Mariners
No. 259! Ichiro breaks record

By Bob Sherwin
Seattle Times staff reporter

HARLEY SOLTES / THE SEATTLE TIMES Ichiro's trademark warmup before each pitch.

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Ichiro, the Mariners' diminutive right fielder from Kasugai, Aichi prefecture, Japan, claimed George Sisler's 84-year-old season-hit record tonight before a sold-out crowd of 45,573 at Safeco Field in M's 8-3 win over Texas Friday night.

Ichiro, who was born in 1973, the year Sisler died, bounced a first-inning single over Texas third baseman Hank Blalock for his 257th hit, tying the record. Then, in the third inning, he lined a 3-2 pitch just to the left of shortstop Michael Young for his record 258th hit. Both hits came off Rangers right-hander Ryan Drese.

Ichiro's season-long quest ended with the record hit in the Mariners' 160th game. Sisler's 73-year-old daughter, Frances Drochelmanc, who was on hand, said Ichiro is the right person at the right time.

"He [Sisler] would be proud of Ichiro," Drochelman said. "He would be delighted to know what a fine person he is."

Sisler's grandson, Bo Drochelman, one of five Sisler family members at the game, added, "My grandfather really respected the game of baseball. He cherished it and played every minute to the hilt. That's the part of Ichiro I think he would have loved, a man dedicated to the game. That would have made him proud, that kind of person breaking his record."

SURVEY Where does it rank? Where does Ichiro's hits record rank in relation to baseball's other recent feats: Barry Bonds' 73 home runs and Cal Ripken's streak of 2,632 straight games played? It's bigger It's in the same league It's slightly less important It's nowhere near as big View Results

This chase of Sisler's record, set in 1920 when Sisler played for the St. Louis Browns in a 154-game season, did not elicit the same kind of national obsession — at least not in this nation — that the home-run clashes between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa did in the late 1990s. This was more like home run lite.

"It surprises me that not more national media is here," Mariners manager Bob Melvin said. "It's one of the great records of all time. Look at the top five. Four of them played back in the 1920s. Now Ichiro is one of those guys in there. That's more impressive to me."

The crowd was in electric anticipation as Ichiro returned home from the Mariners' 10-game road trip just one hit shy. In the bottom of the first inning, Ichiro took his spot in the on-deck circle as all eyes carefully watched his preparation ritual.

He swung the heavy bat, then switched to his game bat. He whipped the bat around, stretching his hamstrings as the crowd buzzed, waiting for his name to be announced. He bent down, then sat on his heels. As he stood up, the announcer introduced him.

Fans stood, and their ovation grew louder as Ichiro approached the plate. Flash bulbs popped all over the grandstands. The "thump, thump" percussion of the public-address system kept the beat as Ichiro made a couple of practice swings before stepping into history.

Drese then threw an uncontested strike as a flood of flashes poured down. Ichiro fouled off the next two pitches, then, on an outside fastball, he hammered the ball down, 10 feet to the left of the plate. It bounced high enough to just elude the reach of Blalock, who was positioned on the edge of the infield grass, and rolled into left field.

The crowd roared. Fireworks exploded along the outside wall north of the ballpark. Ichiro stood at first base for more than two minutes to accept the ovation. Finally, with time called, he stepped off the bag and lifted his helmet high above his head.

For the moment, he was tied with Sisler, who was born in 1893, retired in 1930 and died at age 80 on March 24, 1973. Ichiro's record run has brought Sisler back from baseball's shadows .

"That's why we are here, to celebrate baseball, my grandfather and baseball in general," said another grandson, Ric Sisler.

The tie lasted just two more innings, although Ichiro's record-setter almost never happened. In the top of the third, Ken Huckaby hit a long foul down the right-field line. Ichiro raced to the railing, stepped on the short bleacher wall and fell awkwardly back onto the field. The crowd was immediately aghast, fearing that an injury would cruelly deny his destiny just on the threshold. But he bounded back up and returned to his position without a hint of trauma.

Ichiro led off the third inning, falling behind 1-2. He then took a couple pitches for a full count. Drese tried to come inside with a fastball, but Ichiro's quick swipe sent that ball to the Hall of Fame.

The entire Mariners team came out to greet him. Ichiro then walked over to five Sisler family members sitting along the first-base side. He bowed and greeted Frances and the four others. He talked briefly with the group, shook hands, then went back to first base, continuing to take bows and tipping his helmet to the appreciative crowd.

In his fourth at-bat in the sixth inning, Ichiro bounced his 259th hit (and 57th infield single), a slow roller that shortstop Young couldn't reach in time to throw out Ichiro at first.

Ichiro, 30, who wouldn't have been allowed to play the game in Sisler's time because of racial intolerance, has gone where no one — from any country — has gone before.

"My grandfather would say right now that Ichiro is a professional baseball player," Bo Drochelman said. "He would absolutely not want anyone to talk about where he is from, who he is or be opposed to him because of that. He would be proud of this man, this professional, and the job he is doing right now."

Bob Sherwin: 206-464-8286 or bsherwin@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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