There he was, in the flesh, at the Otesaga Resort Hotel on the eve of his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame: Ichiro Suzuki himself. So strong is Ichiro’s aura that even two of the game

The author of 4,367 hits over 28 seasons across Japan and America didn’t use an interpreter as he had during a media session on Saturday. He delivered his speech in English, and he was talking at one point about the Mariners, then the Yankees and then the next team on his 19-season major-league journey.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown honored the class of 2025, including a Cobra, a cannon arm, and a guy who'd never heard of the Marlins.

All-Star right fielder and Seattle Mariners legend Ichiro Suzuki was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025. But even as Ichiro was awarded the honor alongside CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner, it was his speech that stole the show.

This weekend, Mariners legend Ichiro Suzuki will become the first Asian player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The family of legendary Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus — the voice of Seattle baseball for more than three decades — shared a quiet exchange they had with Ichiro.

In Japan, many agreed with Chris Assenheimer's stance that Ichiro wasn't a true rookie. In the US, it didn't go over quite that well.