Ichiro Suzuki is now officially a Hall of Famer, finally earning the honor after a long wait—one that, as he pointed out during his speech, included at least one baseball writer who had refused to vote for him. During that same speech, Ichiro took the opportunity to thank the person he called his greatest “teammate” throughout his 19-year MLB career.
While Ichiro wore a Yankees uniform during part of his career, it’s important to remember that he also played for the Seattle Mariners and Miami Marlins over the course of nearly two decades. And it was throughout that entire journey, across all three cities, that he had one unwavering source of support: his most meaningful teammate.
Ichiro played in a total of 2,653 MLB games—most of them with the Mariners (1,861). He logged 432 games with the Marlins and 360 with the Yankees. No matter the team or the city, his teammate was always right there with him.
Who was the teammate that supported Ichiro the most?
It wasn’t a fellow player. As Ichiro revealed, the person who stood by him through every challenge was his wife, Yumiko. In one of the most heartfelt moments of his speech, Ichiro described the role she played behind the scenes in keeping his life grounded and focused.
“…All of her energy was focused on supporting and encouraging me. For 19 seasons in Seattle, New York and Miami, she made sure that our home was always happy and positive. I tried to be consistent as a player. But she’s the most consistent teammate I’ve ever had.”
Facing Harsh Criticism from the Start
Ichiro didn’t shy away from addressing the adversity he faced when first arriving in the United States. Before honoring his wife’s support, he reflected on the intense criticism and doubt he encountered early in his MLB career—largely centered around his physique.
“If you consistently do the little things, there is no limit to what you can achieve,” Ichiro said. “Look at me, I’m 5’11” and 170 pounds. When I came to America, many people said I was too skinny to compete with bigger Major Leaguers. The first time I ran out on the field, I was in awe of the competition. But I knew if I stuck to my beliefs about preparation, I could overcome the doubts. Even my own.”
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“But it was more than just that,” he continued. “There was criticism and negativity. Someone even said to me, ‘Don’t embarrass the nation.’ The person who supported me the most was my wife, Yumiko.”
