When Ichiro Suzuki became the first Japanese-born player to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, he became the 22nd player born outside the United States (including Puerto Rico, which, though it is a U.

Former Seattle player Ichiro Suzuki acknowledges the crowd during a ceremony in which he was presented with the Mariners’ “Franchise Acheivement Award” before a 2019 game. Stephen Brashear/AP Share It wasn’t me.

The international significance of Ichiro Suzuki’s selection to the National Baseball Hall of Fame shouldn’t get overlooked or downplayed. It will be a benchmark moment in baseball history this summer when he becomes the first Japanese player enshrined in Cooperstown,