TOKYO — Ichiro Suzuki received a grand sendoff in his final game Thursday in Japan.
ESPN reported during Thursday’s telecast that Ichiro would officially retire after Thursday’s game, which went to extra innings at the Tokyo Dome.
The capacity crowd roared as Ichiro was removed from right field in the eighth inning in an extended celebration in front of the Seattle Mariners dugout. Each teammate greeted him individually and Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. awaited for an embrace as Ichiro entered the dugout.
His professional career ends with 3,089 hits in Major League Baseball, which doesn’t include the 1,278 he notched in Japanese pro baseball.