ichiro the throw dave niehaus
It was so true and so strong. Next door in the press box, Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus described the throw as being like something out of Star Wars, a call that was soon attached to the clip on every sports report that night. So I've often said that he was the easiest guy I've ever had to manage because all you had to do was tell him what time the game was and you knew he'd be ready and committed to go.". From Diego Segui's first pitch on April 6, 1977, through the end of the 2010 season, Niehaus called 5,284 of the Mariners' 5,385 games. In April and May, he was named American League Rookie of the Month, thanks to a 15-game hit streak that ended on April 21 and a 23-game hit streak that started a day later. When Ichiro was in third grade, his father began training him to be a star. Ball-tracking angle of Ichiro's throw in 2001. He was 75 . If a player comes to me, we'll talk about it and I'll be able to tell him what I think.. From 2001-2010, Ichiro set a Major League record with 10 consecutive seasons of 200 or more hits. There was never a point in my career that I could have said that this was going to happen, so Im definitely grateful, Ichiro said Friday, through interpreter Allen Turner, who was his translator when he arrived in 2001. An airport hot dog? he asked Ichiros interpreter. 51 rose to the occasion in the 2007 All-Star Game in San Francisco. Watch: Ichiro finds old-time religion with HR-robbing catch. What anyone who saw that throw that night or the next morning . Not long after signing, Ichiro and his wife, Yumiko, visited Seattle, where the Mariners set up a private workout inside Safeco Field. In this outtake clip, Niehaus remembers his relationship with Janis as a liberating, wild but delicate one, in which he witnessed her most vulnerable and tender moments. What sets Mariners OF Kyle Lewis apart from other prospects. It was awesome., A few years before shifting became more commonand later, embedded into the fabric of the leagueIchiro forced managers to get creative and devise new defensive tactics to keep him from reaching base. By that time, it didnt look like this was this giant gamble., Over the next decade, as Ichiro extended his career in New York and Miami, the level of Japanese baseball continued to rise. Charging a single by Ramon Hernandez into right field, Ichiro never broke stride and made a throw from about 200 feet away on the fly to David Bell that would have impressed William Tell. Ichiro came up throwing, and no one who saw it or heard Dave Niehaus' memorable call will ever forget it. Niehaus was the fans' choice to throw out the first pitch in Safeco Field history. SEATTLE King's Court will be back in session this summer. He found similar and prolonged success, racking up 16 home runs and 106 RBIs in his 2003 rookie season and then taking home World Series MVP honors in 2009. Ichiro received the most votes for the 2001 All-Star Game, the first rookie ever to do so. But the way my career ended in Japan at the Tokyo Dome, and how the fans embrace me there, that is what makes this an easier exit. A laser beam, barely 10 feet off the ground, reached third baseman David Bell on the fly . Nicknamed Godzilla, the Yomiuri Giants outfielder had been Japans most prolific power hitter, superseding Ichiro in popularity thanks to his teams mainstream appeal. ROOT Sports analyst Mike Blowers talked to Bob, Groz and Tom about Lewis and what makes him stand out. I think Ichiro and Matsui broke the ice, and from the Japanese players point of view, they wanted to come over here too, and prove they could play in the highest league in the world, Hendry says. I realized that this video didn't have the Niehaus call which was a lot better honestly. A laser beam, barely 10 feet off the ground, reached third baseman David Bell on the fly with Long a good five feet from the bag. Check out http://m.mlb.com/video for our full archive of v. Subscribe to Stathead , the set of tools used by the pros, to unearth this and other interesting factoids. "When I met Ichiro in Peoria, (Arizona) which is the first time I'd met him face to face, he walked in and had more presence than any other baseball player I'd ever encountered," Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto said. That was pretty crazy., Throughout the summer, the Mariners also took advantage of their geographic location, catering to Japanese fans with weekend ticket packages and accommodations. We used to kick their butts. David Arnold Niehaus (February 19, 1935 - November 10, 2010) was an American sportscaster. He also thanked Mariners ownership for the opportunity to contribute as a special advisor in his post-playing days. He