UPDATE (7/31 @6p): Cardinals fans did not see history this weekend. Ichiro did not get his 3,000th hit.
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Last night Ichiro posted the 2,997th hit of his MLB career.
And with a four-game series against the Marlins in Miami this upcoming weekend, there is a good chance that Ichiro will become the 30th member of the 3,000 hit club while facing the Cardinals.
He arguably will be the most impressive member of the club, since Ichiro also accumulated 1,278 hits in Japan before even joining Major League Baseball.
Many people wonder what MLB records Ichiro could have achieved if he hadn’t spent 9 seasons playing in Japan, but the man himself is more sanguine:
“I am a product of my experience,” said Ichiro, now a Miami Marlin, in an interview. “I wouldn’t be the player I am without my time in Japan, so it’s pointless to wonder if I’d have more hits if I came over sooner. Maybe I’d have more, but maybe I’d have less.”
Just recently, Cardinals fans had the chance to show their appreciation for the future HOF member:
A quick review of Ichiro’s Baseball-Reference page is something to behold:
- He had 10 straight years of 200+ hits (2001 -2010)!
- He won Rookie of the Year and MVP in 2001!
- He has over 500 stolen bases!
- He has a 59.9 career WAR!
- In 2004 he had 262 hits… and came in 7th in the MVP voting!!!
To put that last bullet point into context, here are the hit leaders from the past 5 years:
- 2015: Dee Gordon 205
- 2014: Josè Altuve 225
- 2013: Matt Carpenter/Adrián Beltrè 199
- 2012: Derek Jeter 216
- 2011: Michael Young/Adrián González 213
262 hits and a 9.1 WAR wasn’t even able to crack the top 6 in AL MVP voting? What was going on in 2004?
262 hits and a 9.1 single season WAR in 2016 would lather up the analytics departments of MLB teams so vociferously, Ichiro could probably get a 500 million dollar contract.
Let’s hope Ichiro gets #3,000 this weekend against the Cardinals.
While the Miami fans may or may not come out to see history (20,365 were at the Marlins game last night), Cardinals fans watching will certainly appreciate the moment.
Photo: FOX Sports
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