이치로 스즈키 동상 제막식에서 배트가 부러지는 사건 발생
Ichiro Suzuki's statue unveiling has a mishap as bat snaps during ceremony
Associated Press
https://apnews.com/author/andrew-destin
EN
2026-04-11 08:25
Translated
전 시애틀 매리너스 우익수 이치로 스즈키의 동상 제막식이 금요일 예상치 못한 실수로 얼룩졌다 — 부러진 배트.
방송인 릭 리즈가 "51번부터 역순으로 세어내릴 거예요!"라고 선언했다. 이는 시애틀 매리너스에서 영구 결번한 스즈키의 등번호를 의미했다. 동상을 덮고 있던 커튼이 내려지면서 배트도 함께 떨어졌다.
청동 배트가 내려지면서 부러지는 소리가 들렸고 색종이가 흩어졌다.
"여기 있습니다! 야구 역사상 최고의 선수 중 한 명의 동상입니다!"라고 T-모바일 파크 밖에서 커튼이 내려지고 축하 음악이 흘러나오자 릭 리즈가 선언했다.
동상은 스즈키의 타격 자세를 묘사하고 있다. 그는 이 사건을 우스운 것으로 생각했으며 통역사를 통해 뉴욕 양키스 명예의 전당 선수 마리아노 리베라가 다시 한 번 자신을 이겼다고 농담했다.
"마리아노가 여기까지 올 거라고 생각하지 못했어요"라고 스즈키는 미소 지으며 말했다. "그리고 배트를 부러뜨렸네요."
매리너스가 동상을 수리하는 데는 오래 걸리지 않았다. 스즈키의 배트는 곧 곧추세워졌고 손잡이 부분에서 다시 연결되었다. 동상은 시카고 기반의 루 첼라가 조각했으며, 그는 또한 매리너스의 위대한 선수인 켄 그리피 주니어와 에드가 마르티네스, 워싱턴 대학 미식축구 감독 돈 제임스, 시애틀 스톰 전설 수 버드, 그리고 전 시애틀 슈퍼소닉스 선수 및 감독 레니 윌킨스의 동상들도 제작했다.
스즈키는 2001년 시즌 저지를 입었다고 말했는데, 그 해 그는 AL MVP와 신인상을 모두 수상했으며, 첼라와의 사진 촬영을 위해 입었다고 했다.
"저는 여전히 그 유니폼을 입을 수 있어서 행복했다고 말할 수 있으며, 아마도 주니어와 에드가는 그렇게 못할 것 같아요"라고 스즈키가 말했다. "그래서 그것에 대해 행복했습니다."
스즈키는 지난여름 명예의 전당에 입성했으며 작년에 매리너스 역사상 세 번째로 자신의 등번호를 영구 결번 처리받은 선수가 되었으며, 그리피(24번)와 마르티네스(11번)에 합류했다.
그리피와 마르티네스는 제막식에 스즈키와 함께 참석했으며 커튼을 벗기는 것을 도와주었다.
"그들과 함께 이 순간을 가지기 위해, 저는 모든 것이 어떻게 시작되었는지를 생각해봅니다"라고 스즈키가 말했다. "그리고 그것은 정말 믿을 수 없는 경험이었어요."
스즈키는 명예의 전당에 입성한 최초의 일본 태생 선수로 역사를 남겼으며, 야구 기자협회 투표에서 99.7%의 거의 만장일치에 가까운 투표율을 얻었다.
유머러스한 스즈키의 관점에서 보면, 그의 동상이 결함을 가진 것은 어울리는 일이었다.
"명예의 전당에서 저는 한 표가 부족했어요"라고 스즈키가 말했다. "오늘은 배트가 부러졌어요. 그것은 저에게 아직 거기에 도달하지 못했다는 것을 알려주며, 계속 나아가야 한다는 것을 알려줍니다. 그래서 이것은 좋은 예시입니다."
방송인 릭 리즈가 "51번부터 역순으로 세어내릴 거예요!"라고 선언했다. 이는 시애틀 매리너스에서 영구 결번한 스즈키의 등번호를 의미했다. 동상을 덮고 있던 커튼이 내려지면서 배트도 함께 떨어졌다.
청동 배트가 내려지면서 부러지는 소리가 들렸고 색종이가 흩어졌다.
"여기 있습니다! 야구 역사상 최고의 선수 중 한 명의 동상입니다!"라고 T-모바일 파크 밖에서 커튼이 내려지고 축하 음악이 흘러나오자 릭 리즈가 선언했다.
동상은 스즈키의 타격 자세를 묘사하고 있다. 그는 이 사건을 우스운 것으로 생각했으며 통역사를 통해 뉴욕 양키스 명예의 전당 선수 마리아노 리베라가 다시 한 번 자신을 이겼다고 농담했다.
