It was Ichiro at his purest. The one-of-a-kind right fielder, now the first Japanese player headed to Cooperstown, was an athlete who refused to break routine, even when his starlight dimmed.

Ichiro Suzuki is the Japanese Zen master who ... His pre-game exercise routine was so intense that opposing team players would turn up early just to watch him, and he looked after his equipment ...

Ichiro Suzuki was the most complete ballplayer ... he was counterculture. His stretching routine was legendary. He rolled his feet after every game. He stored his magic bats in a case like ...