Ichiro Tops Pete Rose’s Hit Record

Miami Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki scored his 4,257th career hit Wednesday, exceeding Pete Rose’s record total of 4,256. But the former Cincinnati Reds star said this week that Suzuki’s hits weren’t equal to his own because some were recorded in Japan. “I’m not trying to take anything away from Ichiro—he’s had a Hall of Fame career—but the next thing you know, they’ll be counting his high-school hits,” he said. “I don’t think you’re going to find anybody with credibility say that Japanese baseball is equivalent to Major League Baseball.” But Suzuki said he wasn’t even trying to top Rose’s record, saying “It was just kind of a weird situation to be in because of the combined total.” Suzuki said it’s not about the record for him. “It’s about my teammates and the fans.” Rose was banned from Major League Baseball in 1989 for gambling on games.