While just three former players actually represent the M's in Cooperstown, there are eight links to the franchise with a plaque at the Hall of Fame.

Ichiro was just a single vote shy of being unanimously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He becomes the first player born in Japan to be inducted.

There's the batting style that had Ichiro flying toward first base almost before he had even made contact with the baseball, the hand-eye coordination that allowed Ichiro to drop a hit to any segment of the field he chose seemingly on command, the legendary preparation and throwing arm and underrated sense of humor.