Upon further research … Ichiro's monthly hit total the most in 66 years, not 68

Mariners-Ichiro's Hits, 2nd Ld-Writethru,0317

TORONTO (AP) — Ichiro Suzuki's 56 hits in August are still impressive — only they're not the most in a month by a major leaguer in 68 years as originally reported.

According to ongoing research by the Elias Sports Bureau, Suzuki's total is the highest in a month since Jeff Heath got 58 for Cleveland in August 1938.

When Suzuki got his third hit of the game Tuesday night for Seattle against Toronto, it was announced at SkyDome that he had matched the most since Cleveland's Roy Weatherly also got 56 in July 1936.

The Mariners based their information on work by independent researcher David Stephan. Elias, baseball's statistician, found Heath's mark on Wednesday.

”Either way it's phenomenal,” Seattle manager Bob Melvin said. ”Fifty-six hits in a month just doesn't happen.”

The major league record for hits in a month is unknown, Elias said.

Coincidentally, Heath and Weatherly were longtime teammates in the Indians' outfield. They both made their big league debuts in 1936 for Cleveland at age 21.

Weatherly got off a great start after joining the Indians in late June 1936. The next month, he got those 56 hits on his way to batting .335 that season.

Heath was a two-time All-Star with Cleveland. Boosted by his big month, he hit .343 in 1938 with 112 RBIs, and led the AL with 18 triples.

Heath and Weatherly played together in the Indians' outfield through the 1942 season.

With 212 hits through Tuesday night, Suzuki is pursuing George Sisler's major league record of 257 hits in a season, accomplished in 1920 with the St. Louis Browns. The Mariners had 31 games left going into Wednesday night's game at Toronto.