"마리아노가 여기까지 올 거라고 생각하지 못했어요"라고 스즈키는 미소 지으며 말했다. "그리고 배트를 부러뜨렸네요."
매리너스가 동상을 수리하는 데는 오래 걸리지 않았다. 스즈키의 배트는 곧 곧추세워졌고 손잡이 부분에서 다시 연결되었다. 동상은 시카고 기반의 루 첼라가 조각했으며, 그는 또한 매리너스의 위대한 선수인 켄 그리피 주니어와 에드가 마르티네스, 워싱턴 대학 미식축구 감독 돈 제임스, 시애틀 스톰 전설 수 버드, 그리고 전 시애틀 슈퍼소닉스 선수 및 감독 레니 윌킨스의 동상들도 제작했다.
스즈키는 2001년 시즌 저지를 입었다고 말했는데, 그 해 그는 AL MVP와 신인상을 모두 수상했으며, 첼라와의 사진 촬영을 위해 입었다고 했다.
"저는 여전히 그 유니폼을 입을 수 있어서 행복했다고 말할 수 있으며, 아마도 주니어와 에드가는 그렇게 못할 것 같아요"라고 스즈키가 말했다. "그래서 그것에 대해 행복했습니다."
스즈키는 지난여름 명예의 전당에 입성했으며 작년에 매리너스 역사상 세 번째로 자신의 등번호를 영구 결번 처리받은 선수가 되었으며, 그리피(24번)와 마르티네스(11번)에 합류했다.
그리피와 마르티네스는 제막식에 스즈키와 함께 참석했으며 커튼을 벗기는 것을 도와주었다.
"그들과 함께 이 순간을 가지기 위해, 저는 모든 것이 어떻게 시작되었는지를 생각해봅니다"라고 스즈키가 말했다. "그리고 그것은 정말 믿을 수 없는 경험이었어요."
스즈키는 명예의 전당에 입성한 최초의 일본 태생 선수로 역사를 남겼으며, 야구 기자협회 투표에서 99.7%의 거의 만장일치에 가까운 투표율을 얻었다.
유머러스한 스즈키의 관점에서 보면, 그의 동상이 결함을 가진 것은 어울리는 일이었다.
"명예의 전당에서 저는 한 표가 부족했어요"라고 스즈키가 말했다. "오늘은 배트가 부러졌어요. 그것은 저에게 아직 거기에 도달하지 못했다는 것을 알려주며, 계속 나아가야 한다는 것을 알려줍니다. 그래서 이것은 좋은 예시입니다."
Former Seattle Mariners Edgar Martinez, left, and Ken Griffey Jr., second from left, look on with right fielder Ichiro Suzuki, right, at the broken bat of Ichiro’s statue during its unveiling outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The bat on the statue of former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki is broken during the unveiling ceremony outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
A broken bat is seen on the statue of former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki during an unveiling ceremony outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The statue of former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki is seen outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki departs with his dog Kikyu after the unveiling ceremony for his statue outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Former Seattle Mariners Edgar Martinez, left, and Ken Griffey Jr., second from left, look on with right fielder Ichiro Suzuki, right, at the broken bat of Ichiro’s statue during its unveiling outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Former Seattle Mariners Edgar Martinez, left, and Ken Griffey Jr., second from left, look on with right fielder Ichiro Suzuki, right, at the broken bat of Ichiro’s statue during its unveiling outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The bat on the statue of former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki is broken during the unveiling ceremony outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The bat on the statue of former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki is broken during the unveiling ceremony outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
A broken bat is seen on the statue of former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki during an unveiling ceremony outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
A broken bat is seen on the statue of former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki during an unveiling ceremony outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The statue of former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki is seen outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The statue of former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki is seen outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki departs with his dog Kikyu after the unveiling ceremony for his statue outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki departs with his dog Kikyu after the unveiling ceremony for his statue outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The unveiling of Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki’s statue had an unforced error on Friday — a broken bat.
As broadcaster Rick Rizzs declared “we’re going to count down from 51!” — a nod to Suzuki’s jersey number, which was retired by the Seattle Mariners — the curtain covering the bronze statue was pulled down, and so, too, went the bat.
A snapping noise could be heard as the bronze bat flopped down and confetti sprouted up.
“Here it is! The statue of one of the greatest players in the history of the game!” Rizzs declared as the curtain was pulled and a celebratory tune played outside of T-Mobile Park.
The statue depicts Suzuki in his batting stance. He appeared to find the mishap to be hilarious, and joked through an interpreter that New York Yankees Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera got the best of him again.
“I didn’t think Mariano would come out here,” Suzuki said with a smile, “and break the bat.”
