While just three former players actually represent the M's in Cooperstown, there are eight links to the franchise with a plaque at the Hall of Fame.

There's the batting style that had Ichiro flying toward first base almost before he had even made contact with the baseball, the hand-eye coordination that allowed Ichiro to drop a hit to any segment of the field he chose seemingly on command, the legendary preparation and throwing arm and underrated sense of humor.

“Lou Piniella was very skeptical,” said Larry Stone, a Seattle Times baseball writer who has covered Ichiro’s career extensively. “That spring training, Ichiro started off not pulling the ball, not driving the ball. And Lou was like, ‘Who is this guy? When is he going to show me something?’”

Soon-to-be Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki shares why sitting out much of 2018 with the Seattle Mariners was one of his biggest accomplishments.