Ichiro Suzuki Joins 4,000 Hit Club

In the world of professional baseball, picking up 4,000 hits in a career is a rare feet. Heading into last night it had been done by only two guys, Pete Rose and Ty Cobb. Now we can add another member to that club. With a 1st inning single of Blue Jays starter RA Dickey, Ichiro Suzuki joins that 4,000 hit club. Unlike the first two members of this club, Ichiro joins the club with a bit of a twist. Ichiro's accomplishment comes as a combined total between Japan and the American major leagues. In his seven seasons in the Japanese Pacific League, Ichiro collected 1,278 hits. During his 13 years in the United States, he now has 2,722 major league hits. He surpassed Lou Gehrig for sole possession of 59th place on the all-time major-league hit list.

Rose is the all-time hits leader with 4,256, while Cobb had 4,189. Since Ichiro joined Major League Baseball in 2001 with the Seattle Mariners, Ichiro has 375 more hits than any other player and needs 34 more this season to tie Richie Ashburn for second place with his 13th consecutive 150-hit season to begin a career. Ichiro's first hit came in 1992 for the Orix Buffaloes. Suzuki has been one of the best pure hitters in the game, not only during his time in Japan, but in his time here in the States. During his big league career, Ichiro picked up 2,722 hits, which puts him atop two very interesting lists.

Those 2,722 hits are the most by any player in the majors since 2001, which tops the list of some pretty big names. Since 2001, heres the list of guys with the most hits in the big leagues:

Ichiro Suzuki     2,722
Albert Pujols     2,347
Michael Young  2,344
Derek Jeter      2,300
Juan Pierre       2,147

Ichiro may not be able to pass Pete Rose as the all time hit king in Major League Baseball, but he does have more hits than Rose had during his prime. In fact, the 2,722 hits are the most by any player aged 27-39. Here's the list of the most hits in the Majors for guys from age 27-39:

Ichiro Suzuki   2,722
Pete Rose       2,658
Ty Cobb         2,300
Derek Jeter     2,300
Stan Musial     2,229
Hank Aaron    2,200

With all the things that Ichiro has done during his pro career, this begs the question of is he worthy of induction into the Baseball Hall Of Fame? The answer is an easy yes. Nobody has been more consistent over the years than Ichiro. He has been there day in and day out for both the Mariners and Yankees. He has never won a World Series title, which is the only donwside to an otherwise stellar career.

So congratulations to Ichiro Suzuki for picking up hit #4,000 in his professional career.