Eruptions from the Northwest
October 15, 2004
by Chelan David

October 1st was a banner day of excitement for the Pacific Northwest. Mount St. Helens started the festivities by blowing her top and Ichiro followed by erupting for his record-breaking 258th hit in a single season.

The rugged residents of the Northwest treat a volcanic eruption, at least a minor one, as a celebration compared to the trepidation caused by such occurrences as tornadoes, hurricanes and earthquakes. It is an event to be witnessed and cherished, much like Ichiro's pursuit of George Sisler's 84-year-old hit record.

Unfortunately, the Mariners, a team that resembles a natural disaster, have fallen on hard times. From the pinnacle of a record setting 116 wins and a berth in the ALCS in 2001, the 2004 edition of the M's were out of the playoff race by May, essentially fielded a minor league team after the All-Star break, nearly lost 100 games and finished last in the American League West.

Simply put, Ichiro was the only reason to follow baseball in Seattle this year. On the historic night, an unseasonably warm and clear day in the Emerald City, my wife and I had rented a movie and were walking home when we noticed a pizza parlor filled to capacity with onlookers peering into the windows.

Edging in for a closer look, I saw, on one of the small television sets, Ichiro at the plate. While our neighborhood has dozens of coffee shops, there is a major shortage of sports bars, which explained the gathering of rabid baseball fans at such a normally sedate setting.

Pleased with our perfect timing, I munched from the complimentary bag of popcorn that the video store had given us and squinted to see Ichiro foul a pitch off. The next pitch was about five feet off the plate and skipped to the backstop. I couldn't see what the count was but suddenly I understood the frustration of every fan at Pac Bell when Barry Bonds is intentionally walked. Then, on the next pitch, Ichiro smashed a grounder up the middle, past the shortstop and into center field.

The pizza parlor erupted as though the Mariners had won the pennant. Children were chanting "I-chi-ro, I-chi-ro!" Adults were high-fiving each other. On the television screen, fireworks exploded and the entire team went out to mob Ichiro. As we lingered on the pavement, the sold-out crowd at Safeco Field gave the newly crowned hit king a thunderous standing ovation lasting for several minutes. Play finally resumed and the pizza crowd quickly dispersed. They had witnessed the one bright moment of the Mariners otherwise abysmal season.

An elderly man beaming with pride, passed by and exclaimed to no one in particular, "What a day! First, Mount St. Helens and now Ichiro, what a day!"

Indeed it was a special moment in time. Two cherished symbols of the Northwest erupting in glory on the same day.

(Chelan David is a volunteer staff writer for 2 Walls Webzine)