Ichiro, who spent parts of 19 seasons in the major leagues, delivered a riveting speech in Cooperstown on Sunday, even nailing an impression of Rick Rizzs.

Ichiro Suzuki and his wife, Yumiko Fukushima, have been married for over two decades, sparking curiosity in their enduring relationship. Suzuki is a former baseball outfielder whose recent Hall of Fame speech drew much attention.

Of those present, a plurality, if not a majority, were present to honor and celebrate Ichiro most of all. And yet, as Ichiro delivered his hilarious, thoughtful, uniquely earnest remarks, I felt a tang of bittersweetness.

Growing up in Spokane, Wash., Tampa Bay All-Star pitcher Drew Rasmussen was a huge Seattle Mariners fan, and Ichiro Suzuki was one of his her

Former Mariner Ichiro Suzuki makes humorous reference to the voter who snubbed him during his Hall of Fame speech

The author of 4,367 hits over 28 seasons across Japan and America didn’t use an interpreter as he had during a media session on Saturday. He delivered his speech in English, and he was talking at one point about the Mariners, then the Yankees and then the next team on his 19-season major-league journey.

All-Star right fielder and Seattle Mariners legend Ichiro Suzuki was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025. But even as Ichiro was awarded the honor alongside CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner, it was his speech that stole the show.

“Lou Piniella was very skeptical,” said Larry Stone, a Seattle Times baseball writer who has covered Ichiro’s career extensively. “That spring training, Ichiro started off not pulling the ball, not driving the ball. And Lou was like, ‘Who is this guy? When is he going to show me something?’”