SEATTLE -- The pageantry, pomp and circumstance are always at a special level on Opening Day in Seattle, but it was particularly true in Thursday¡¯s pregame ceremony ahead of the Mariners' 4-2 win over the Athletics, that saw Ichiro Suzuki throw out the ceremonial first pitch as a nod to his recent Hall of Fame election and the late Rickey Henderson¡¯s family on hand to be recognized just prior.
The T-Mobile Park crowd went wild throughout.
Suzuki -- who threw to Mariners manager, longtime catcher and former teammate Dan Wilson -- showed that, even at 51 years old, he¡¯s still got it, firing an 84 mph heater in a full windup and in full uniform, the velocity of which was captured on the stadium radar labeled ¡°Ichi-Meter.¡±
¡°It was gasoline,¡± Wilson said. ¡°I was glad I caught it.¡±
To no one's surprise, either, he was seen doing extensive warmup throws in right field more than five hours before the actual moment. Everything about his routine, even six years after he retired in March 2019, is still as meticulous as ever. Wilson said that he and Ichiro even practiced a few times during Wednesday¡¯s off-day and workout.
¡°I needed to know what was coming,¡± Wilson said. ¡°And he delivered exactly the way I thought he would.¡±
Suzuki¡¯s velocity was right in line with the 84.5 mph ceremonial first pitch that he unleashed for the home opener in 2022. Wilson was well aware of that number, joking pregame that he¡¯d be preparing for heat as he entered his crouch behind the plate.
This time around, though, Ichiro carried the label of ¡°Hall of Famer.¡±
Elected to Cooperstown in his first year on the ballot on Jan. 21, one vote shy among the 394 cast for unanimous status, Suzuki will be enshrined in late July. For those keeping track, there are already new ¡°Countdown to Cooperstown¡± banners hanging beyond right-center field, the last of which is labeled ¡°122 days.¡±
¡°It's quite an honor to be out there with Ichi,¡± Wilson said. ¡°And what a great honor for him this year, going into Cooperstown and then having his number retired here. He's just a class act all the way through and through. And what he has contributed to this organization over the years, and still continues to contribute to the organization.¡±
There was a somber bridge between Thursday¡¯s ceremonial first pitch and the most recent one at T-Mobile Park -- the one that took place before the final game of last season. That game was also between these teams and at this venue and the pitch thrown by a former player for each franchise -- Henderson, who passed away in December from complications with pneumonia and asthma.
It was the last time that the Hall of Famer was publicly seen on a big league field, and he took part in that ceremony due to it being the A¡¯s final game as the ¡°Oakland Athletics¡± and before their move to Sacramento.
On Thursday, Henderson¡¯s widow, Pamela, and daughters, Angela, Alexis and Adrianna, were acknowledged on the field after player introductions then were greeted by Wilson and A¡¯s manager Mark Kotsay in front of home plate, after a video tribute played.
Henderson spent 14 of his 21 career seasons with the A's but also played for part of the 2000 season in Seattle, when he was 41 and helped the Mariners reach the postseason.