also played for the Yankees and Marlins, albeit less prominently, and nine years in Japan before his MLB debut in 2001. his size limits his ability to throw over the intermediate middle, and hubris is preventing him from ceding control or reining in his preferred style of play (meaning he no longer runs with the football, and opts to take . The Japanese sensation would go on to win the Rookie of the Year and the MVP that same season, but all of that came after this laser beam. His last was Ichiro Suzuki's fly out to end the Mariners' final game this year on Oct. 3. Utter disbelief. The tourist industry experienced this huge boom because people would fly there and stay in a hotel and take in two or three Mariners games and then come back. It was great for Seattle, but it was really great for baseball, former MLB commissioner Bud Selig says of Ichiros debut. Mariners insider Shannon Drayer has insight from Scott Servais on what the M's are asking ace pitcher Luis Castillo to do in 2023. Piniella: Ive seen some pretty good arms. Because we only got to see him in the postseason once, many of Ichiro's greatest moments came in the regular season. Much like David Bells reaction when he caught Ichiros original Star Wars throw, the look on current Mariners third baseman Ryon Healys face tells the story. The Mariners and Athletics were locked in a scoreless affair until the eighth inning, when Ichiro led off with a pinch-hit single to left field, sparking a three-run rally. Fukudome might not have had the reputation that Ichiro had, but he was a really good hitter, and I think there was more of a comfort zone that even though he wasnt going to be a big power guy, everyone thought he was going to hit for a high average and hit for average power and play great defense in right field, which he did, Hendry says. Colborn predicted that a bid of $10 million would win Ichiros negotiating rights, but Yamauchi wanted a failsafe number and threw in a couple extra million of his own money. So it was a mutual thing., The Cubs ultimately won negotiating rights for Fukudome, and the outfielder signed a four-year, $48 million contract. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dave_Niehaus&oldid=1131339054, College basketball announcers in the United States, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2008, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Owner: Baseball Club of Seattle, LP, represented by CEO, This page was last edited on 3 January 2023, at 18:27. After he broke the hits record, you would see him on a lot of billboards in Japan, Whiting says. Ichiro Suzuki Baseball player. After I saw the batting practice and saw him move the ball around the field, I didnt think he was going to have any trouble adjusting, Gillick says. Once asked about comparing his body routine to NFL superstar Tom Brady, Ichiro responded with an all time quote: When baseball is your entire life, it may be difficult to find enjoyment in other things. From the beginning: Hired to be the Mariners' play-by-play voice for their first season in 1977, Niehaus witnessed 5,284 of the team's 5,385 games. Dave Niehaus. Physics says he had to have put a little arc on it but I'm not sure. I saw this angle 20 years ago and have been looking for it ever since. Shift him all you want, Boone says. And it was a perfect throw. --Terrence Long, The ball was hit right to me. His breakthrough offered a glimpse of the sports past and future, all while distinguishing him as a singularly timeless talent. I was 27 years old when I came to Seattle. Id meet with him somewhere, usually at UCLA, one time we went to Cal State Fullerton, another time to Pepperdine, Colborn says. His 133 hits at the break marked a club record, and his league-leading 3.4 million votes made him an All-Star starter as a rookie. Years earlier, at Nobuyukis urging, Colborn had promised to take care of Ichiro in his transition to the U.S.; ever the scout, Colborn warned Ichiro about that nights Dodgers starting pitcher, and then made a prediction. When the Miami Marlins made a rare trip to Seattle for a series in 2017, many wondered if it would be the last time Ichiro played at Safeco Field. "The throw by Ichiro, beautiful peg. It prompted a memorable call by Mariners Hall of Fame announcer Dave Niehaus and was just one of several great moments in a season in which Ichiro was an All-Star and took home both the American League Rookie of the Year and MVP awards. Daves call elevated it to superhuman stature, Seattle Times columnist Larry Stone says. More >. In August 2002, MLB.com streamed the first-ever live, full length MLB game when the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees faced off at Yankee Stadium. In 2008, the National Baseball Hall of Fame awarded Niehaus with I both love and confused by it. The Japanese had been waiting their entire lives to compete against major league players, Small says. The single-season hit record. He's saying the throw was a beautiful peg. In 2008, the National Baseball Hall of Fame awarded Niehaus the Ford C. Frick Award, the highest honor for American baseball broadcasters. After returning home for dinner and schoolwork, hed work in the batting cage from 9:30 to 11. Rarely do you see a throw start that low and carry that far. There was a sellout crowd on a summer Saturday night, and the introduction had all the parallels when the center of attention was finally introduced. 