This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/10/2001.
Before making a wildly successful transition into Major League Baseball and becoming the leading vote-getter for the 2001 All-Star Game, Ichiro Suzuki dominated Japan's Pacific League as a phenomenal five-tool player. From 1994 through 2000, Ichiro led the league in batting average for a Japanese-record seven consecutive times and won seven consecutive Gold Gloves in right field. Not surprisingly, he was named to the Pacific League's "Best Nine" in each of the seven years. Ichiro wore this Orix Blue Wave jacket, manufactured by Mizuno, during the 1994 and 1995 seasons. Ichiro was named league MVP in each of the two years. Each Orix Blue Wave player was given only one jacket to last both seasons, and this is the one worn by Ichiro throughout that time period. The jacket has a metallic blue color that was specifically chosen for its ability to reflect the stadium's lights during night games. The team name "Blue Wave" is sewn across the front in navy on yellow tackle twill. "Orix" is sewn onto the left sleeve in navy on yellow embroidery and "Kobe" is sewn onto the right sleeve in yellow on navy embroidery. Ichiro's jersey number "51" is sewn onto the left sleeve in yellow tackle twill. The name "Ichiro" is sewn across the back of the jacket in yellow tackle twill and below it is the team logo embroidered patch on a navy tackle twill backing. The jacket shows nice wear and comes with a letter of authenticity from one of Ichiro's closest Japanese business associates.