When Valentine was starting his first managerial stint with the Chiba Lotte Marines in 1994, the skipper became mesmerized with Ichiro — a member of the Orix Blue Wave in Japan's Pacific League — and his work habits.
"He was already an experienced player and he was living in a dorm," Valentine said of Ichiro. "Practice is one of those ridiculously overblown things in Japan, but when we'd get there for practice, he'd already be practicing. The reason he lived in the dorms was so he could go out and do it."
For those reasons, Valentine is confident that Ichiro will thrive in his new surroundings in New York. Four days after the Yankees acquired Ichiro via trade with Seattle, the outfielder made his debut at Yankee Stadium.
It's a change of scenery for Ichiro, who spent 12 seasons with the Mariners. While he was a perennial All-Star for 10 of those years, the 38-year-old will be under scrutiny in New York like never before.
But Valentine, who has managed in New York, believes Ichiro's exposure will rise as a byproduct of the trade.
"He's had national recognition for his great feats, but you know, playing in New York and playing for the Yankees will definitely allow those people who haven't figured out what he's been all about to know," Valentine said. "I think world-class athletes usually perform in world-class fashion and I think he's one of those guys."
Reflecting on their past match-ups in Japan, Valentine raved about Ichiro's speed as a youngster. The Red Sox skipper said the outfielder was capable of beating out routine grounders to first base — on Astroturf.
After watching Ichiro thrive firsthand in both continents, Valentine doesn't doubt him.
"I would say here for the next couple weeks and beyond, considering this could be a postseason berth for Ichiro," Valentine said. "I think it's going to be revved up, I think he's back center stage."
In the process, Ichiro will look to improve upon his numbers for Seattle, where he hit .261 with four home runs and 28 RBIs.
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