Yesterday’s trade of Ichiro to the New York Yankees marked an end of an era. At the age of 39, there is no doubt that Ichiro’s days as a Major Leaguer were coming to an end and facing another dismal season, the Mariners sent him to a contending team in hopes of getting him that elusive ring. I happened to be living in Vancouver the summer that Ichiro arrived on this side of the Atlantic and it was pandemonium. I think I made three or four trips to Seattle that summer and Ichiro-mania made everyone forget about Ken Griffey Jr. His playing style was unlike anything anyone had ever seen, the batting stance, the speed he had and the cannon arm quickly made him one of the most unique players in the history of baseball. I still remember seeing him beat out a grounder to second. It was nuts. Obviously, I was a fan.
You know who else was a fan? Ben Gibbard.
The long time Mariner fan apparently wrote this ode to Ichiro a few years ago, but released it last night when the trade was announced. It’s classic Gibbard and really, extremely catchy track. Check it out.