The Mariners on Friday unveiled a statue of Baseball HOFer Ichiro Suzuki outside T-Mobile Park, but the bronze bat Suzuki was holding “snapped at the handle, leaving the rest of the bat dangling at a 45-degree angle.” Fellow HOFers and Mariners legends Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez pulled the drapes off the statue, only for Griffey to “put his head on Martinez’s shoulder. He then ”covered his eyes” as Suzuki “laughed and pointed at the bat.” The bat was quickly temporarily fixed. The statue depicts Suzuki’s “classic batting stance -- right arm extended toward the pitcher, left arm folded across his chest.” The Mariners gave away a “miniature replica statue of Ichiro to the first 40,000 fans through the gates” before Friday’s game against the Astros (SEATTLE TIMES, 4/10).
Ichiro statue unveiling marred by snapped bronze bat
