Geoff Baker, in a very good 9/11 post, talks about the resentment he’s seeing toward Ichiro setting the record for consecutive seasons with 200 hits:
But while we’ve all had our fun showing pictures of the media horde chronicling Ichiro’s every move, or joking about tripping over another Japanese photographer, some of the stuff I’ve been hearing and reading on the internet crosses the line between good-natured curiosity and amazement, and plain old mean-spiritedness, resentment and maybe even racism.
I’ve seen some not-so-nice cracks tinged with anti-Japanese sentiment and almost a mocking anger and a ridiculing of the level of interest shown for Ichiro in his native country.
And I think that’s a shame.
Because it’s a missed opportunity. A chance, interestingly enough, here on 9/11 for baseball fans in two countries to come together and celebrate what will be a remarkable sporting achievement. Not just that, but for us to better understand why the people in Japan are so enthusiastic about this record. Coming from Canada, perhaps it’s easier for me to understand why it’s so important to see someone from your homeland stack up well against those from the U.S. They play the best baseball in the world in MLB and the passionate fans in Japan know this. And so, when they see one of their own about to do something no other player from here has ever done, it provides tremendous pride on a national scale. And hope for any young baseball player from that country that they, too, can succeed on the biggest stage in the world.
I have not seen the nasty remarks, but I’m starting to believe that racist remarks are a weapon, not the motive. People do not like to see records broken when they have something invested in the former record holder. It happened to Roger Maris when he broke Babe Ruth’s single season home run record. It happened to Hank Aaron when he broke Ruth’s career home run record. It happened to Bonds when he broke Aaron’s career home run record. (I don’t know why it didn’t happen with Sosa and McGwire. Those two seemed universally loved in 1998.)
It’s even happening to Jeter now, with Keith Oblermann weighing in and Beyond the Boxscore pointing out that Jeter hasn’t gotten on base as much as three other Yankees. What’s the point of that? He’s going for the hit record, not the on base record right now. I suspect he’ll get both eventually.
People don’t like to see some records broken. Maybe it’s a worthiness thing, as Maris was not seen worthy of hitting 61 homers, but Sosa and McGwire were. Maybe it’s the mood of the time. People were happy to have Ripken and McGwire setting records to rescue the game. The more I see, however, the more I feel it’s just an adverse reaction to things changing. It’s a shame that the negativity exists in the first place, and an even greater shame that some people use it as an excuse to attack someone over race.
Ichiro is one of the most unique hitters I’ve ever seen. This record was a big deal when there was a chance of Wade Boggs breaking it. It should be celebrated as much here as it is in Japan.
Wow, some people are upset that Ichiro is going to pass Gehrig & Keeler? Consecutive 200 hit seasons isn’t even one of the glamour stats, such as rbi, run scored, home runs, most hits.
Some people are just idiots. This new record does nothing to diminish Gehrig & Keeler.
My cynical side would point out that Maris was competing against Mantle to break Ruth’s record (until Mantle was hurt/ill), and that Aaron and Bonds are black.
However, under the theory of “never ascribe to malice what can be explained by stupidity”, I should probably point out that baseball marketing hugely supported McGwire and Sosa, probably did not support Maris or Aaron (I’m a bit too young to really remember Aaron), and didn’t support Bonds.
Actually now that I think about it, that’s probably the main driver, which is both a real shame and a hopeful sign. If we can just get someone in charge who isn’t tone-deaf on what makes baseball popular, rather than someone who’s sole job seems to be to publicize the underlying economic reality that billionaire owners are arguing with millionaire players about how to divide up a trillion dollars …
I thought Jeter goes after W’s and cares nothing about personal records. Stupid me.
Also, Jeters is going after a team record for hits, a team that does not even have a 3000 hit player. It is not a MLB record, and most folks outside of NY could care less.
Jeter went like 100 PA without a walk, maybe he was going after some kind of record there too.
About 20% of Ichiros hits are IF hits. As a hitter, he is not that great, his legs have made him what he is. No knock on that, he gets on base, but his hits don’t advance runners very far.
Who the hell would resent Ichiro? The guy is money; on base, in the field and as a rep of baseball. That’s just wrong. What we as fans should object to is this pandering of Jeter. Seriously, for what reason, what has he done? He has been a terrible SS for a team that dares not ask him him to switch positions. He puts up avg numbers just about every year and yet we’re asked to deify the guy. Why, just because he had the fortune to bat 700 times a friggin year for the MFY? that’s just wrong.
The worst part is this avg douche will somehow end up in the HOF, just because of Steinbrenners marketing acumen. It’s sick, I tell ya.
“(I don’t know why it didn’t happen with Sosa and McGwire. Those two seemed universally loved in 1998.)”
There was nothing to resent, as they were obvious cheaters and the record is still 61 for Roger Maris. Baseball fans simply dismissed them.