30 Day Baseball Card Challenge

▼

Sunday, May 6, 2018

Dazed and Confused

It's been three days since I heard the huge news about Ichiro Suzuki making the transition from ball player to special assistant in the Seattle Mariners front office and I'm still not quite sure how I feel about it.

1993 TOMY I.D. #102

Obviously the sport will miss one of the greatest foreign players to ever take the field.  The guy seemed to be able to put the ball into play wherever and whenever he wanted when he stepped into the batter's box.

2012 Topps Archives 1956 Relics #56R-I

Defensively he was as smart and creative as they come and if that weren't enough... he had a rocket for an arm.

2008 Allen and Ginter Framed Mini Relics #AGR-IS
2009 Allen and Ginter Framed Mini Relics #AGR-IS
2010 Allen and Ginter Framed Mini Relics #AGR-IS

That combination along with the incredible numbers he put up during his MLB career along with his dedication for the game he loved have guaranteed him a plaque in Cooperstown.

2001 eTopps #100

The question is whether or not it'll be in five years?

1993 BBM #239

It's uncertain whether or not we've seen Ichiro's final MLB plate experience.

2001 Topps Gallery #151a
2001 Topps Gallery #151b

I have nothing but admiration for #51, and understand that he's done so much for the game that he's kind of earned the right to leave the game on his terms.  It'd be pretty cool to see him play one final time when the Oakland A's and Seattle Mariners kick off the 2019 MLB season in Japan.  Could you think of a cooler way for Ichiro to wrap up his career?

2001 Keebler #5 (Stadium Giveaway)

On the other hand,  there's a part of me that hopes he embraces this "coaching" position and takes the next step in his MLB career as a mentor to the franchise that signed him seventeen years ago.

2001 Fleer Tradtion #452

I guess only time will tell.  Regardless of his decision... I'm still going to enjoy watching his highlight reels and collecting his memorabilia.

2000 UD Ovation Japan #41

Happy Sunday and sayonara!
at

17 comments:

  1. Jeremya1umMay 6, 2018 at 3:15 PM

    Ichiro was a class act and it’s just a shame that he never won a World Series. That’s a great Ichiro collection you’ve got going!

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Angels In OrderMay 6, 2018 at 5:06 PM

    Impressive collection. I always enjoyed seeing him bat.

    ReplyDelete
  3. MattMay 6, 2018 at 7:21 PM

    I just feel bad that his ttechnical last season's were spent with Tha marlins. Ouch.

    Just glad he was able to retire as a mariner . That's the way it should be

    ReplyDelete
  4. defgavMay 6, 2018 at 9:39 PM

    Wish he could have gone out better than he did.

    ReplyDelete
  5. gcrlMay 6, 2018 at 11:44 PM

    I think he will suit up for the 2019 opener in Japan.

    ReplyDelete
  6. SumoMenkoManMay 7, 2018 at 3:32 AM

    Some great looking Ichiro cards! I wonder what the Mariners have in mind?

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousMay 7, 2018 at 3:36 AM

    Here's my prediction: Ichiro plays for the Mariners in Japan, gets his release at the end of the series, stays in Japan and moves over to an NPB team.

    ReplyDelete
  8. ManMay 7, 2018 at 8:12 AM

    He gets to take batting practice-so perhaps he isn't done yet? I regret I have never seen him live.

    ReplyDelete
  9. NickMay 7, 2018 at 9:10 AM

    I'd love to see Ichiro open the season in Japan with the Mariners next year. Now THAT would be a great ride into the sunset.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Xavier HigginsMay 7, 2018 at 10:02 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Xavier HigginsMay 7, 2018 at 10:04 AM

    Sweating that eTopps gem

    ReplyDelete
  12. Coast To PostsMay 8, 2018 at 4:16 AM

    Nice collection of Ichiro cards!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Steve at 1975BaseballCards.comMay 8, 2018 at 1:50 PM

    I planned to go watch an Ichiro game this year so that was a disappointing headline.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Johnnys Trading SpotMay 8, 2018 at 4:47 PM

    Some nice Ichiro's there.

    ReplyDelete
  15. arpsmithMay 8, 2018 at 8:12 PM

    You have a great Ichiro collection, I wish he could have stuck it out for the rest of the year.

    ReplyDelete
  16. JafroniusMay 12, 2018 at 5:55 AM

    Enjoyed your collection as well. I'm also bummed at how it came about...they make the announcement but he doesnt play that weekend so fans can say goodbye? No farewell tour?

    ReplyDelete
  17. FujiMay 12, 2018 at 8:49 PM

    jeremya1um - i know. wait. that's a great idea for a post. greatest players to never win a world series

    the angels in order - me too. when i'm bored, i'll watch his highlights on youtube

    sport card collectors - glad he signed with the mariners too

    defgav - who knows... maybe he'll come back for the series in japan and go 8 for 10 against the a's next year

    gcrl - i kinda think he does too

    sumomenkoman - see gcrl's comment ;)

    shlabotnikreport - i'd be okay with that. great way to wrap up his career

    b man - i watched him a few times. most recently was when the marlins played the giants i think in 2016

    nick - yeah. but then you'd have to wait until 2020 for his sunset card ;)

    xavier higgins - i love that card. they're actually pretty affordable since they produced a bunch of them

    coast to posts - thanks! i hope to add more in the near future

    steve at 1975baseballcards.com - me too. maybe i'll luck out and see him take batting practice at the coliseum later in the season

    john miller - thanks

    at-smith - thanks. me too. well sort of. i didn't want him to end up hitting below the mendoza line. however... he always had a lot of success vs. left handed pitching. the mariners could have used him whenever they faced lefties

    jafronius - i totally forgot about the farewell tour. unless maybe he's not done yet.

    ReplyDelete