In my business, that knee-jerk response comes in handy. Fending off blame is a survival skill. A columnist knows he can’t fight a tidal wave of angry emails and social-media posts and, at some point, gives up trying to argue that he is not, in fact, a nitwit. From there, it’s a short hop to a renunciation of any personal responsibility.

The international significance of Ichiro Suzuki’s selection to the National Baseball Hall of Fame shouldn’t get overlooked or downplayed. It will be a benchmark moment in baseball history this summer when he becomes the first Japanese player enshrined in Cooperstown,

Ichiro sits down with Bob Costas after his election to the Hall of Fame, discusses visiting the Hall of Fame during his career to learn more