How could anyone say Ichiro does no belong in the Hall of Fame?

Question

First off this guy made it all possible for Japanese players to come play in the U.S for the best teams in the world and against the best players in the world. I know he wasn't the first Japanese player, but he was the first Japanese position player and probably the biggest name to come out of Japan at the time.

Throw into that a lifetime .331 BA (7 consecutive .300+ BA seasons, which is every year of his MLB career, well on pace forhis 8th consecutive). Single season hits record of 262 (also 7 consecutive seasons 200+ hits and on pace for his 8th straight here as well. After this season he'll be 1 season from reaching the 2,000 hit mark. That'll be 2,000 hits before hitting his 10th MLB season. He won AL MVP and AL ROY in the same season. He has an All-Star game MVP. He's won a Gold Glove every year he's been in the MLB from 2001-07. Silver Slugger in 2001 and 2007.

This to me looks like clear 1st ballot HOF induction, yet some don't even think he belongs.

Your thoughts?

Answer 1

he doesnt hit a lot of homers

Answer 2

It is because his MLB experience is shorter. HOF should belong to someone contribute all his life to the US sport because it is a credential of the US. He is already a legend in Japan anyway and his name will always be remembered as a baseball player. However, I don’t think he can reach some of the milestones to qualify as HOF.

I am not sure he cares about it anyway. In the end, he is Japanese and if there is world HOF, he will definitely be in it. As great as an honor of HOF, it is an American thing.

Answer 3

I'm not sure on his HOF status yet, but giving a $100 million contract to a singles hitter is absurd.

Answer 4

I can see Ichiro making the HOF some day.   And he doesn't need to get to 3,000 hits in order to do so.

He's in his 8th season, and he's an 8 time all star, as well as being a 7 time Gold Glove winner (8 if he wins this year).

He's probably in good enough shape to play effectively into his 40s (he turns 35 this October).   That means he'll probably have at least a dozen or so all star games under his belt, not to mention getting close to 3,000 hits (some people think he has a shot at Pete Rose's hit record, which he doesn't...he got started way too late for that).  

There are probably not a lot of non-steroid players who played in a dozen all star games who aren't in the HOF  

So if Ichiro can maintain a decent level of productivity into his early 40s, his career numbers and awards (all star selections especially) should put him in the HOF.  

He's probably not a HOF based on current career accomplishments, but if he remains productive for another 5-7 years, he could be in HOF territory.

Answer 5

I don't care if he's from Japan, Ichiro has my vote for the HOF.

Answer 6

Easily a legit first ballot HOFer and he also has a shot at 3000 hits also. Man he is like the best player on the face of this earth. Not quite but pretty dam close.

Answer 7

I agree that Ichiro deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Look, in Japan, he wasn`t a big player until like a couple of years before he came to the US. Like in the US, Ichiro has lots of hits. He has All- Star experience, Gold Gloves, a good batting average, good arm, and more. What else do you want from a proffesional baseball player?

Answer 8

Actually it was Hideo Nomo who did it not Ichiro. Ichiro is all about padding his stats he does nothing to make his team better. He steals bases only when he wants too, he doesn't take pitches, he doesn't hit for any kind of power and he's supposedly got tremendous power, he's a horrible teammate, the Mariners won 116 games with the likes of A-Rod, Ken Griffey Jr, Jay Buhner, and Edgar Martinez. His MVP year was a joke everyone who has any knowledge of baseball knows that Jason Giambi won it that year, CC Sabathia was the rookie of the year that year with a 17-5 record. I don't think a singles hitter should be inducted to the hall of fame he doesn't have the power numbers, rbi totals, doubles, etc..... He has just 21 rbi's and has played in every single game when most other lead off hitters are anywhere from 30-45 rbi's. I'm sorry Ichiro is one of the most overrated players that MLB has ever seen.

