Ichiro is amazing, and not just at hitting

Think quirky. Now combine that with baseball greatness for those already in Cooperstown or near its city limits. Yogi Berra comes to mind, and the same goes for Dizzy Dean, Harry Caray and Rickey Henderson.

How about Ichiro Suzuki?

Yep, that elite group clearly includes Ichiro, the Japanese icon turned American star, who proved long ago that our national pastime doesn’t just flourish between two oceans. He’s a Baseball Hall of Famer soon after he retires, and that’s assuming he ever does. Courtesy of his efficiency at hitting, fielding, running and thrilling over the decades, he ranks among the game’s all-time best in both the United States and Japan.

There also is that other thing: This guy really is quirky.

When Ichiro came to Atlanta earlier this season with his Marlins, I was struck by several things after seeing him up close and personal for the first time. He was more slight than I thought, especially since I didn’t see a hint of fat on his frame at 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds. Ichiro also continued his habit of challenging the Major League record for pregame rituals. Then there was that matter of him resembling a rock star instead of a baseball player.

As for that last point, Ichiro is both. Rock stars capture your attention before they open their mouth, and Ichiro gives you this feel of The Beatles merging with The Rolling Stones and The Monkees — spanning from his 21st century version of mod glasses, psychedelic shirt and groovy shoes. Let’s just say his wardrobe featuring fashionable jeans rolled halfway up his calves and thin tie complementing his colorful footwear screams, “Charisma.”

Not only that, despite Ichiro’s role as a reserve outfielder for the Marlins, he often becomes a 42-year-old wonder after he strolls to home plate with one of his bats that he keeps in a moisture-free container (See, I told you he was quirky). Ichiro is hitting .335 with an on-base percentage of .408, which is 51 points above his career average over 16 Major League seasons. He also has nine steals in 11 attempts.

If …

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