SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners retired the iconic No. 51 on Saturday, honoring Ichiro Suzuki in a pregame ceremony at T-Mobile Park before facing the Tampa Bay Rays.
“What’s up, Seattle!” Suzuki screamed. “I’m so grateful to be here today, to receive this highest honor.”
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Former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki walks on the field during his jersey retirement ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, before a baseball game between the Mariners and the Tampa Bay Rays in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Fireworks go off for former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki during his jersey retirement ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, before a baseball game between the Mariners and the Tampa Bay Rays in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki speaks during his jersey retirement ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, before a baseball game between the Mariners and the Tampa Bay Rays in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki speaks during his jersey retirement ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, before a baseball game between the Mariners and the Tampa Bay Rays in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The recent Hall of Fame inductee becomes just the third Mariners player to have his number retired by the franchise, joining legends Ken Griffey Jr. (No. 24) and Edgar Martinez (No. 11).
“Congratulations on being inducted into the Hall of Fame and having your number retired,” Griffey said in a video tribute. “It’s about damn time. I mean, what took you so long? I’ve been there for five years.”
Suzuki made history as the first Japanese-born player inducted into the Hall of Fame, earning a near-unanimous 99.7% of the vote from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
After spending eight seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball, Suzuki made his major league debut at the age of 27. In his rookie season in 2001, he captured both the American League Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards, becoming just the second player ever to do so in the same season, joining Fred Lynn.
Over a 19-year MLB career, Suzuki was a 10-time All-Star, 10-time Gold Glove winner, two-time AL batting champion, and three-time Silver Slugger. He set the single-season hits record with 262 in 2004, which still stands today. Across NPB and MLB, he amassed 4,367 hits, including 3,089 in MLB.
Before Suzuki’s arrival, Hall of Famer Randy Johnson also donned No. 51 for nine seasons in Seattle.
Johnson threw the franchise’s first no-hitter in 1990 and won the Mariners’ first Cy Young Award in 1995. After departing Seattle in 1998, The Big Unit added four more Cy Youngs and a World Series title with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“For nine years, that was the only number I had in Japan,” Suzuki said. “(No.) 51 was my identity. But I knew that number already had a rich history here.”
But Seattle won’t forget Johnson’s legacy. The club announced that in 2026 they will also retire Johnson’s No. 51, a unique and rare honor shared by two icons in the Pacific Northwest.
“I’m grateful to Randy for attending my ceremony today,” Suzuki said. “It will be a great honor to attend his next season.”
After brief stints with the New York Yankees (2012–14) and Miami Marlins (2015–17), Suzuki returned to Seattle in 2018 and officially retired in 2019 following a two-game series in Tokyo.
As Suzuki made his way in from center field, chants of “Ich-i-ro! Ich-i-ro!” echoed throughout a sold-out crowd. He was awaited by former teammates and Mariners Hall of Fame members Johnson, Griffey, Jay Buhner, Alvin Davis, Felix Hernandez, Edgar Martinez and Dan Wilson.
“I’m also damn proud to be a Seattle Mariner,” Suzuki said, referencing Griffey's 2016 Hall of Fame induction speech.
Chairman John Stanton announced that the Mariners will place a statue of Suzuki at T-Mobile Park in 2026. He said it will feature his iconic batting stance pose.
Suzuki has remained a fixture with the Mariners, serving as a special assistant to Stanton. Suzuki is often seen in full uniform, working out with players during pregame routines in Seattle.
“Although I can no longer help you with a hit or laser beam throw, my will and desire is always there for you,” Suzuki said.
AP MLB: https://www.apnews.com/hub/MLB
Former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki walks on the field during his jersey retirement ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, before a baseball game between the Mariners and the Tampa Bay Rays in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Fireworks go off for former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki during his jersey retirement ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, before a baseball game between the Mariners and the Tampa Bay Rays in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki speaks during his jersey retirement ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, before a baseball game between the Mariners and the Tampa Bay Rays in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki speaks during his jersey retirement ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, before a baseball game between the Mariners and the Tampa Bay Rays in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
SEATTLE (AP) — Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Doug Baldwin hyped up the famed “12th Man” crowd in Seattle, providing a throwback to the Seahawks' fearsome “Legion of Boom” teams from the 2010s.
