Ichiro in pinstripes is all too peculiar. |
Plenty of iconic players, legends in their own right, have played their entire careers with one team until that team decides to sever ties with that player at the end of their career. Tt's the cycle of life. It's not an uncommon thing and while it's often weird, it's never usually anything to write home about. But the Yankees acquisition of Ichiro has been one of the strangest occurrences I've ever witnessed.
We all know his pedigree, what he's done over his career in Seattle, the consecutive 200+ seasons, the insane batting averages, all that good stuff. But what he did in the pacific northwest is what he is remembered for, how he made his mark. 12 years of pure, unperturbed ball playing, real good ball playing at that. Joining another team, especially a team like the Yankees, probably never crossed his mind until he realized he is 38 and championship-less.
He's 38. He's no longer the player he was, not even close. It's weird just seeing Ichiro take off his helmet in order to show off his new "silver fox" look. He was a positive part of my childhood, though I've probably never watched the Mariners in my life nor did I ever care to. But those days are over, and soon too will be Ichiro's career. Watching him step into the batters box donning pinstripes is not, and never will be something I can wrap my head around. I'm not sitting here saying it's a travesty and F the Yankees or anything like that. A unique player of his caliber is something you always remember, and something you always associate with his original team. When Ichiro was traded it was a moment of "Wait, what the hell? Ichiro, not a Mariner? I can't believe it." But here he is no longer playing for his first and, at the time, only team.
He fit the Mariners and the city of Seattle exceptionally. A quiet, sometimes weird, but special place for a guy retaining those exact qualities. Though he may be exactly what the Yankees need to win their 28th World Series it doesn't mean he fits the city or the team. It's not even in a baseball sense, not even that. It's just looking at a man, who so distinctively fit his Mariners jersey with his first name on the back, wear such a well-known pair of pinstripes; it's downright odd. I'm not mad that Ichiro is a Yankee. I actually kind like the fact he is. It brings a guy to the east coast who I wish I could have watched when I was younger, but never really had the opportunity. So, in a way, I kind of the thank the Yankees for bringing him east, however it still is all too bizarre to me. Seeing him in pinstripes is like watching Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, you're so very intrigued, and almost excited, but at the same time so weirded out.
Yankees faithful enjoy your time with one of the greatest players of all-time, but realize that he is, and always be, a Seattle Mariner.
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