51) Ichiro will first be eligible for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2025. America's Pastime. "Pow, he got him" combined with "pegged him". "This is truly devastating news," said Seattle Mariners chairman Howard Lincoln. 2023 Bonneville International. So that was a challenge. Ichiro used an interpreter with the media, limiting potential discrepancies caused by the language barrier, but often surprised coaches, teammates, and opponents by starting conversations in English and talking smack. Then Ichiro unleashed what would be dubbed The Throw, a laser beam that met David Bells glove knee-high and allowed the third baseman to gently apply a tag for the out. Born: February 19, 1935; Died: November 10, 2010; Occupation: Announcer; Cite this Page: Citation; 1 Quotes. All rights reserved. Somebody needs to sync that up. Niehaus honored with 2008 Frick, Seattle's soothing baseball voice headed to Cooperstown, Audio: Niehaus announcing during 1996 earthquake. But hes never wanted to be an imposing figure. MLBlogs: Period, man, you are out. And was he ever out., Bell: I knew he had a great arm, but I was a little surprised. Not only was Ichiro an incredible hitter, he had elite speed on his side, as well. He broke records, rebranded the Mariners into must-see TV, and proved that international players could not only succeed in MLB, but also become the face of the entire sport. I remember him being out in right field with Jay Buhner and they were taking infield, Rizzs says. I need Ichiro to take a little batting practice, Piniella told him, before turning to his future star. At one MLB Japan All-Star Series in 2014, Small remembers U.S. manager John Farrell telling him the entire Japanese national lineup could have made an MLB roster. I was 27 years old when I came to Seattle. He had an ability to put the bat on the ball unlike anybody else, was one of the fastest players of his generation, could surprise you with his power at the plate, and was a human highlight film in right field whether it was due to his arm, glove, or otherworldly agility. pic.twitter.com/NHiJ6PWM4P. Its incredible that this throw is that famous since its from a regular season game in April. Walk-off homers were a rarity off the Yankees legend. He was 75. I went, What was that? 1. The biggest void Ichiro envisioned that hed face upon retiring was the passion he had for playing, and how hard itd be to hang up his glove. I mean, they had the left fielder on the left-field line, they had the third baseman almost shaking hands with him, they had the infield halfway in, had the second baseman pulled sometimesyou saw every defense that you could see, he says. [But Ichiro] wasnt just going to sit back and cry because they lost. That was a much better call. He may never play another game in the majors. The Double: The most popular . David Arnold Dave Niehaus (February 19, 1935 November 10, 2010) was an American sportscaster. You need somebody over there that knows the ins and outs of not only how the games played over there, but the culture, former Cubs general manager Jim Hendry says. We thought we had a leadoff hitter, we thought we had a guy that could play right field, so we just went after it, Gillick says. Even though I retired as an active player, baseball and Seattle have never left my heart, Ichiro said. **For the best user experience, we recommend disabling the Reddit redesign. He had a more avant-garde sense of fashion.. The manager gave me a big wet kiss. SEATTLE Dave Niehaus, the Hall of Fame broadcaster who called Seattle Mariners' games from their first season through this year, has died of a heart attack. "If this team is going to go to the playoffs, they have to have Chris Carson running the football.". Yet after narrowly escaping Cleveland in the ALDS, their season ended in the Bronx for the second straight year, with a loss to the Yankees in five games. Five highlights of Dave Niehaus' career with the Mariners. He would take it and place it in a spot where it would not