On Tuesday night Ichiro Suzuki became the first Japanese player to be named the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player of the All-Star Game, after playing a phenomenal 3-for-3 night and hitting the first inside-the-park home run in both his professional career and in the 74 years of the All-Star Midsummer Classic.
"It's a game that I'll never forget," Ichiro said. "The past six years, I never had an All-Star Game when I really thought I gave it my all. So, I'm really happy. It was a fun All-Star Game."
After hitting singles in his first two at bats, he launched a drive towards the arcade in right-center that hit a crease near the inside of the third archway and bounced away.
With his speed Ichiro was able to finish off for a home run, although he later admitted he was disappointed as he thought it was going over the fence.
Ichiro has been in the American League All-Star team every season, but has never played an evening like this one before.
Coming into the game, he was 3-for-15 with one extra-base hit, a double, and only two runs batted in.
In one night, he matched his hit, extra-base and RBI totals.
"He's an artist with the bat, a wonderful base-runner and outfielder," said Tony La Russa, the manager of the National League team. "This guy is a complete player and there's no place to go to get him out. You just try to get him to hit the ball at somebody."
In the seven seasons since he came over from Japan, Ichiro has never had below a 200-hit season; setting the MLB record of 262 in 2004 and at 33 has already amassed 1,482 hits.
He is reportedly on the verge of extending his contract with the Mariners for another five years at $100 million.
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