Part 3/8:
Enter Ichiro Suzuki, a player who was not just known in Japan but had become a national treasure. His success in Nippon Professional Baseball was unprecedented, making him a household name. The Mariners, looking to fill the void left by Rodriguez, pursued Ichiro vigorously after the implementation of the posting system, which allowed Japanese players to enter the MLB through a bidding process. The Mariners won the rights to negotiate with Ichiro, and history was about to unfold.