It did not take long for the Mariners to fix the statue; Suzuki’s bat was soon turned upright and reconnected at the handle. The statue was sculpted by Chicago-based Lou Cella, who also produced statues of Mariners greats Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez, University of Washington football coach Don James, Seattle Storm legend Sue Bird, and former Seattle SuperSonics player and coach Lenny Wilkens.
Suzuki said he wore a jersey from the 2001 season, when he won both AL MVP and Rookie of the Year, for a photo shoot with Cella.
“I can say I was happy that I was still able to fit into that uniform, and probably could say Junior and Edgar probably couldn’t do that,” Suzuki said. “So, I was happy about that.”
Suzuki was inducted into the Hall of Fame last summer and last year became only the third Mariners player to have his jersey retired by the franchise, joining Griffey (No. 24) and Martinez (No. 11).
Griffey and Martinez joined Suzuki for the ceremony and helped him pull the curtain off the statue.
“To have this moment with them, I look back at how it all started,” Suzuki said. “And it’s just been an unbelievable experience.”
Suzuki made history as the first Japanese-born player inducted into the Hall of Fame, earning a near-unanimous 99.7% of the vote from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
The way the jovial Suzuki saw it, his statue having an imperfection was only fitting.
“In the Hall of Fame, I was short one vote,” Suzuki said. “Today, the bat was broke. It kind of lets me know that I’m still not there, that I still need to keep going. So, this is a good example of that.”
The bat on the statue of former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki is broken during the unveiling ceremony outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
A broken bat is seen on the statue of former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki during an unveiling ceremony outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The statue of former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki is seen outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki departs with his dog Kikyu after the unveiling ceremony for his statue outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Former Seattle Mariners Edgar Martinez, left, and Ken Griffey Jr., second from left, look on with right fielder Ichiro Suzuki, right, at the broken bat of Ichiro’s statue during its unveiling outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Former Seattle Mariners Edgar Martinez, left, and Ken Griffey Jr., second from left, look on with right fielder Ichiro Suzuki, right, at the broken bat of Ichiro’s statue during its unveiling outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The bat on the statue of former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki is broken during the unveiling ceremony outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The bat on the statue of former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki is broken during the unveiling ceremony outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
A broken bat is seen on the statue of former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki during an unveiling ceremony outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
A broken bat is seen on the statue of former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki during an unveiling ceremony outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The statue of former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki is seen outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The statue of former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki is seen outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki departs with his dog Kikyu after the unveiling ceremony for his statue outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki departs with his dog Kikyu after the unveiling ceremony for his statue outside of T-Mobile Park, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The unveiling of Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki’s statue had an unforced error on Friday — a broken bat.
As broadcaster Rick Rizzs declared “we’re going to count down from 51!” — a nod to Suzuki’s jersey number, which was retired by the Seattle Mariners — the curtain covering the bronze statue was pulled down, and so, too, went the bat.
A snapping noise could be heard as the bronze bat flopped down and confetti sprouted up.
“Here it is! The statue of one of the greatest players in the history of the game!” Rizzs declared as the curtain was pulled and a celebratory tune played outside of T-Mobile Park.
The statue depicts Suzuki in his batting stance. He appeared to find the mishap to be hilarious, and joked through an interpreter that New York Yankees Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera got the best of him again.
“I didn’t think Mariano would come out here,” Suzuki said with a smile, “and break the bat.”
It did not take long for the Mariners to fix the statue; Suzuki’s bat was soon turned upright and reconnected at the handle. The statue was sculpted by Chicago-based Lou Cella, who also produced statues of Mariners greats Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez, University of Washington football coach Don James, Seattle Storm legend Sue Bird, and former Seattle SuperSonics player and coach Lenny Wilkens.
Suzuki said he wore a jersey from the 2001 season, when he won both AL MVP and Rookie of the Year, for a photo shoot with Cella.
“I can say I was happy that I was still able to fit into that uniform, and probably could say Junior and Edgar probably couldn’t do that,” Suzuki said. “So, I was happy about that.”
Suzuki was inducted into the Hall of Fame last summer and last year became only the third Mariners player to have his jersey retired by the franchise, joining Griffey (No. 24) and Martinez (No. 11).
Griffey and Martinez joined Suzuki for the ceremony and helped him pull the curtain off the statue.
“To have this moment with them, I look back at how it all started,” Suzuki said. “And it’s just been an unbelievable experience.”
Suzuki made history as the first Japanese-born player inducted into the Hall of Fame, earning a near-unanimous 99.7% of the vote from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
The way the jovial Suzuki saw it, his statue having an imperfection was only fitting.
“In the Hall of Fame, I was short one vote,” Suzuki said. “Today, the bat was broke. It kind of lets me know that I’m still not there, that I still need to keep going. So, this is a good example of that.”