New Yankee Ichiro Suzuki gets ovation from Mariners fans [Video]

By Chuck Schilken

July 24, 2012 12 AM PT

Your browser does not support iframes.&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;runtime:topic id=”PESPT007159”&amp;gt;Ichiro Suzuki&amp;lt;/runtime:topic&amp;gt; was cheered by fans at Safeco Field when he made his first appearance during the &amp;lt;runtime:topic id=”ORSPT000026”&amp;gt;Seattle Mariners&amp;lt;/runtime:topic&amp;gt;’ game against the &amp;lt;runtime:topic id=”ORSPT000205”&amp;gt;New York Yankees&amp;lt;/runtime:topic&amp;gt; on Monday night. Nothing unusual about that -- it’s been happening for more than a decade.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;But this time he trotted toward the outfield from the visitors’ dugout wearing Yankees pinstripes. There was something very unusual about that. After spending more than 11 seasons -- his entire major league career -- with the Mariners, the team pulled a surprise trade Monday with that night’s opponent just 3 1/2 hours before the game.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Suzuki, who gave an emotional press conference before switching clubhouses, received a 45-second standing ovation from his suddenly former home crowd the first time he took the plate as a member of the Yankees. He doffed his batting helmet and bowed twice to the crowd, then proceeded to hit a single to center field and steal second base.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;“Obviously, it looks different being over here,” Suzuki said through a translator. “I was worried about my first at-bat. I was really relieved with the standing ovation. It was a special day today.”&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Suzuki finished 1 for 4 and caught the final out of the game. He played right field in place of the injured &amp;lt;runtime:topic id=”PESPT006846”&amp;gt;Nick Swisher&amp;lt;/runtime:topic&amp;gt; but will eventually move over to left to replace &amp;lt;runtime:topic id=”PESPT000010058”&amp;gt;Brett Gardner&amp;lt;/runtime:topic&amp;gt;, who will likely miss the rest of the season because of an elbow problem.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Another strange sight for Seattle fans -- Suzuki with No. 31 on his back instead of his usual No. 51. The latter number has not been worn by a Yankee since four-time World Series champion Bernie Williams last played. &amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;“No. 51 is a special number to me, but when I think about what 51 means to the Yankees, it’s hard for me to ask for that number,” Suzuki said.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;RELATED:&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=”https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-baseball-notes-20120724,0,863414.story”&amp;gt;Ichiro Suzuki is traded to Yankees by Mariners&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=”https://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-ichiro-suzuki-yankees-20120723,0,1998351.story”&amp;gt;Ichiro Suzuki excited to be playing for Yankees&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=”https://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-angels-barry-enright-20120723,0,7082629.story”&amp;gt;Angels acquire minor league pitcher Barry Enright&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

New Yankee Ichiro Suzuki gets ovation from Mariners fans [Video]

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