Let's ask it again: Ichiro, Hall bound or not?

[Kingdom]

Ichiro recently had his 2,000th American baseball hit. With that, many critics asked the question again, is he a future hall of famer? It's logical, in theory, to think he is if he reachs 3,000 hits and that's certainly not out of the question since he stays in great shape and has rarely dealth with major injury. But that can still happen, causing a big unknown. He'd need 5 more seasons of what he has been doing his entire MLB career to reach that.

So what if, for whatever reason, he does not reach 3,000 hits? In his MLB career he has been the rookie of the year, mvp, silver slugger, all-star starter every year since 2001, gold glover every year since 2001, and all-star game MVP. His career average is over .330 and he has over 330 steals. But he's 35. So, maintaining his season averages, he'd be 40 by the time he touches 3,000.


Hitting is an art form for Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki - ESPN

Ichiro Suzuki Stats, News, Photos - Seattle Mariners - ESPN

[Providence A's]

I think he'll get in regardless. I think they'll take into account what he did before he came to MLB when they vote. I'm not saying they should or shouldn't, but I think they will.

[Kingdom]

What if that wasn't taken into account, but they did consider what he's done in such a short time, when he was almost 30 before coming over here?

[Porter]

I think Ichiro is a lock if they add Japan's numbers. If he gets to 2500 American hits, it would be tough to not have him in.

[nick]

Most popular japanese player ever, by far... he'll get in I think.

[Halladay_is_God]

he'll get in for sure, for what he did already, I don't think he will reach 3000 but in my mind he's a young 35 (soon to be 36) but you never know and he may want to back to Japan to finish his career