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Class Move by Ichiro....
Nice to see stories like this
Ichiro remembers George Sisler so we can, too
By David Brown
Acknowledging baseball's past and respecting its tradition ought to be part of any fan's enjoyment of the game.
We sometimes wonder aloud — because of the money and other perceptions — if the players agree, or even understand this.
Ichiro(notes), who comes from a culture where respect and tradition are paramount, gives us no reason to doubt he does.
While in St. Louis for the All-Star Game this week, the Seattle Mariners' superstar visited the gravesite of Hall of Famer George Sisler, whose single-season hit record Ichiro broke in 2004.
Ichiro, bringing his wife and some friends, put flowers on the grave of Sisler, a contemporary of Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb who died in 1973 — the same year Ichiro was born.
Partly, Ichiro was returning a courtesy given to him by Sisler's family (including Francis Sisler Drochelman, a daughter, also pictured above) who attended Ichiro's record-breaking game at Safeco Field.
In a wonderful blog post by Larry Stone of the Seattle Times, Ichiro explained through translator Ken Barron the reasons for his visit:
From the Times:
"There's not many chances to come to St. Louis,'' Ichiro said. "In 2004, it was the first time I crossed paths with him, and his family generously came all the way to Seattle. Above all, it was a chance ... I wanted to do that for a grand upperclassman of the baseball world. I think it's only natural for someone to want to do that, to express my feelings in that way. I'm not sure if he's happy about it."
What a marvelous gesture from one of today's great players. With all of the demands on his time for All-Star festivities, Ichiro — along with family and friends — made sure to make time for a man whose decades-old record he toppled five years ago.
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