In my childhood bedroom, I have a big framed poster of MLB Superstars that has been there on my wall since like 2003. It's still up there last time I checked, though my mom might have taken it down.
On that poster were Manny, A-Rod, Jeter, Griffey, Bonds, Mike Piazza, and Vlad. Maybe Nomar a few others.
But also on that poster was Ichiro.
Besides Bartolo, Ichiro is the only baseball player left from my childhood when I first got to truly know the sport and the players. The era of elementary school me sitting in my grandparents basement eating pizza and watching games all day with my grandpa.
I turn 25 in about a month, and it amazes me how much time that I've spent following this guy who played well past my bedtime. He has pretty much always been around, and there really isn't anyone left playing that connects my childhood to today.
Ichiro had a ridiculous career for specializing in hitting ground balls that rarely got out of the infield. I doubt that there will ever be a player like him again.
In some ways I am pretty bummed that he retired today. But in other ways, I'm just really happy that I got to see him play for as long as he did.