...when there is NOMAR, for one. Who else?
2006-12-04 01:35:00 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
So, why aren't all the other Japanese guys using their First Names? I liked the Korean team where most of them was named Lee
2006-12-04 10:01:45 · update #1
who cares the guy can hit .maybe they should just let him put "single" on his jersey or "basehit"
2006-12-04 03:07:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The only person who can allow anything other than a last name on the back of a uniform is the league president. In Ichiro's case, I believe the request was granted because he'd been wearing his first name on his back while playing for Orix before coming to North America, probably to distinguish himself from all the other Suzukis (which is a very common name in Japan). I'm not against someone like Nomar doing the same, although I can see the league presidents cutting that trend off pretty quickly.
Ichiro is not the first to do this, though. Near the end of his career, while pitching for the Giants, Vida Blue had his first name on the back of his uniform.
2006-12-04 02:44:36 · answer #2 · answered by Craig S 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
because Japanese names are the other way around,For Instance His Name In Japan Would Be "Suzuki Ichiro" So He Wants His Jersey Like That Rather Than "Ichiro Suzuki"
2006-12-04 02:54:17 · answer #3 · answered by Fair & balanced like Fox™ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This also has cultural implications. He's known as Ichiro over in Japan. Best comparison I can think of is Yao Ming from China in the NBA. In the official listings of scoring leaders, he's just "Yao."
2006-12-04 06:59:42 · answer #4 · answered by BBailey182 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He shouldn't be allowed to have his first name on the back of his uniform, Baseball broke tradition when he first signed because league executives were dying to bring the very lucrative Japanese market, both fans and advertisers, into the US.
2006-12-04 11:11:56 · answer #5 · answered by Commander 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Vida Blue used to wear his first name on his jersey back in the day.
2006-12-04 11:35:13 · answer #6 · answered by Jack R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think teh Big Hurt should but his first name on his Uniform, since his last name is a very common first name anyways.
Frank-yeah
I say we go beyond first names, and go to nick names.
Big Papi (Ortiz)
A-Rod (if you don't know, you're retarded)
El Caballo (Carlos Lee)
EL Hombre (ALbert Pujols)
Rocket (CLemens)
Big Hurt (thomas)
Big Unit (Johnson)
Just to name a few
2006-12-04 04:00:17 · answer #7 · answered by thatchelpage 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In Japan and China they say their family name first. He didn't want to brake the tradition.
2006-12-04 09:57:52 · answer #8 · answered by seattle_slew_champ 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bet you baseball or maybe Ichiro's agent couldn't enough money from "Suzuki" to put his last name on his jersey......bet you it has to do with money.......hea "Pete Rose" are you out there....wanna make the bet???
2006-12-04 12:15:14 · answer #9 · answered by Mickey Mantle 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cause if he had his last name on his jersey it would be free advertising and unlike European hockey teams, baseball doesn't have a bunch of stickers and patches on their uniforms.
2006-12-04 06:42:26 · answer #10 · answered by younggun1022003 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
cuz it is a tradition in Japan To be called by your first name
2006-12-04 09:57:38 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