Seattle Mariners to retire Ichiro Suzuki's No. 51 in August

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 21: Former Seattle Mariners player Ichiro Suzuki reacts as he is elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, after receiving the results of the 2025 Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) Hall of Fame Ballo (Steph Chambers / Getty Images)

The Seattle Mariners announced they will be retiring the No. 51 this August to celebrate Ichiro Suzuki as he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday.

Mariners president of business operations announced the honor at a press conference with Suzuki at T-Mobile Park.

"On behalf of everyone in our organization, chairman and managing partner John Stanton, our partnership group and our fans, it's truly my honor and privilege to announce that the Mariners are retiring your No. 51 jersey after your induction in Cooperstown this summer," Martinez said.

The Mariners will have a ceremony on Saturday, August 9, as Ichiro's No. 51 will join the No. 24 of Ken Griffey Jr., the No. 11 of Edgar Martínez, and the No. 42 of Jackie Robinson, which is retired by every team in Major League Baseball.

The backstory:

Ichiro isn't the only Mariners great to wear No. 51. Randy Johnson wore it throughout his tenure with the Mariners as well and is also a member of the Hall of Fame. Suzuki said he felt a need to live up to the reputation of the number when it became his upon coming to Seattle in 2001.

"I knew that number 51 was a special number. I knew that it was a special number to the organization, and I knew it was a special number to the fans here in Seattle," Suzuki said through interpreter Allen Turner. "I wanted to make sure that number 51 was not going to be embarrassed. And also I felt like if number 51 was just an average player, I wouldn't do Randy Johnson justice. I took very seriously that I needed to do well, to make sure that I performed well in that number, so I remember feeling that pressure when I got that number."

Suzuki then reflected on being able to face Johnson during the All-Star Game in Seattle at Safeco Field (now T-Mobile Park).

'That moment, it meant a lot," Suzuki said. "Because of the fact it was Randy Johnson, and I was able to face him at home."

Suzuki was one of three players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday, joining starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia, and closer Billy Wagner. Suzuki came just one vote shy of being a unanimous selection, earning 393 out of 394 votes from this year's panel of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Players need to reach 75 percent of the vote to be elected to the Hall of Fame.

Featured

Ichiro Suzuki elected to Baseball Hall of Fame, one vote shy of unanimous

Former Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki made history as the first Japanese player to earn induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame, but fell just one vote shy of being a unanimous selection.

The Source: Announcement by the Seattle Mariners.

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