Ichiro is a mediocre lead off hitter at best. If you really want to see a real leadoff hitter then look at Rickey Henderson now there's a man who could cause trouble. Ichiro doesn't even cause trouble anymore yes he has tons of speed, but his highest stolen base number is 56, Rickey Henderson had 10 years of over 60 steals in a season. Henderson has 7 seasons of over 100 walks. Ichiro's high for walks is 68. Still with all the hits Ichiro gets it makes up for his lack of walks, so lets see his career high in runs is 127, Rickey Henderson had a career high of 146 runs scored. Also during that year Henderson hit 24 homeruns and 72 rbi's, he had 172 hits and 99 walks. Ichiro's career year had him with 8 homeruns and 69 rib's, with 242 hits, 30 walks, and that is just pathetic. He should have scored way more then 127 runs.

Just look at the power possesed by the leadoff hitters in the National League with Jimmy Rollins, Alfonso Soriano, and Hanley Ramirez. Ichiro hasn't had an extra base hit in well over 100 at bats. Alfonso Soriano has 15 homers and 40 rbi's in 40 games, Ichiro has 3 homers and 21 rbi's, Hanley Ramirez 23 homers and 45 rbi's, Jimmy Rollins 6 homers and 32 rbi's, and I do realize power numbers aren't really important from the leadoff hitter starting the game their goal is to get on base, but after that they should be able to drive in runs when they need to and Ichiro takes the cake as being the worst leadoff hitter.

Do you really think Ichiro dominates? That's sad! If you asked a pitcher who they would rather face between Ryan Howard, Jason Giambi, Alfonso Soriano, Hanley Ramirez, Jimmy Rollins, Pat Burrell, Adam Dunn, Even Longoria, BJ Upton, etc....They would pick Ichiro because all he would do is get on with a single, everyone else has the ability to take them deep. Sorry, Ichiro has been far from dominant and his leadership skills are horrendous. Since, the 2001 season when the Mariners won 116 games their total win loss record is under .500 and it starts at the top with Ichiro. Devon White has a better chance of making the Hall of Fame then Ichiro does. Devon White was a complete player he played the game the right way he has won a world series and he hit for power and he had speed. Ichiro has no chance of the hall of fame. Unless someone builds the hall of fame for most overated player!

He had a ton of support in the lineup it wasn't like he had nobody else on the team. They had strong pitching as well during the time. It all starts with the top and they see Ichiro playing for stats and not to win. The during the time that Ichiro has been with the Mariners they had Richie Sexson who has struggled the last two years, but the two years before that he hit 73 homeruns and had 228 rbi's, Adrian Beltre has been a solid hitter for them sure his power is nowhere what he showed when playing in Los Angeles, but that's because Seattle isn't a hitters park, John Olerud was a steady player at first and hit for a high average, Edgar Martinez was a dangerous DH on the team who could produce runs and hit for a high average, Raul Ibanez has been their most consistent player over the past 5 years, so they had a ton of talent for batting wise for Ichiro. They had some excellent pitching as well with Jamie Moyer being consistently good, Freddy Garcia, Felix Hernandez, Brendan Morrow, Gil Meche, Joel Pinero, and Ryan Franklin. They had a ton of talent around Ichiro so don't give me that he didn't have anyone else around him, he had tons of help and with his lack of leadership skills and abilities he has proven time and time again he's not a winner and he's only trying to pad his stats.

I can't believe you just compared Ichiro to Tony Gwynn. Tony Gwynn has made it to the World Series, Ichiro hasn't. Tony Gwynn played 20 seasons in the majors Ichiro has played what 7? Tony Gwynn had 10 seasons of 60 rbi's or more, Ichiro has 1, Gwynn hit .394 in a season and had a career average of .338 which last time I checked was better than Ichiro's and that's even with a 3 seasons over .350 for Ichiro almost half of his career over .350 and yet he still has a worse average than Tony Gwynn. Again Ichiro's career high in stolen bases is 56 which came in his first year and Tony Gwynn's career high is 56 and he was nowhere near as fast as Ichiro. Also, Gwynn could get you the extra base hit if his team needed one, Ichiro doesn't have that ability seeing how Gwynn's career high in doubles is 49 and for triples 13. Ichiro's career high in doubles is 34 and for triples 12. So, before you go and trying to compare Ichiro to Tony Gwynn do some research on the subject.

Answer 9

i agree with you completely. He is one of the best lead off hitters i have ever seen play the game. He knows how to hit and has lots of speed. I think in a few years he will definitely be a Hall of fame candidate. He gets a good average every year and was the all star game mvp of 2007