For those of us who thought Jason Giambi was most deserving of the American League Most Valuable Player Award, that doesn't mean Ichiro Suzuki was undeserving. Far from it. This is not backing off a belief, this is understanding that 2001 was a unique season in the AL, which had three justifiable MVP candidates in Giambi, Ichiro and Bret Boone. There was not a compelling argument against any of them. Here is the argument for Ichiro.

The Mariners didn't have a leadoff man entering this season, then Ichiro had one of the greatest seasons of any leadoff man in baseball history -- for a team that won as many games (116) in the regular season as any team in history. His 242 hits were the most since 1930: his 36-hit lead over the runner-up (Boone) was the largest gap in history. He won the batting title (.350) and led the league in stolen bases (56), the first player to do that since Jackie Robinson in 1949.

He became the first AL player since 1922 to hit .350 with 50 steals in the same season. He had three 15-game hitting streaks, the first to do that since Cecil Cooper in 1980. He hit safely in 135 games, tying a major-league record. He tied Joe DiMaggio (1939) for the quickest (61 games) to get his first 100 hits in the major leagues. Put it all together -- runs, steals, hits, average, etc. -- only two similar players matched Ichiro's season: Ty Cobb (1911) and George Sisler (1922).

And there was more. Ichiro batted .445 with runners in scoring position. Since the Elias Sports Bureau began tracking that statistic 20 years ago, only three players have ever had a higher such average in one season: George Brett, Tony Gwynn and Paul Molitor. Ichiro won a Gold Glove in right field. He won games with defense and with his arm, which can't be said for all MVP candidates. A veteran scout, who spent 10 days following the Mariners in May, said afterwards, "That team is great and will get better because of one reason: the right fielder. Period."

Ichiro's unmatched speed, tremendous throwing arm, amazing bat control and remarkable work ethic, especially in the weight room, dazzled his teammates and fans. He was the most exciting, most fascinating player on the league's most exciting, most fascinating team. He was so fun to watch, whether he was beating out a routine grounder to the shortstop, making a head-high throw from right field to third base or hitting a ball nearly in the dirt up the middle for a single. In a league full of stories, he was the best individual story of the season.

No, he didn't walk: only 30 all season. And yes, swinging as often as he did is one reason why he amassed so many hits. We were told repeatedly as kids that "a walk is as good as a hit," but in truth, a walk isn't as good as a hit. There is something to be said for swinging the bat, for hacking at ball four and bouncing a two-run single over third base. There is something to be said for putting pressure on a defense, and a pitching staff, by being willing to swing at the ball on your shoe-tops, or in your eyes, then putting it in play. Hard.

I endorsed Ichiro for MVP until the last two weeks of the season when Giambi's numbers continued to climb, as did Oakland's win totals. But through it all, I kept recalling what Mariners broadcaster Ron Fairly, who played 21 seasons in the major leagues, said two months into the season: "Ichiro has raised the level of play of everyone on this team."

That's what great players do. That's what MVPs do -- they make everyone better. That's what Ichiro did. Those of us who endorsed or voted for Giambi can always say we were right, but we can't say that those who endorsed or voted for Ichiro were wrong. There were no wrong answers this year.

Tim Kurkjian is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine and a regular contributor to Baseball Tonight. E-mail tim.kurkjian@espnmag.com.