Ichiro Suzuki Becomes Third Player In Professional Baseball History To Reach 4,000 Hits

Ichiro Suzuki has been one of the most consistent and dependable players in Major League Baseball since breaking into the league in 2001 with the Seattle Mariners. His tremendous accomplishments in the MLB followed a long period of time where the 39-year-old outfielder enjoyed monumental success through Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. Growing into a major figure in Japan, Ichiro's brand continues to build though he's already spent over 12 seasons in the United States. Now playing for the New York Yankees, Ichiro's shining moment came on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.

Needing one hit to join Pete Rose (4,256) and Ty Cobb (4,191) as the only players in the history of professional baseball history to reach the 4,000 hit plateau, Ichiro stepped up to the plate in the first inning of the Yankees' 4-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. Drilling a line drive past Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie, the outfielder was safely aboard first base where he was immediately met by his New York teammates.

"The game was stopped for me and the players came to first base," Ichiro said through an interpreter after the victory. "I kind of felt bad that the game was stopped for me. At first, I was trying to stop them from coming, but it was just because I was so happy and overjoyed with the way they supported me."

When Ichiro left Japan for the Seattle Mariners before the start of the 2001 season, he owned a career total of 1,278 hits. As a member of both the Mariners and Yankees, Suzuki accumulated 2,722 more hits, giving him 4,000 for his career, a milestone that was certainly important but not as special as sharing the moment with his teammates and the New York fans.

"After I got my first hit, at that point, if I would've said to you guys my goal is to have 4,000 hits," he said. "I think everybody would've called me an idiot, but now after just years and years of just getting hits every day, I've come to this point. That last at-bat, they actually knew," Ichiro said. "The fans really showed me that they actually know. It made me feel good that they know and also that they are cheering me on."

Ichiro and the Yankees are currenty 6.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox for first place in the American League East while also sitting 4.0 games out of the final Wild Card playoff spot. With over 35 games remaining during the regular season, the 39-year-old outfielder can now focus on getting the Yankees back to the postseason where they hope to make some unexpected noise.

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WATCH ICHIRO COLLECT HIS 4,000th CAREER HIT