Ichiro's career

[Jeritron]

A) Do you think he should make the HOF?

B) Do you think he will make the HOF?

C) Should his Japanese league stats and accomplishments count?


I heard this being discussed on the radio today, and the panel was split on all the issues.

I think he should be a shoe-in, given the fact that he has been absolutely incredible during his time in MLB.
However, that time has been relatively short, and at the age of 35, may not last much longer.
His career average is incredible, but what stands out most to me is his hit total. He's accumulated well over 1,000 hits by now. In fact, he's closer to 2,000.
I can only imagine where it would be if he entered the league at a younger age.

With him, though, I feel the "what if his American career lasted longer" argument is more valid. Normally, that can be dismissed as invalid.
But with him, he was playing in Japan.
So, should his statistics there count? The major argument against that would be that the HOF should only reflect MLB statistics.
This is debatable I'd say. It is the "Baseball" Hall of Fame.

Also, how valid is the league? It's obvious that it's not on the same level as MLB.

Discuss.

[Triple Naitch]

It is the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Ichiro is just as important for his actions while playing the game as he is for the barriers he broke down. He is the first hitter to successfully come over from Japan and opened the door for all of the other Japanese players. He should be recognized in the Hall for his Japanese and Major League statistics.

[Jeritron]

I think the "National" might be what fuels the "American stats only" debate I was hearing on the radio.

[The Gold Standard]

It seems to be only MLB stats that matter, but his time in MLB is/was so dominant. He is a Hall of Famer no doubt about it

[IC Champion]

If he can average 200 hits for the next 5 years, hes got a shot at 3000 hits.

[IC Champion]

Or if he plays til like 43 he can do it.

[DaveWadding]

His career average is incredible, but what stands out most to me is his hit total. He's accumulated well over 1,000 hits by now. In fact, he's closer to 2,000.

If he can average 200 hits for the next 5 years, hes got a shot at 3000 hits.

He's at 1807 right now. And he's never had less than 206 hits in a season.

So if he makes 200 this year, and averages 200 over the next 5 after he'll make 3000.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Even if he were to fall slightly short of 3,000...he should definitely get in.</font>

[YOUR Hero]

He's already broken the MLB record for most consecutive 200+ hit seasons. Either that or he's tied it.... think he broke it last year. He's still on the DL right now I think, so he'll be tough to get to 200 this year but he won't surprise me if he does.
I think he's HOF material on his MLB stats alone.

[Triple Naitch]

He came back the other day.

[Loose Cannon]

he's a shoe in. One of the most exciting and dynamic players of this decade.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

He absolutely should get in. He is the only player in MLB history to have 3 seasons of 230+ hits, and only Sisler, Hornsby, and Freddie Lindstrom have even 2. Also let's not forget that he's won a gold glove every year he's been in the majors.

There are plenty of people who got into the Hall with a decade or less of playing excellent baseball on their resume. Ralph Kiner played 10 years, Roy Campanella played 10 years, Hack Wilson played 12 but only 6 of them were good years, and all of those guys started in their early twenties and were out by the their early thirties.

[Jeritron]

I can only imagine where he'd be statistically if he broke into the major in his early 20s, as opposed to his late 20s.

[RatedGSuperstar]

I can only imagine where he'd be statistically if he broke into the major in his early 20s, as opposed to his late 20s.

There'd be legitimate concern over Rose's hit record, no question.

Ichiro has molded his game for longevity -- there's no question in my mind he'll play long enough to get to 3,000 MLB hits. The stolen bases and defense are starting to decline, but the guy will be able to slap hits until he's well into his 40's.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

If Ichiro had 4 more years of 750 plate appearances at the beginning of his career he'd be breaking 3000 sometime next season so Pete's record with definitely be within reach. Ichiro doesn't take many walks so his 162 game avg is 690 AB to Rose's 640.

Pretty amazing that Rose averaged about 70 walks a season.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

:shifty:

http://tpww.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=5827&d=1239243528

[screech]

This just shows how little I come into the sports forum.

I think Ichiro should and will make the Hall. While only his MLB stats will matter, as they should, those numbers alone are Hall worthy. If he began playing in MLB in his early 20s, he would be very close to Rose's record, IMO.