Paying Respects

While most sports fans may recognize the day after the MLB All-Star Game as the slowest day on the sports calendar, a simple act of respect from one great hitter of today to another great hitter of history made the day noteworthy.

In case you may not know the connection, Ichiro Suzuki broke George Sisler's 84 year old record for most hits in a season in 2004, ultimately collecting 262 hits. While Sisler's 257 hits may not have been one of the elite records in the history of the sport, it was a significant number in baseball lore. When Ichiro broke the record in Seattle, members of Sisler's family were present to congratulate Ichiro, including his 81-year old daughter.

Sisler spent the majority of his career in St. Louis playing for the Browns (today's Orioles). He broke Ty Cobb's hits record for a season in 1920 with 257. That year he also finished 2nd in the AL in doubles, triples, RBIs, and HRs (talk about a good year). Two years later Sisler batted .420 and won the AL MVP in 1922. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1939.

While in the Gateway City for the ASG on Monday, Ichiro decided to pay his respects to the man whose record he broke. The Mariner star quietly took flowers to the gravesite of George Sisler to pay his respects. You can read the story in its entirety here.

“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." - Ichiro

Ichiro didn't know George Sisler. In fact, they were never even alive on Planet Earth together. But for Ichiro to recognize a legend of the past in this way is something that all sports fans should salute.

History is perhaps more important in baseball than in any other sport. Think of iconic numbers like 61 and 755, and how they have fallen by the wayside in less than idyllic circumstances.

What will we tell our kids about the Bonds, Sosas, and McGwires of the world that broke these records? What will we have to say about the men like Maris and Aaron who had these records stolen from them?

Ichiro's 258th hit of his 2004 season came under no such controversy and should be remembered even more fondly in the Steroid Era. Will we remember Ichiro more fondly because of his accomplishments, or as the antithesis of other record-breakers of his era?

In the sport of baseball, history, records, and numbers are more important than in any other sport. In a time where so many athletes are neglectful of their sport's history, this truly is an amazing story.

Hopefully we'll remember Ichiro as not only one of the greatest hitters of all-time, but one of the classiest players of his time when his record of 262 hits is broken someday. For all of Ichiro's on-field accomplishments, this quiet act of respect and gratitude is perhaps his greatest tribute.