Ichiro Suzuki began jogging in from right field shortly before the bottom of the fourth. He was almost at the area near the dugout before the crowd caught on to what was happening and started to cheer.

The Mariners waiting to take the field took turns enveloping Ichiro in hugs and the Oakland Athletics stood and clapped in their dugout.

Baseball was saying hello to a new season on Wednesday but it felt a little like a goodbye for a few minutes of the Seattle Mariners' 9-7 win over the A's in the MLB season opener.