Photo of Ichiro Suzuki visiting Peter O’Malley at Dodger Stadium

Orix Blue Wave outfielder Ichiro Suzuki is well on his way to a great baseball career December 18, 1995, when he meets Peter O’Malley, President, Los Angeles Dodgers, 1970-1998, at Dodger Stadium. Suzuki finished the 1995 season with Orix and hit .342 with 25 home runs at the age of 21. While traveling in the U.S., Suzuki wanted to meet O’Malley, who that season signed Hideo Nomo to a baseball contract. Suzuki himself would later play in America and become a full-fledged star with more than 3,000 hits in the major leagues. Suzuki became the all-time leader in professional baseball with 4,367 career hits combined in Japan and MLB and is expected to be a first ballot electee to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Suzuki expressed his great respect to O’Malley. Suzuki told the Dodger President he kept a photo of O’Malley on his desk at home.

In the left of the photo is Acey Kohrogi, Dodger Director of Asian Operations and son-in-law of Akihiro “Ike” Ikuhara.