Name: FULL SPEECH: Ichiro Suzuki Inducted into National Baseball Hall of Fame
Uploaded: 2025-07-28T08:52:18.000Z
Duration: 26 min 29 s
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If we could now turn our attention back to the video monitor for a presentation about our final 2025 inductee, Ichiro Suzuki.

Batting first, right fielder, number 51, Ichiro Suzuki.

The superlative

The most exciting export from Japan since Godzilla.

Ichiro was one of the most consistent players I've ever seen.

I think it had to do with his passion for the game, his discipline, and the desire to be the best player he could be.

And he's done it! He's climbed the mountain!

Number 3,000 for the one, the only, the remarkable Ichiro.

Before he came, I didn't know much about Ichiro.

You know, I remember that when he came to spring training, what I heard is that he was a really good player in Japan, but I'd never seen him play before.

It was very impressive just to watch him go about his business, and he proved right away that he was a great player, you can tell.

And the fastball is drilled to deep right field, high in the air, and gone! Ichiro Suzuki with his first home run in the United States!

The way he hit, it was very different from what we're used to.

You know, he almost like, he made contact, it's already one foot going to first base.

You can tell he can make contact at any pitch, low, high, anywhere around the plate, he was making very good contact, always.

There's a drive! Deep right field! Ichiro with a two-run, game-winning home run!

And that's a little looper down the right field line, fair and treble, it's caught by Ichiro! It is caught by Ichiro!

If he can get to it and get a glove on it, you're out.

Yeah, he was an amazing fielder, always make incredible plays.

Heading to third base is long, the throw to third base, and it got him nailed at third base!

What a tremendous throw by Ichiro! I'm here to tell you that Ichiro throws something out of Star Wars down there!

He had all the tools, five, two players he can throw.

Number 55 on the year, another stolen base for Ichiro.

Hit for average, he can do anything on the field.

And there it is! He's the new all-time hip king in Major League history, number 2585!

He means a lot to the organization and to the city.

The fans love him here, and he was one of the best players that ever played the game, not only for this organization, but for baseball.

Ichiro Ichiro, this is Zach O'Connor with the Baseball Riders Association.

The Baseball Riders have elected you to the Hall of Fame, the first Japanese player to come to Cooperstown.

To be the first Japanese player to be inducted into Cooperstown, I think it means a lot to him.

I played with him for four years, and he cares about the game so much and respects the game so much.

I know what it means to him, and I'm just looking forward to be there.

And as chairman of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, it is my honor, Ichiro, to welcome you into the Hall of Fame family and to ask Commissioner Manford to please read the inscription on your plaque.

Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle AL 2001-12, 2018-19, New York AL 2012-14, Miami NL 2015-17.

With extraordinary work ethic and unparalleled bat control, brought record-setting hit totals to Major League Baseball as its first Japanese-born position player.

Electrified 2001 Mariners to record 116-win campaign, earning AL Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player honors.

The only player with 10 straight 200-hit campaigns, 2001-2010, set all-time single-season hits record with 262 in 2004.

An All-Star and Gold Glove outfielder throughout his first decade in the majors, led AL in hits seven times.

Won two AL batting titles after capturing seven consecutive in Japan.

Totaled 3,089 MLB hits and 509 stolen bases.

At this time, I would like to present you with your Hall of Fame ring.

Tom, I can't imagine the country of Japan.

He's going to be inducted into their Hall of Fame in about a month, but he's the first Japanese-born and raised position player ever to appear in an MLB game, and he exceeded all expectations.

So much pride for that country, and there had been so much pressure on Ichiro when he came here in 2001 because of that.

Ichiro wound up playing 28 professional seasons between Japan and MLB. Just remarkable.

He was the standard. Think about if he'd have failed.

He signs at 17, he doesn't go to high school, one of the first guys that does that.

Doesn't go through the minor league system, basically the big leagues, and comes over here.

The posting money, everything else, the pressure was on him for all position players coming out of Japan.

And he was a superstar. Right from the jump, and now we're finally going to hear the speech from Ichiro.

Ladies and gentlemen, member of the class of 2025, Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki.

Today, I am feeling something I thought I would never know again.

First, in 1992, after the Oryx Blue Wave drafted me out of high school.

Then, in 2001, I became a rookie again at 27, when the Seattle Mariners signed me.

As I look over here now and see men like Rod Carew, George Brett, and Tony LaRussa, I realize I am a rookie again.

Thank you for welcoming me so warmly into your great team.

I hope I can uphold the values of the Hall of Fame.

But please, I am 51 years old now, so easy on the hazing.

I don't need to wear a Hooters uniform again.

The first two times, it was easier to manage my emotions because my goal was always clear, to play professionally at the highest level.

This time is so different because I could never imagine as a kid in Japan that my play would lead me to a sacred baseball land that I didn't even know was here.

3,000 hits, 10 gold gloves, 10 seasons of 200 hits.

But the truth is, without baseball, you would say, this guy is such a damn ass.

Baseball is so much more than just hitting, throwing, and running.

Baseball taught me to make value decisions about what is important.

It helped shape my view of life and the world.

As a kid, I thought I could play baseball forever.

The older I got, I realized the only way to keep playing the game I loved until 45 at the highest level was to dedicate myself to it completely.

When fans use their precious time to come watch you play, you have a responsibility to perform for them.

Whether we are winning by 10 or losing by 10, I felt my duty was to motivate the same from opening day through game 162.

I never started packing my equipment or taping boxes until after the season's final out.

I felt it was my professional duty to give fans my complete attention each and every game.

Fans deserve to be entertained whenever they choose to come.

Baseball taught me what it means to be a professional, and I believe that is the main reason I am here today.

Not because my skills are better than others.

3,000 hits or 262 hits in one season are achievements recognized by the writers.

And by the way, the offer for that writer to have dinner at my home has now expired.

I could not have achieved the numbers the writers recognized me for without paying attention to the many small details every single day, consistently for all 19 seasons.

I personally cared for my equipment each day because I never wanted to risk a fielding error due to a loose string on my glove or a slip on the base pass because I didn't clean my spikes.

Beyond the regular season, I had a serious routine in off-season too.

When I showed up at the camp each spring, my arm was already in shape.

Waiting for Mariners broadcaster Rick Ritz to say,

Holy smoke! A laser beam strike from Ichiro!

If you consistently do the little things, there's no limit what you can achieve.

When I came to America, many people said I was too skinny to compete with bigger major leaguers.

The first time I ran out on the field, I was in awe of the competition.

But I knew if I stuck to my beliefs about preparation, I could overcome the doubts even on my own.

I have been asked, what's the best thing you can do for your team?

My answer is, taking responsibility for yourself.

Being responsible for yourself means answering to yourself.