Mariners’ Randy Johnson’s Ichiro Suzuki revelation about sharing retired No. 51

The number 51 means a lot to the Seattle Mariners. Randy Johnson, one of the hardest throwing superstar pitchers in MLB history, rocked the number for the team from 1989 to 1997. Only a couple of years later, Ichiro Suzuki, one of the greatest contact hitters that baseball has ever seen, also sported 51 on the back of his jersey. He’d rack up huge hit numbers in Seattle from 2001 to 2012.

Just last year, the Mariners retired the number 51 in honor of their former Japanese star. Suzuki’s jersey was hung up high on Aug. 9, 2025. Less than a year later, Seattle honored Johnson, too. His 51 was also retired and placed right next to Suzuki’s at T-Mobile Park. Nobody will ever wear the number again because not just one of the best players in franchise history, but two of them rocked the baseball world in very different ways, with a somewhat rare number choice playing a big part in their MLB identity.

During Johnson’s May 2, 2026, jersey retirement speech, the pitcher known as The Big Unit not only reminisced on his legendary career, but he also gave his respects to Suzuki, who was in person to celebrate Johnson.

“After being gone for two and a half years from the Mariners, a new player would come to the Seattle Mariners,” Johnson said during his speech. “One of the greatest hitters in Major League Baseball history, and a legendary player for the Seattle Mariners: Ichiro Suzuki.”

“He would reach out to me, asking if he could wear the number 51 that I wore for nine and a half years. It was a number that he had worn in Japan. Without hesitation, I said, ‘Yes go right ahead.’ He would do things that had never been done in major league history, and he would become a Hall of Fame player.”

Johnson’s admiration of Suzuki clearly played a large part in his willingness to allow an MLB rookie to don the same number that he had already established himself in. Clearly, it all worked out, as both Johnson and Suzuki will be remembered in Mariners history forever.

“One number, two players representing one team.”

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