As far as I’m concerned, Ichiro Suzuki is the all-time hit king. He racked up an astounding 4,367 hits between Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball, while also winning a combined nine batting titles, four MVP awards, and 17 Gold(en) Glove Awards in Japan and the U.S.

He is a groundbreaker, an icon, and an inspiration to millions of people on both sides of the Pacific.

How much do you each know about Ichiro? See how well you do with the following questions.

Who were the last MLB players to wear their first name on the back of their jersey before Ichiro did so?

It’s rare for an MLB player to wear their first name on the back of their jersey rather than their surname. However, Ichiro was not the first to do so.

In fact, Vida Blue and Chili Davis sported their first names on their uniforms while they were teammates on the San Francisco Giants in the 1980s. The story behind Blue’s decision is fascinating, and it dates back to his early days in Oakland.

Athletics owner Charlie Finley was intrigued by Blue’s potential, and thought that a colorful nickname would allow the pitcher to ascend to superstardom. Finley encouraged the lefty hurler to go by “True Blue,” which he felt would make him more marketable.

Blue was insulted by the suggestion, as Vida means “life” in Spanish and was also his father’s name. After Finley encouraged A’s radio broadcasters to refer to Vida as “True” and a scoreboard promo also mentioned a “True Blue,” the pitcher took matters into his own hands.

He had “Vida” stitched on the back of his jersey out of spite for Finley.

Ichiro is one of five players to hit a walk-off home run off of which Hall of Famer?

Ichiro had played close to nine seasons in the big leagues before he finally delivered a game-ending home run. That two-out, two-run shot gave the Mariners a come-from-behind win and also rewarded starter Felix Hernandez for his complete-game effort.

The night was September 18, 2009, and the Hall of Famer who gave up the home run would one day become Ichiro’s teammate.

Surprisingly, the closer who coughed up the lead was none other than Mariano Rivera. Ichiro was never a home run hitter (he eclipsed double-digits just three times in his MLB career) but in this instance he was able to turn on an inside cutter and lift it out of the ballpark.

Ichiro was the fifth and final player to hit a walk-off homer against Rivera, a list that also included Bill Selby, Bill Mueller, Vernon Wells, and Marco Scutaro. Though he entered 2009 with just one regular season hit off of “Mo,” Ichiro collected hits in each of his last four at-bats against the iconic closer.

Which of these quotes cannot be attributed to Ichiro?

“August in Kansas City is hotter than two rats in a fucking wool sock.”

“I hope he arouses the fire that’s dormant in the innermost recesses of my soul. I plan to face him with the zeal of a challenger.”

“Losing after great striving is the story of a man, who was born to sorrow, whose sweetest songs tell of saddest thought, and who, if he is a hero, does nothing in life as becomingly as leaving it.”

“If I’m in a slump, I ask myself for advice.”

“Chicks who dig home runs aren’t the ones who appeal to me. I think there’s sexiness in infield hits because they require technique. I’d rather impress the chicks with my technique than with my brute strength…”

Shakespeare, Twain, and Ichiro.

Truly, these are the greatest wordsmiths of all time.

For as talented as he was on the baseball diamond, Ichiro was equally skilled at fielding questions from the press. The outfielder gave plenty of inspired quotes during his professional baseball career, including four of the five listed above.

The “August in Kansas City” quote? Ichiro actually did say that, during a 2007 interview with Bob Costas. Costas asked Ichiro what his favorite American expression was, and Ichiro responded with that unforgettable line. Apparently, one of his teammates taught him that profane saying.

Ichiro also said he hoped someone would arouse the “fire that’s dormant in the innermost recesses of my soul.” He was describing how he felt facing countryman Daisuke Matsuzaka for the first time in the United States.

The only above quote that did not come from Ichiro is the one about losing after great striving. That sentiment comes from Roger Kahn’s ode to the Brooklyn Dodgers, The Boys of Summer.

Who is the only player other than Ichiro to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season?

Ichiro was the first Japanese position player in MLB history when he joined the Mariners prior to the 2001 season. He was already a legend in Japan, where he had won three MVP awards, seven batting titles, and seven Golden Glove awards.

No one was certain how his talent would translate to the big leagues, but Ichiro allayed all doubts by leading the majors with 242 hits and 56 stolen bases in his 2001 rookie campaign.

He also won the American League batting title with a .350 average and secured the first of his ten consecutive Gold Glove awards.

Ichiro was rewarded for his excellence by being named AL Rookie of the Year as well as the AL’s Most Valuable Player. The only other player to secure both awards was Fred Lynn of the 1975 Red Sox.

Ichiro is MLB’s all-time leader in stolen bases by a player born in Japan. Who is second on the list?

It’s no surprise that Ichiro has the most steals among Japanese-born players in MLB history. The player with the second-highest total may surprise you, however.

Here’s a hint: his most famous stolen base came in a postseason game against the Yankees.

Here’s another hint: he’s currently a major league manager.

If you guessed Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts, you’re right on the money. Roberts was born in Naha, Japan to an African-American father and Japanese mother. His parents met while his father was stationed in Japan with the US Marines.

While Roberts’s career total of 243 steals pales in comparison to Ichiro’s 509, he is still the second-best MLB base stealer among players born in Japan. 

In which ballpark did Ichiro hit an inside-the-park home run during an All-Star Game?

Throughout his career in both Japan and the United States, Ichiro did things that no ballplayer had ever done before.

In 2007, for example, he became the first player to hit an inside-the-park home run in the MLB All-Star Game. The game in question took place at San Francisco’s AT&T Park, now called Oracle Park.

The home run was just one of three hits that Ichiro collected that night en route to an All-Star Game MVP Award. Believe it or not, it was the first inside-the-parker that Ichiro had ever recorded as a professional.

Searle’s Final Say

Ichiro was a childhood favorite of mine, and I feel fortunate to have witnessed his major league career in its entirety. He was a singular talent, and perhaps the last true global superstar the game will ever see.