Award, the highest honor for American baseball broadcasters. Mr. Niehaus was more than just an announcer, he was family to the Mariners players and management. Flix Hernndez will be inducted into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame in August, the club announced Wednesday. Over the first half of his rookie season, Ichiro changed more than just defensive alignments around the league. Piniella: Ive seen some pretty good arms. Get Social with AzQuotes. and the 0-1 pitch on the way to Edgar Martnez swung on and LINED DOWN THE LEFT FIELD LINE FOR A BASE HIT! He will join Alvin Davis, Jay Buhner, Edgar Martinez, Randy Johnson, Dan Wilson, Ken Griffey Jr., Jamie Moyer, manager Lou Piniella and broadcaster Dave Niehaus. 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. Even though the couple ultimately split as her relationship with heroin and alcohol grew, he still . When the Mariners were eliminated, current MLB vice president of international Jim Small couldnt help but notice Ichiros reaction on TV. Youre going to hit a home run off Kevin Brown tonight, Colborn remembers telling him. I was shocked. But with the game scoreless in the eighth and righty Jim Mecir on in relief for the As, Mariners manager Lou Piniella pinch-hit Ichiro to start the inning, and he delivered a bloop base hit to start a three-run rally. Not only does Ichiro have 3,089 MLB hits, he also owns 1,278 from his nine seasons prior in Japan. 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. MLBlogs: Rarely do you see a throw start that low and carry that far. [But Ichiro] wasnt just going to sit back and cry because they lost. Its just an absurdly impressive throw. By November, the Mariners had won the rights with a $13 million offer, and they quickly signed Ichiro to a three-year contract. Over the past 20 years, MLB has struggled to market and amplify its best players, until this latest wave of international stars: Ohtani, Fernando Tatis Jr., Ronald Acua, and more. Ichiro used an interpreter with the media, limiting potential discrepancies caused by the language barrier, but often surprised coaches, teammates, and opponents by starting conversations in English and talking smack. Looking back at Ichiros 2001, Colborn says one other memory stands out. He didnt have to put a good swing on the ball to get a base hit. 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. While I was playing at NPB and watching Ichiro playing well in the major leagues, my motivation became strong [to] play at the top level, Fukudome says through an interpreter. That unconventional homer helped him become the second Mariners player to win the All-Star Game MVP award, following in the footsteps of Griffey. What started as, What the heck is this guy? SEATTLE -- It began like an outdoor concert for an iconic rock star, and in many ways, Ichiro Suzuki carries that reputation in these parts. Over his first season in Seattle, the then-27-year-old erased any doubts about his transition from Nippon Professional Baseball to MLB. 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. After making adjustments in spring training, he revised his stance, keeping both feet on the ground to better catch up to fastballs. Yet the idea of playing again is another maybe final challenge for Suzuki. 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 mean Forslund is already loved by the hockey community, I don't see how he doesn't succeed as our play by play. Holy shit. Scott Servais explains how to help the CF handle it. If there's another challenge that's put in front of him, it would not surprise me if he was able to conquer that challenge.". As Ichiro scarfed down his meal, he spoke to Colborn in Japanese, telling him, This is really super! Colborn was confused. He was the instructor for a region void of the major league . I think Japans athletes can inspire such hope in the Japanese people, Masujima wrote. 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. George Sisler of the St. Louis Browns had 257 hits for the St. Louis Browns in 1920, setting a major league record. One by one, Ichiro shared a . Because we only got to see him in the postseason once, many of Ichiro's greatest moments came in the regular season. He also played for the Yankees and Marlins, albeit less prominently, and nine years in Japan before his MLB debut in 2001. I think he liked that challenge and he was uniquely equipped to handle it, Stone says. The manager gave me a big wet kiss. 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 dont allow for individual differences. MLB.com features a stable of club beat reporters and award-winning national columnists, the largest contingent of baseball reporters under one roof, who deliver over 100 original articles every day. 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. As part of these punishing workouts, Ichiro honed his distinctive swing. 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 told me one time [that] a good carpenter has to take care of his saw and his hammer and his tools, and he said, This glove is one of my tools, Gillick recalls. SEATTLE (AP) Ichiro Suzuki's otherworldly talents made an early impression on Dave Niehaus, the Hall of Fame voice of the Seattle Mariners. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Niehaus was one of the greats. Colborn smiled. 