"Ichiro Suzuki, his eminence not yet announced by first name only, arrived at Peoria in the spring of 2001 as an enigma.

The Mariners had gotten a brief glimpse of the Japanese star in spring training two years earlier, part of an exchange program with the Orix Blue Wave. But his stay was abbreviated because of food poisoning, and no one knew quite what to expect.

Now he was a full-fledged member of the Mariners, having signed a three-year, $14-million deal (on top of a $13.125 million posting fee the Mariners paid Orix to win negotiating rights with the seven-time Japanese batting champion).

Manager Lou Piniella was nervous, players were skeptical, and Ichiro (as he would soon be known exclusively) was consumed with the pressure of being the first Japanese position player in the major leagues — his every move scrutinized by an army of reporters, and his countrymen at home.

"We were all waiting to see who this guy was, and if he could help us," said Mark McLemore.

We all know how this story ended, of course. Ichiro was a sensation, winning the batting title (.350), the stolen-base crown (56), starting the All-Star Game, earning a Gold Glove, and beating out teammate Bret Boone for the American League's Most Valuable Player Award.

As catcher Dan Wilson put it succinctly, "He took the league by storm."

But first Ichiro had to win over Piniella in spring training. One after another, players and coaches from that 2001 team recall the manager's increasing agitation during Cactus League play as Ichiro kept hitting weakly to the left side."