SEATTLE -- Despite being known for his philosophical character and often cryptic baseball language, Ichiro Suzuki showed a bit of his human side in reflecting on his successful pursuit of an 84-year-old major league record.
In a recent interview with Kyodo News, Ichiro quietly recalled the hype that lasted until he set a new single-season hits record and said the pressure was gigantic and he felt he was Japanese -- more than just a baseball player.
"I thought I'd be in trouble if I failed to achieve it," the Seattle Mariners right-fielder said, referring to when he moved within one hit of tying George Sisler's mark of 257 hits with three games left in the season.