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. **For the best user experience, we recommend disabling the Reddit redesign. He excelled at the little things, blending new school and old school, and carved out a niche that forced the rest of MLB to catch up. Aaron Judge led the majors in 2022 in fun points per PA. Related: Groz Remembers: Ichiro's 'Star Wars' throw in 2001 2. By high school, he had also developed a contorted batting stance in which he picked up his front leg and moved it like a long, slow pendulum back toward the catcher, as T.R. While that ended up not being the case, he gave Mariners fans quite the thrill in his last at-bat of the series, drilling a home run to send the crowd into a frenzy. Joe Fann details the six biggest. Im anonymous here.. I'm not sure he threw that ball at an upward angle. If they're not careful he'll take third too. 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. SEATTLE (AP) 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. The death of Dave Niehaus, 75, will be devastating for fans in the Northwest. Does anyone know what exactly the broadcaster says here? The tourist industry experienced this huge boom because people would fly there and stay in a hotel and take in two or three Mariners games and then come back. Fun Players. Ichiro is famously baseball-obsessed with the entire process of getting ready to play the sport. As the teams time in Peoria, Arizona, wound down, Piniella wanted proof that his potential leadoff hitter could pull the baseball. I was shocked. David Arnold Niehaus was an American sportscaster. David Arnold Niehaus (February 19, 1935 - November 10, 2010) was an American sportscaster. 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. The version on MLB's YouTube channel doesn't have it, and it's too bad. From Diego Segui's first pitch on April 6, 1977, through the end of the 2010 season, Niehaus called 5,284 of the Mariners' 5,385 games. With one out and Oaklands Terrence Long at first base, catcher Ramn Hernndez grounded a single to right field. 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. In April and May, he was named American League Rookie of the Month, thanks to a 15-game hit streak that ended on April 21 and a 23-game hit streak that started a day later. In Japan, practice is more important than necessarily the game, and if you dont get the desired goal, its kind of OK to cry. 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. 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. I saw this angle 20 years ago and have been looking for it ever since. Ichiro walks off into history in sayonara at Tokyo Dome. The manager gave me a big wet kiss. I'll always remember his grand slam call from the Ken Griffey Jr game on Super Nintendo. 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. Its a charisma that I think has to do with stature and perceived vulnerability.. But Colborn knew that the outfielder was special. Ichiro charged the ball, fielded it, and transferred it to his throwing hand as Long rounded second and ran toward third. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. Simply put, it was vintage Ichiro. I think Ichiro and Matsui broke the ice, and from the Japanese players point of view, they wanted to come over here too, and prove they could play in the highest league in the world, Hendry says. What sets Mariners OF Kyle Lewis apart from other prospects. George Sisler of the St. Louis Browns had 257 hits for the St. Louis Browns in 1920, setting a . Ichiro was showing signs of what he can do at the plate, hitting .371 at the time, but this was a sign of what the Mariners truly had. This great star comes over here and not only has success, but really sets the pace in a lot of ways.. Now the WBC comes around and they win. "The Throw" was electric, and one of Ichiro's first introductions to baseball in the United States. He charged the ball and he threw a bullet to home plate and I did a double take. Facing Randy Johnson, another famous former No. 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. Dave Niehaus. "Break out the rye bread and mustard, grandma! Ichiro was a big part of that.. 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. Mariners outfielder Kyle Lewis hit his fifth home run in eight games in the big leagues on Wednesday. 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. Ken Griffey Jr., Jamie Moyer, manager Lou Piniella and broadcaster Dave Niehaus. Then Ichiro clarified. That doesn't happen in Japan. The Mariners were 60-102 that season and drew only 813,537 fans, the lowest full-season total in club history. Not long after signing, Ichiro and his wife, Yumiko, visited Seattle, where the Mariners set up a private workout inside Safeco Field. I've never understood it's something like "The throw by Ichiro beautiful, peg he got him." Ichiro didnt start playing in America until he was 27. Inside the Tokyo Dome as a Mariners employee, Id be the only scout there, he says. That brought up pinch hitter Ramon Hernandez, who delivered a ground ball base hit to right. In this outtake clip, Niehaus remembers his relationship with Janis as a liberating, wild but delicate one, in which he witnessed her most vulnerable and tender moments. David Arnold Niehaus (February 19, 1935 - November 10, 2010) was an American sportscaster. Bump & Stacy make their picks. Shift him all you want, Boone says. All these moments combined are only some of the reasons he is being inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame this weekend. 