Ichiro Pitches for NTT

Literally…

Cute kid.

BWT, NTT is Nippon Telegraph and Telephone.

Game 54: 0-for-3 in 3-2 Win vs. Baltimore

Elaine Thompson / AP Photo

At Bats: 3
Runs: 1
Hits, Game/Season: 0/61
Runs Batted In: 0
Walks: 1
Strikeouts: 1
Left on Base: 0
Average: .272
Box
Notes: Reached on an intentional walk and a key error (above)… May was the worst month of his career, going 22-for-105 for a .210 average… Began the month batting a season-high .328, then ended it 56 points lower at .272… The M’s set another attendance record tonight with an all-time Safeco low of 11,692; the ten smallest Safeco crowds have all happened this year… On the other hand, the surprising M’s finished May two games above .500, and are a half-game out of first place.
Next: Game 55 vs. Baltimore, 12:40 Wednesday.

Ichiro’s Fans #3

Found here.

Game 53: 2-for-4 in 4-3 Win vs. Baltimore

Elaine Thompson / AP Photo

At Bats: 4
Runs: 2
Hits, Game/Season: 2/61
Runs Batted In: 0
Walks: 0
Strikeouts: 0
Left on Base: 0
Average: .276
Box
Notes: Following a 1-for-24 stretch, hit a pair of singles, scored a pair of runs, and stole his 13th base of the season… Like all MLB teams did today, the M’s wore lame-ass Memorial Day caps (above).
Next: Game 54 vs. Baltimore, 7:10 Tuesday.

Ichiro Comics #4

Mariners Mojo was a free comic distributed at Seattle-area McDonald’s in 2002. In issue #2 of 2, Ichiro and his ’02 teammates (including Jamie Moyer, Kazuhiro Sasaki, Edgar Martinez, Bret Boone and Ruben Sierra) use their superhero powers to battle Bigfoot. They later become friends.

Game 52: 0-for-4 in 7-1 Loss vs. New York

Ted S. Warren / AP Photo

At Bats: 4
Runs: 0
Hits, Game/Season: 0/59
Runs Batted In: 0
Walks: 0
Strikeouts: 0
Left on Base: 3
Average: .272
Box
Notes: Grounded to first once, grounded to second twice, and grounded to C.C. Sabathia for a bases-loaded, inning-ending double-play (above)… Geoff Baker says this is the worst month of Ichiro’s career.
Next: Game 53 vs. Baltimore, 1:10 Monday.

It Was Ten Years Ago Today: Ichiro’s First Sports Illustrated Cover

Ichiro was the cover story of the May 28, 2001 Sports Illustrated.

For several years the above cover was posted on the wall of my apartment at the address shown on the mailing label; below is what the photo originally looked like.