On Monday, it was reported that 44-year-old future (first-ballot) Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki – the man simply known as Ichiro – had agreed to a one-year / $750,000 deal with the Seattle Mariners, the team with which it all began for the Nichi Kasugai-gun, Japan native back in 2001. The deal includes incentives that could bring the total amount to $2 million.

If he remains healthy, Dodger fans will get to see future Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki when the Mariners host the Dodgers on August 17, 18, and 19 at Safeco Field. (Photo courtesy of MLB Trade Rumors)

Did I mention that the 10-time consecutive All-Star, 2001 AL MVP and Rookie of the Year, 10-time Gold Glove winner, three-time Silver Slugger winner, two-time AL batting champion and 2007 All-Star Game MVP – who also has one relief inning pitched on his résumé – is 44 years old?

“I want to keep playing until I am at least 50,” Ichiro told ESPN’s Marly Rivera, during a July 2016 interview while with the Miami Marlins.

But the dysfunctional South Florida team declined to re-sign the popular free agent outfielder following the 2017 season.

To date, there have been only six former major leaguers who played into their 50’s – (the number in parentheses indicates their final season):

Pitchers

• 59 – Satchel Paige (1965)
• 50 – Jack Quinn (1933)

Position Players

• 58 – Charley O’Leary (1934)
• 57 – Nick Altrock (1933)
• 56 – Minnie Miñoso (1980)
• 54 – Jim O’Rourke (1904)

The last major leaguers to play until age 49 were popular left-handed pitcher Jamie Moyer (2012) and beloved utility infielder Julio Franco (2007).

As you would expect, Ichiro’s numbers have declined over the last few seasons of his 17-year MLB career – eleven and a half with the Mariners, two and a half with the New York Yankees and the last three with the Marlins. But amazingly, he still posted slash-lines of .281 / .314 / .364 and .256 / .315 / .325 respectively with the Yankees and Marlins; this to go along with his remarkable .312 / .355 / .403 slash-line during his (previous) 11+ seasons with the Mariners.

But perhaps the biggest reason … two, actually, why the Mariners may have decided to bring back the extremely popular left-handed-hitting / right-handed-throwing future Hall of Famer is because he can be used primarily as a designated hitter (if they so choose), and he absolutely positively will put fannies in the seats at Safeco Field, where the Mariners drew only 2,135,445 fans in 2017; which ranked 19th in the MLB and ninth in the American League.

Any way you slice it, having Ichiro still in the game, and having him back where it all began 17 years ago simply has to make you smile.

あなたへの神のスピード、イチロー。

(Godspeed to you, Ichiro).