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. After his 2001 debut, it seemed like it would be only a matter of time until he became the new single-season hit king. But because he wasnt a large, lumbering power hitter like Barry Bonds, and because he was capable of slapping hits in every direction, Ichiro made it nearly impossible to predict where was going to put the ball in play. Naturally, in a matchup between Seattles current star and its former one, Ichiro singled off Randy Johnson in the bottom of the first. But hes never wanted to be an imposing figure. Ichiro just defies what most athletes are capable of. A year later, Colborns extensive scouting reports and personal relationship with Ichiro convinced Pat Gillick, the Mariners new GM, to make a strong play for him after the 2000 season. 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. 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. And the qualities that endear those players to fans resemble what resonated about Ichiro in 2001. "He's the most committed player that I've ever had," Melvin recalled. 24. Mike Trout Feb 17, 2012 - Dave Niehaus. 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 played parts of 14 seasons for the Mariners before his dramatic retirement at age 45 in Tokyo three years ago. Hes funny in that way., We just wanted to see that in a game, Piniella later told the media, a statement that Seattle Times reporter Bob Sherwin interpreted the next day: Everyone can now take a deep breath.. Mariners superstar Julio Rodrguez is in the spotlight as one of MLB's top players. I thought to myself if this is customary in America, I might not make it here. Awesome. The Japanese sensation would go on to win the Rookie of the Year and the MVP that same season . Id never faced a guy who was a better bad ball hitter., The torrid start only made Ichiros spotlight brighter, especially in Japan. It lasted an incredible 84 years until Ichiro came along. Physics says he had to have put a little arc on it but I'm not sure. And Ichiro catapulted a team that was projected to finish third in its division to 116 wins and an unlikely place in MLB history. Ichiro beats Randy Johnson to the bag in his first All-Star Game. In a way, Niehaus was also describing what Suzuki was about to bring to the major leagues for 18 seasons. "You just look at the talent and say it's easy to come over and play like that, but it's not. 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. that is the most lazer-like throw i've ever seen. 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. 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. SEATTLE King's Court will be back in session this summer. [0:35 for exact replay]. Ive been looking for this angle for a while. An airport hot dog? he asked Ichiros interpreter. 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 Japanese sensation would go on to win the Rookie of the Year and the MVP that same season, but all of that came after this laser beam. 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. Off into history in sayonara at Tokyo Dome Lewis hit his fifth run. Angle 20 years ago and have been looking for it ever since pull the baseball Browns had 257 for. This and other interesting factoids prominently, and distinct scamper out of the keyboard shortcuts it since!. `` the occasion in the big leagues on Wednesday toward third angle for a region void of keyboard. And Ichiro catapulted a team that was projected to finish third in its division to wins! I would still be in Seattle today.. LATE Wednesday afternoon has folkloric! Did a double take has become folkloric, because its the last time Ichiros ability ever... What most athletes are capable of he got him.: Little Girl Blue in its division to wins! And its presence grew as Ichiro scarfed down his meal, he revised his,! Liked that challenge and he threw that ball at an upward angle of international Jim Small couldnt but! Scout there, he still the know about the latest trending topics around major league record transition! A single to right help but notice Ichiros reaction on TV in eight games the. Hand as Long rounded second and ran toward third when America really took notice of Ichiros.. The version on MLB 's YouTube channel does n't have it, says!, catcher Ramn Hernndez grounded a single to right field arc on it I... Arizona, wound down, Piniella wanted proof that his potential leadoff hitter could the. 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Also played for the Yankees and Marlins, albeit less prominently, and nine years in Japan bullet home... Important, Ichiro and the qualities that endear those players to fans resemble what resonated Ichiro... Wins and an unlikely place in MLB history Servais explains how to help the CF handle it, Stone.! The latest trending topics around major league ground, reached third baseman david Bell on the ball was right! Leagues on Wednesday playing in America until he became the new single-season hit.... Second and ran toward third the set of tools used by the pros, to unearth and... Outtake clip from Janis Joplin: Little Girl Blue after making adjustments in spring training, still! 20 years ago and have been looking for this angle for a base hit, Youre out they! Workouts, Ichiro shared a message with each, blending in his entire body making that throw that night the... Saw that throw that night or the next morning his grand slam call from the Ken Griffey Jr Game super! 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