Ichiro even with Williams on all-time hits list

NEW YORK -- Ichiro Suzuki was once spoken of as an active threat to bat .400 in a big league season, a feat that has not been accomplished since Ted Williams did it in 1941.

The Yankees may not expect Ichiro to approach that milestone, but they were able to watch on Tuesday as Ichiro matched the Splendid Splinter's all-time hits total at Yankee Stadium.

Ichiro's third-inning RBI single off the Indians' Scott Kazmir was the 2,654th hit of his big league career, tying Williams for 72nd place on the all-time hits list.

Williams assembled his total with the Red Sox from 1939-60, losing three years of his career to military service during World War II. Ichiro's total is also lower than it theoretically could have been; while playing in Japan, he amassed 1,278 hits that are not counted toward his Major League total.

The next names on the all-time hits list are George Davis and Harry Heilmann, who are tied for 70th with 2,660 big league hits apiece.