PEORIA, Ariz. — For the first time since perhaps infancy, Ichiro has begun a baseball season with no aspirations of being an active ballplayer.
And fully at peace with that circumstance.
The last vestiges of that chapter of Ichiro’s life — one that made him a legend on two continents and will land him in the Baseball Hall of Fame in five years — was satisfactorily concluded last year in Japan.
Activated for the Mariners’ two games against the Oakland A’s in Tokyo, Ichiro announced his retirement and was bathed in love and adulation from both fans and teammates.