NewsIchiro named to SN All-Star team
Mariners outfielder had record ninth straight 200-hit season
By Jim Street / MLB.com
10/22/09 2:41 PM ET
Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki was named to Sporting News' American League All-Star team on Thursday, the fourth time in his nine-year Major League career that he was selected.Ichiro became the first player in Major League history to have nine consecutive 200-hit seasons, ending the 2009 campaign with an MLB-leading 225 hits. He finished second to Twins catcher Joe Mauer in the AL batting race.
Mauer also was on Sporting News' AL All-Star team, along with Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira, shortstop Derek Jeter, designated hitter Hideki Matsui and relief pitcher Mariano Rivera, third baseman Evan Longoria of the Rays, outfielders Jason Bay of the Red Sox and Torii Hunter of the Angels, Blue Jays second baseman Aaron Hill and starting pitcher Zack Greinke of the Royals.
Ichiro went hitless in consecutive games only once the entire season (Sept. 26-27 at Toronto), ending a streak of 180 games without back-to-back hitless games, and reached the 2,000-hit mark on Sept. 6 against the Athletics in Oakland.
The milestone hit came in his 1,402nd big league game. Hall of Famer Al Simmons, who is the only player in history to reach 2,000 hits faster than Ichiro, needed 1,390 games.
The Mariners' nine-time All-Star notched his 200th hit of the season on Sept. 13, an infield single in the second game of a doubleheader against the Rangers in Arlington. He and Hall of Famer Wee Willie Keeler had been the only players to have eight consecutive 200-hit seasons.
Pete Rose holds the MLB record for most 200-hit seasons in a career with 10.
Ichiro also was named to Sporting News' All-Star team in 2001, '04 and '07.
Jim Street is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