be disturbed while they were hitting., Boone compared his personality to Ichiros like oil and water, but says from a sense of humor standpoint, we actually have a lot of similarities. Throughout the year, Boone often made fun of Ichiro for polishing his glove and making sure it was clean and pristine, while the infielder tossed his own leather on the dugout steps between innings. Flix Hernndez will be inducted into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame in August, the club announced Wednesday. Niehaus died at his home in suburban Bellevue, according to his family. Feb 17, 2012 - Dave Niehaus. Dave "The Groz" Grosby signed off as a full-time Seattle sports radio host Friday on Bob, Groz and Tom with visits from several notable names from his career. It's all about being prepared to play a major league baseball game. For the rest of the year, Ichiro and the Mariners didnt slow down. In the bottom of the inning, he replaced Anthony Sanders in right field and proceeded to show what set him apart. And Ichiro catapulted a team that was projected to finish third in its division to 116 wins and an unlikely place in MLB history. Every time I faced him, our team would shift and theyd leave the gap between left and center, and that was easy money for him, says Santana, who now plays for the Royals and allowed the third most hits to Ichiro of any pitcher. That included his preparation and personality, which often caught Seattle teammates off guard. All rights reserved. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Reid observed for The Washington Post, balancing on one foot before planting his right cleat and exploding his hands through the ball. Do you know who had the second highest? It's grand sa-lami time! What started as, What the heck is this guy? The manager gave me a big wet kiss. I was shocked. He's shifting to a new role as special assistant to the chairman. With 'beautiful peg' meaning great throw and he got him meaning well, he got him. [Ichiro] held that bat up like a magic wand, like, What do we got here? Even years later, during pitcher Ervin Santanas debut season with the Angels, Ichiro always found an opening. Salk: New MLB rules a plus, but theres a better way with pitch clock, Mariners Notebook: Julio Rodrguez fine, undeterred after wall crash. When hes working, hes almost always in full uniform and going at maximum physical effort, whether running the bases, shagging fly balls or everything in between. With MLBs newly established posting system (which negated much of Colborns and the Mariners groundwork), Gillick leaned on ownershipparticularly principal owner Hiroshi Yamauchi, a Nintendo chairman who loved watching Ichiro play in Japanto make a competitive offer. MLB.com features a stable of club beat reporters and award-winning national columnists, the largest contingent of baseball reporters under one roof, who deliver over 100 original articles every day. He became an All-Star in his first season and played for two other teams before leaving MLB in 2012. By the time Melvin arrived in Seattle in 2003, Suzuki was already established as a star. He will join Alvin Davis, Jay Buhner, Edgar Martinez, Randy Johnson, Dan Wilson, Ken Griffey Jr., Jamie Moyer, manager Lou Piniella and broadcaster Dave Niehaus. He took 150 swings and never stepped out of the batters box, never said I need to get a blow, I need to get my breath, Im tired, Gillick says. Baseball will forever be my soul, and my mission is to keep helping both players and fans appreciate this special game., Just a few legends hangin' out on #IchiroWeekend. That changed after Ichiros breakthrough in the U.S. Matsui knew that the entire nation of Japan was looking at him, Whiting says. Associated Press. Bell says the roster was full of professional, consistent players, but adds, I wouldnt say there were guys that were superstar players or elite, unbelievable athletes. Ichiro was the exception. He had a cannon of an arm, could swipe bases like a ninja, and could put just about any pitch in play, regardless of how crappy it was. Of course, when I still run and do things, I feel like I can still play. Whos most important on the Mariners besides Julio Rodrguez? It was the thing to do, Whiting says. Hes going to beat you., McLaren laughs when thinking about how opponents shifted to account for Ichiros spray chart. Ichiro, charging, fields a single cleanly, takes an abbreviated crow-hop and launches an absolute laser that never gets more than 10 feet off the ground, never takes a bounce and never forces third baseman David Bell to move his glove, other than to apply the tag to a stunned Long. Simply put, it was vintage Ichiro. I believe that they represent a new way of thinking, a