My Ichiro appreciation story: I was living in Seattle in 2001, the year he won the MVP and Rookie of the Year. I was looking for a job after graduating college and landed an informational interview with a Mariners exec at SafeCo Field. It was mid-November and the M’s had just been bounced in the playoffs a few weeks before. Spring Training wouldn’t start for another 2+ months. But when I arrived and looked down on the diamond, on a freezing cold and rainy day, I was shocked to see Ichiro. He was running sprints in the outfield. His trainer was the only other person there. My host said that since the season ended, Ichiro still came in most days to do solo workouts and get ready for the next season. “That is why he’s the MVP.” And that is why he’s in the Hall of Fame. Congrats, Ichiro!