I didn't expect I would be the one to win. To be among those great legends, great players, I cannot be a regular, ordinary player anymore. I just need to play to make fans happy ... make my team, maybe opposing teams, enjoy my play.

"I think balance is very important to me," he said. "If even one element is missing, I can't be a good player."

(Speech from Ichiro after he won the 2001 MVP and Rookie of the Year Award)

"He was one of the people I wanted to meet, but because of his health, I knew that would never happen. When I was in Japan and challenging the .400 mark, his name was always mentioned as the last to hit .400. I heard stories that he could read the letters on a record while it was moving."

 * Ichiro challenged the .400 mark twice, batting .385 in 1994 and .387 in 2000, his final year with the Orix Blue Wave.

(Quote on Ichiro on his thoughts about the death of Ted Williams (1918-2002))