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Statue mishap mars tribute to baseball legend
Seattle Mariners fans witnessed an unexpected moment Friday when a bronze statue of former star Ichiro Suzuki appeared to break during its unveiling outside T-Mobile Park.
The unveiling incident
As officials removed the covering from the sculpture, spectators heard a distinct cracking sound. The statue, depicting Suzuki mid-swing, suddenly lost height when its bat snapped. The 52-year-old former player stood nearby, pointing at the damaged bat in disbelief before laughing.
A career worthy of tribute
The statue's installation comes nearly a year after Suzuki's near-unanimous induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Over 18 seasons in Major League Baseball, Suzuki established himself as one of the sport's most consistent performers.
After beginning his MLB career with the Mariners in 2001, Suzuki spent 12 seasons in Seattle before stints with the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins. He returned to the Mariners for his final two campaigns, retiring in 2019.
Team responds with humor
Mariners CEO John Stanton, who participated in the unveiling, praised Suzuki's legendary preparation and play, calling him "certainly worthy of this everlasting recognition."
The organization quickly turned the mishap into a lighthearted moment, posting on social media: "Breaking: We've updated tonight's Ichiro Replica Statue giveaway," alongside an image of a figurine with a broken bat.
Statue details and quick repair
The sculpture captures Suzuki in his signature right-field pose, wearing his 2001 rookie season uniform. The former outfielder revealed that sculptor Lou Cella had asked him to wear the uniform for reference photos, noting with satisfaction that he still fit into the 23-year-old attire.
Crew members successfully repaired the statue in time for the Mariners' game against the Houston Astros later that evening.
Record-breaking career
During his 28-season professional career, Suzuki set multiple records. In 2004, he surpassed an 84-year-old mark by recording 262 hits in a single season - five more than George Sisler's 1920 total.
