A Slice of History; Ichiro Breaks Sisler's Record

[ProudToBeLiberal]

Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Ichiro Suzuki singled in each of his first two at-bats Friday to break George Sisler's record for hits in a season. Ichiro came into Friday's game at Safeco Field with 256 hits, one shy of Sislers' 84- year record.

Ichiro led off the home first with a single off Texas starter Ryan Drese to tie Sisler and then singled again off Drese to begin the third inning to break the record.

The Japanese star now has 920 hits in the majors, breaking the record for most hits over a four-year span. Bill Terry of the New York Giants set the previous record of 918 hits from 1929-32.

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[Arugula Latte]

1. I'm no sports fan (understatement!), but

Great job, Ichiro! :thumbsup: My kids were pulling for you. You seem like a nice, humble guy, and that is so rare in professional sports. You came to this country and did yourself proud. Good for you!

[Zomby Woof]

2. I am wearing my Ichiro jersey today!!!

I figured I would wait until he broke the record before putting it away for the winter! :D

[flamingyouth]

5. I've got mine on too!

:D

[Zomby Woof]

7. He and Edgar

Class acts all the way. I was glad I got to see Edgar play one last time in Peoria in March. But I am going back for some Ichiro next spring too!

[flamingyouth]

8. Today is Edgar Martinez appreciation day at the Safe

And tomorrow is his last game. :( I'll miss him, but I'm glad he's retiring a Mariner.

[Zomby Woof]

14. And a Mariner since the minors!

I doubt if anyone will ever again have such a long and productive career as he did with one team, from the minors in 1983, to his rookie year in 1987, to a much-loved icon in 2004.

And perhaps the classiest person in the game today. A humble and gentle soul.

:cry: I will miss him, but I am sure he will stay on in some capacity.

[madrchsod]

3. sisler-150 games

ichiro-162 games. sisler still the champ

[ProudToBeLiberal]

6. I need someone would say this, always theres a spoiler nt

[Zomby Woof]

9. an 84 year old record

Is still an 84 year old record. And Ichiro did it on a mediocre team, in the era of modern pitching. We can't know, but would Sisler have done as well with the kind of pitching we have today?

It doesn't matter, both men are greats in their time, and neither feat is diminished.

[flamingyouth]

10. With much more travel, mind you

The Mariners travel more than any other MLB baseball team.

And you were very generous in calling this year's team "mediocre." :D

[Zomby Woof]

12. LOL

I know! Actually, the worst Mariners season since the 80's (or '92, the forgettable year led by Plummer - between Lefebvre-believin' and Sweet Lou).

But I figure even a shitty team is elevated by the presence of Ichiro!

[pa28]

13. Ichiro is one of a kind.

Given the changes and demands of today's game it's a mistake to diminish Ichiro's accomplishment.

[JackDragna]

20. It's no mistake.

Ichiro's accomplishment, along with any hitting record established past 1997, should have a big, permanent asterisk stuck right next to it. The jumping-bean-ball era hasn't just increased the number of home runs: the number of total hits of all kinds has gone up, making it far more likely someone like Ichiro would break the single-season hit record. I am simply not impressed in the least by this record, Bonds's streak of home runs or the single-season HR chase by McGwire and Sosa a few years back. The mound is high, the ball is juiced and so are the players. These records mean jack.

[Mojambo]

22. Again, did you know

That 8 of the top 10 single season hit totals of ALL TIME come from the era that precedes the one you call "The jumping-bean-ball era"

1. I Suzuki - 2004
2. G Sisler - 1920
3. L O'Doul - 1929
3. B Terry - 1930
5. A Simmons - 1925
6. R Hornsby - 1922
6. C Klein - 1930
8. T Cobb - 1911
9. G Sisler - 1922
10. I Suzuki - 2001

The facts simply do not back up your assertion that it is easier to get hits in this era than it was in Sisler's era.

Sorry!

[Donkeyboy75]

23. Uh...a higher mound gives the advantage to the pitchers, dude.

And the average league batting average was higher then than it is today. Note that there hasn't been a .400 hitter since 1941. You're simply wrong about this.

[Mojambo]

15. Did you know

that this record has lasted longer in the 162 game era than it did in the 154 game era?

That pretty much destroys the asterisk argument, IMO.

[Zomby Woof]

16. zing!

Also, it confuses quantity and quality from some kind of faux-purist perspective.

[FredScuttle]

17. Sisler didn't have to compete against players of color

middle relievers and other pitching specialists, etc.

Also, as Roger Maris said in '61, which 154 games should count?

[flamingyouth]

4. Ichiro is a great guy

And an amazingly talented baseball player. He is the master of the base hit, something that has been overlooked in baseball lately. Home runs are what excite people now. What Ichiro did is incredible - that record was 84 years old. :thumbsup:

[Zomby Woof]

11. A pure hitter

He can place the ball exactly where he wants it to go.

I see no reason why he can't break .375 or even higher in the next few years.

Plus, he is an amazing runner and fielder. He has it all! :D

[jpgray]

18. It's much harder to do, now that the game is dominated by expert pitchers

Very impressive for Ichiro.

[DrWeird]

19. Ichiro is what the game needs.

Home runs make for good clips on the sports shows, but singles and doubles make the game fun to watch.

[Renew Deal]

21. Congrats to Ichiro

and to the MLB. Also congrats to the Sisler family. That record lasted a LONGGGGG time.

[VOX]

24. Ichiro's accomplishment is awesome. Sisler would be the first to...

shake his hand.

If you really sit down and contemplate this record, even for all the allowances of contemporary baseball, it is nothing short of awesome. It is pure hitting, of a kind we haven't seen in decades (except for Ichiro himself).

I had a chance to see him this past July when the M's played the Angels. Glad I did. :thumbsup: