Ichiro Suzuki immortalized: Mariners retire #51, Seattle legend

Ichiro Suzuki Immortalized: The Mariners Retire Number 51

In a moving pre-game ceremony, the Seattle Mariners paid tribute to the legend Ichiro Suzuki, retiring his iconic number 51 at T-Mobile Park, before facing the Tampa Bay Rays. “What’s up, Seattle! I am very grateful to be here today, to receive this great honor.” Suzuki, recently inducted into the Hall of Fame, joins Ken Griffey Jr. (No. 24) and Edgar Martinez (No. 11) as the only Mariners players with their number retired.

“Congratulations on being inducted into the Hall of Fame and having your number retired. It was about time. What took them so long? I’ve been there for five years.”

Ken Griffey Jr.

Suzuki made history as the first player born in Japan to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, obtaining almost 99.7% of the votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. After eight seasons in the Japanese Professional Baseball League, Suzuki debuted in the Major Leagues at age 27. In his rookie season in 2001, he won the Rookie of the Year and American League Most Valuable Player awards, becoming the second player to achieve this in the same season, along with Fred Lynn. Throughout his 19-year MLB career, Suzuki was a 10-time All-Star, 10-time Gold Glove winner, two-time American League batting champion, and three-time Silver Slugger. He set the single-season hits record with 262 in 2004, a mark that still stands. Before Suzuki arrived, Hall of Famer Randy Johnson also wore the number 51 for nine seasons in Seattle. Johnson threw the franchise’s first no-hitter in 1990 and won the Mariners’ first Cy Young Award in 1995. The club announced that in 2026 it will also retire Johnson’s number 51, an honor shared by two icons in the Pacific Northwest.

“I am grateful to Randy for attending my ceremony today. It will be a great honor to attend his next season,” Suzuki commented. After brief stints with the New York Yankees (2012-14) and the Miami Marlins (2015-17), Suzuki returned to Seattle in 2018 and officially retired in 2019 after a two-game series in Tokyo. As Suzuki advanced from center field, the chants of “Ich-i-ro! Ich-i-ro!” echoed throughout the packed stadium. His former teammates and Mariners Hall of Famers, Johnson, Griffey, Jay Buhner, Alvin Davis, Felix Hernandez, Edgar Martinez, and Dan Wilson, awaited him.

“I’m also very proud to be a Seattle Mariner,” Suzuki said, referencing Griffey’s Hall of Fame induction speech in 2016.

Ichiro Suzuki

President John Stanton announced that the Mariners will place a statue of Suzuki at T-Mobile Park in 2026. He said it will display Suzuki’s iconic batting stance. Suzuki has remained connected to the Mariners, serving as a special assistant to Stanton. Suzuki is often seen in full uniform, working with players during pre-game routines in Seattle.

“Although I can no longer help you with a hit or a laser throw, my will and desire are always there for you,” said Suzuki.

Ichiro Suzuki