This weekend, Mariners legend Ichiro Suzuki will become the first Asian player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Fans from across the country, including many Japanese-Americans, are gathering in Cooperstown to celebrate Ichiro’s historic achievement.
“Everybody just recognizes what a great player he is, regardless of what his ethnicity is,” said Tami Wakasugi, a fan attending the event.
Wakasugi, who lives in Kirkland, shared her perspective on how Ichiro represents a part of history that goes deeper than baseball.
Wakasugi’s mother played softball in internment camps during World War II, where baseball and softball were popular sports among Japanese-Americans.
The internment camps, such as Heart Mountain in Wyoming, held about 120,000 people of Japanese descent, regardless of citizenship, during the war.
Despite harsh conditions, baseball served as a release and a bond for those imprisoned, helping them reclaim their identities after their release.
Ichiro’s rookie year in Major League Baseball was a source of pride for Japanese-Americans, as he quickly became a star with a .350 batting average and numerous accolades.
Ichiro is a 10-time All-Star, winner of 10 Gold Gloves, and holds the record for most hits in a season, solidifying his place in baseball history.
Ichiro’s induction into the Hall of Fame is a testament to his exceptional career and the impact he has had on fans worldwide.
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