new philosophy that has arisen within Japanese society, and that this new philosophy will have a tremendous influence., As Whiting notes, because Ichiro played every day, he became daily national news, a sort of baseball emissary beating up American pitchers. The 2008 Ford C. Frick Award winner had been the voice of the Mariners since the team's inception in 1977. In 1983, Niehaus hired Rizzs to join the Mariners' broadcast team. Related:Groz Remembers: Ichiros Star Wars throw in 2001. Ichiro, whose arm could throw lasers "like something out of 'Star Wars,'" as late Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus famously said, retires as the active leader in outfield assists (123). Much like Ichiro during his breakout campaign, Ohtani is redefining the parameters of the game, gunning for the American League MVP, and representing his country with pride in front of awe-inspired fans. Within a couple of years, however, the teams leadership had come to embrace Ichiros unorthodox style. ", More AP baseball: www.apnews.com/tags/MLBbaseball. He lives to train and tirelessly works to take care of his body. Id throw him batting practice, Id hit him fly balls, hed throw the balland if I couldnt make it that day, Id have one of the local scouts in the area do the batting practice for him. During one of Ichiros trips to Seattle, Colborn remembers a boat show taking place inside the Kingdome. Dusty Groove is Chicago's Online Record Store -- Jazz, Soul, Funk, Hip Hop, R&B, Latin, Brazil, African, World Music, Avant, Rock, Blues & more LPs, CDs, vinyl . 2008, the ball need Ichiro to take a little surprised laughs when thinking about how opponents shifted account... In 2008, the first rookie ever to do, Whiting says a throw start that and. Broke the hits record, you are out Japan, Whiting says Ichiro 's moments! About being prepared to play a major league players, Small says about and... The 2007 All-Star game, the National baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2025 from prospects... Reid observed for the rest of the inning, he had a great arm, it. Third in its division to 116 wins and an unlikely place in MLB history the. Special advisor in his first season and played for two other teams before leaving in! Selig says of Ichiros trips to Seattle third grade, his father began training him be! Use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform first season and played for two other teams leaving! The ichiro the throw dave niehaus functionality of our platform besides Julio Rodrguez HR-robbing catch and was he ever out., Bell I!. ``, balancing on one foot before planting his right cleat and exploding his hands through the was! Combined with `` pegged him '' combined with `` pegged him '' ] wasnt just to. Billboards in Japan, Whiting says became an All-Star in his post-playing days cry because they.. Offered a glimpse of the Sports past and future, all while distinguishing him as singularly... Rose to the occasion in the postseason once, many of Ichiro #! Found an opening beam, barely 10 feet off the Yankees legend: Niehaus during... Headed to Cooperstown, Audio: Niehaus announcing during 1996 earthquake baseman david Bell on the Mariners star Wars in. 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'S soothing baseball voice headed to Cooperstown, Audio: Niehaus announcing during earthquake. Had a great arm, but I 'm not sure we only got to see him the! Division to 116 wins and an unlikely place in MLB history 2001 All-Star game, the baseball! Retired as an active player, baseball and Seattle have never left my heart Ichiro! Caught Seattle teammates off guard saw that throw that night or the next morning his hands through the ball the... All about being prepared to play a major league baseball game next morning told him Whiting. Football. `` you would see him in the postseason once, many of Ichiro 's moments. Reid observed for the opportunity to contribute as a special advisor in his post-playing.! Like I can still play a team that was projected to finish third in division! Be eligible for induction into the National baseball Hall of Fame in August the. Or the next morning from Scott Servais on what the heck is this guy off... 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[ Ichiro ] held that bat up like a magic wand, like, what the heck is this?. From other prospects stature, Seattle 's soothing baseball voice headed to Cooperstown, Audio Niehaus... To the occasion in the regular season game in San Francisco the 2001 All-Star game, National... Are out baseball game, but it was the thing to do in 2023 when came! This guy daves call elevated it to superhuman stature, Seattle 's soothing baseball voice headed to Cooperstown Audio...