Ichiro Suzuki, all-star outfielder for the Seattle Mariners and for Japan at the World Baseball Classic next March, was in Milan, Italy on Friday. But this time he wasn’t in Italy for Baseball reasons. Together with buddy Takashi Yoshida he was in the fashion capital in Europe to record a show for Asahi TV, called “Ichiryu”. Both were involved in a challenge, which would understand and interpret fashion and design better. Each had to send a model on the catwalk with their creations and Ichiro in the end did the better job according to the audience. He also had to wear an own creation, a black jacket with white applications. You can watch a video clip of the event on the homepage of La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Ichiro is one of the best players in baseball. After nine successful season in Japan he came into the MLB in 2001, signing with the Mariners. In his first season he won the MVP and the Rookie of the year award. Since then he is averaging over 200 hits a year and is batting .331 (OBP .377/SLG .430). In 2004 he set a new record for hits in a single season with 262, breaking the record of George Sisler of the St. Louis Browns from the year 1920. He also was selected for the all-star game in each year since 2001 and won eight gold gloves. Two times he won the batting title in the American League (2001, 2004). Last summer the 35-year-old extended his contract with Seattle for five more years till 2012 for 90 million dollar. Ichiro already indicated that he would accept an invitation for the World Baseball Classic next March. Japan is playing against China, Korea and Taiwan in Pool A at the Tokyo Dome.
Ichiro Suzuki Career Statistics in MLB
Ichiro Suzuki Career Statistics in Japan
Video Clip Ichiro in Milan, Italy