WATCH: Seattle Mariners Reveal Retired Number Plaque For Ichiro Suzuki
In this story:
SEATTLE — Saturday was all about Seattle Mariners legend and National Baseball Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki.
In a pregame ceremony at T-Mobile Park, several Mariners and Baseball Hall of Famers, executives, front office members and longtime announcer/master of ceremony Rick Rizzs gathered to honor Suzuki.
In the left-center field corner, Seattle revealed a plaque with Suzuki's No. 51, complete with his given name "Ichiro," which he wore on his uniform for his entire career.
Suzuki joined Jackie Robinson (No. 42), Ken Griffey Jr. (No. 24) and Edgar Martinez (No. 11) as the only other players to have their numbers retired by the organization. All three players also have their own number plaques in the left-center field corner at T-Mobile Park.
No. 42, No. 24, No. 11 and Now No. 51.
— Teren Kowatsch (@Teren_Kowatsch) August 10, 2025
Ichiro Suzuki’s number is officially retired by the Seattle Mariners.#Mariners #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/jAvUjwNOeg
Suzuki was inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 27. Griffey was inducted in 2016 and Martinez was inducted in 2019.
Suzuki came over stateside in 2001 after spending nine seasons in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball with the Orix BlueWave.
Suzuki enjoyed a 19-year career in the major leagues. Parts of 14 of those seasons were spent with the Mariners (2001-12, '18-19). In his rookie season, Suzuki became one of two players in MLB history to win Rookie of The Year and MVP in the same year. He helped lead Seattle to the American League Championship Series his rookie year, which was the last playoff appearance for the organization before they snapped the drought in 2022.
In 2004, Suzuki set MLB's single-season hit record with 262 knocks. That mark passed George Sisler, who set the record with 257 in 1920 with the St. Louis Browns.
Including his time in Japan, Suzuki has 4,367 career hits, which is more than any other professional baseball player in history.
Related Stories on Seattle Mariners
MARINERS VETERAN REFLECTS ON BEING TEAMMATES WITH ICHIRO SUZUKI: Mariners first baseman Donovan Solano shared a clubhouse with Ichiro Suzuki while with the Miami Marlins and he spoke as Ichiro gets set to have his No. 51 retired by the organization. CLICK HERE
MARINERS POST EMOTIONAL VIDEO SHOWING FAN SUPPORT OF ICHIRO SUZUKI: The Mariners shared video on social media showings fan letters to the 2025 National Baseball Hall of Famer. CLICK HERE
MARINERS SLUGGER IMPRESSES AS HE BEGINS REHAB ASSIGNMENT: Luke Raley had a solid performance with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers on Friday. CLICK HERE
Follow Seattle Mariners on SI on social media
Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on "X" @Teren_Kowatsch and @RefuseToLosePod. You can subscribe to the "Refuse to Lose" podcast by clicking HERE.
