Over two leagues Ichiro Suzuki reaches 4,000 hits

Up in the Bronx last night Yankee fans got to witness a little history. Ichiro Suzuki recorded his 4,000th career when he singled off the Blue Jays’ R.A. Dickey. Ichiro now joins a very small and prestigious group (trio) of men with 4,000 hits; Pete Rose and Ty Cobb.

While playing professional baseball over in Japan Ichiro recorded 1,278 hits; add that with his 2,722 hits over here in the states and you get 4,000. Ichiro’s 4,000th hit raises the question of, what if he played his whole career in the MLB?

Ichiro got his first taste of professional baseball when he was 18-years old, but he didn’t make the move to the MLB until he was 27. Just by doing estimates here if Ichiro had come to the MLB even around the age of 24 (average age of MLB rookies in 2001) he would still be closing in on the 4,000 hit mark.

At 39-years old the thought of 3,000 career MLB hits is relatively close for Ichiro.

The Seattle Mariners who Ichiro played 11-years with congratulated Ichiro with this statement.

– John McAuliffe (@John_Mac310)