Then, in their first playoff game in front of home fans in nearly a decade, the Seahawks found a new level of dominance.
Rashid Shaheed returned the returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, Kenneth Walker III rushed for three scores and Seattle forced three turnovers in a never-in-doubt 41-6 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night that sent the top-seeded Seahawks to the NFC championship game.
“One of our most complete games, for sure,” defensive lineman Leonard Williams said. “(Shaheed) starting the game off like that set the tone.”
Sam Darnold threw a touchdown pass and got his first career playoff win in his first season with the Seahawks (15-3), who will host either the Chicago Bears or the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday with a trip to the Super Bowl at stake.
The Seahawks led 7-0 13 seconds into the game thanks to Shaheed, who fielded the opening kick and took it 95 yards to the end zone. It was the fourth kickoff return for a touchdown to open a playoff game since 2000 and the longest postseason kick return in franchise history.
“I was so hyped,” defensive lineman Byron Murphy II said. “I wasn’t expecting that, but when he did it, I knew the game was over then. I already knew.”
Darnold, who had been listed as questionable because of an oblique injury, guided the Seahawks on two more scoring drives before San Francisco got on the board with the first of its two field goals. As he has all season, Darnold impressed his teammates with his toughness.
“He told us he was going to do whatever it takes to get back and play for us,” offensive lineman Grey Zabel said. “That was a gutsy performance by him, not feeling his best. He continues to just be a leader in the huddle, on the field, on the sidelines.”
After he flopped in his playoff debut last season with the Minnesota Vikings by taking nine sacks in a 27-9 loss to the Rams, Darnold completed 12 of 17 passes for 124 yards and connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a touchdown in the star receiver’s playoff debut.
Seattle hadn't played in the postseason since the 2020 season, when it lost at home to the Rams with no fans in the stands because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 49ers (13-6) were never competitive in the second-most lopsided playoff loss in franchise history. San Francisco lost 49-3 to the New York Giants in the divisional round in the 1986 season.
The Niners were missing three injured All-Pros: tight end George Kittle, linebacker Fred Warner and defensive end Nick Bosa. Star left tackle Trent Williams, who played through a hamstring injury, was proud of his team for getting as far in the playoffs as it did.
“When you’re playing with guys you’re signing off the practice squad,” Williams said, “guys (you are) taking off the street — you got to temper expectations a bit.”
Brock Purdy completed 15 of 27 passes for 140 yards with an interception and a lost fumble against the Seahawks’ “Dark Side” defense. Seattle also recovered a fumble by tight end Jake Tonges.
“Everything’s working for us, to be honest,” safety Nick Emmanwori said. “Everything’s working. We fly to the ball, we’ve got (a) great scheme, great coaches, great players. I (think) it’s hard for teams to find a way to score on us or beat us straight up.”
Walker’s three rushing touchdowns tied him with Shaun Alexander for the most in a playoff game in franchise history. Two of the scores came after halftime, and he celebrated one by chucking the ball into the crowd.
“I’d do it more,” Walker said, “but I’d get fined for it.”
Walker finished with 116 yards rushing, his most since his rookie year in 2022, and he picked up the slack after Zach Charbonnet was injured during the game. The Seahawks ran for 175 yards, their third most this season.
“You can see it, how they’re breathing, they’re tired, they’re slow to get up,” Walker said. “You can see it’s demoralizing to them.”
The Seahawks’ front seven made life difficult for Purdy, chasing him across the field while sacking him twice. With the Niners thin at receiver, Purdy scrambled five times for 37 yards and frequently threw on the run.
“It’s no secret in terms of their style of play,” Purdy said. “Trying to make a quarterback check it down and play deep to short. Then within that, have a good pass rush. That’s a good defense, man.”
49ers: RB Christian McCaffrey (stinger) was injured in the second quarter and returned in the third quarter before exiting the game for good. Tonges injured a foot and did not return.
Seahawks: Charbonnet injured a knee in the second quarter and did not return. LT Charles Cross injured a foot in the third quarter and did not return.
49ers: Heal and reload for next season.
Seahawks: Are one victory away from the fourth Super Bowl appearance in franchise history and first in 11 years.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Leonard Williams (99) sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) during the second half of an NFL football divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) runs a kickoff return in for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Leonard Williams (99) sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) during the second half of an NFL football divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold reacts during the second half of an NFL football divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
