Breaking through in 1995, Inaba batted .307 with eight home runs and 40 RBIs in 67 games. Offering more of the same a year later, the right fielder batted .310 with eleven homers and 53 RBIs while playing all but five games. His speed numbers rose as well, hitting three triples and stealing nine bases his sophomore year.

Jerked in and out of the line-up in 1997, the left-handed outfielder clubbed 21 home runs and four triples but his average dropped to .267. Though his regular season offense was somewhat disappointing, Inaba batted .500 with a double and a triple in the Japan Series while collecting 13 RBIs.

Unlike a lot of ball players who drag their butts, Inaba always sprints to and from right field. Like Orix superstar Ichiro Suzuki, when Inaba catches a third-out pop fly, he'll toss the ball into the bleachers--relatively few outfielders do that. And after he hits a home run and returns to his defensive position in right field, he always tips his hat and bows deeply when the fans chant his name. After the 1996 season, when most players took some time off, Inaba went to Hawaii and played in their winter league. He's got a great attitude and a bright future.

Contrast that to someone like Hideki Irabu who a) spits at fans, b) drags his ass, c) expects people to carry his suitcases, d) refuses to join the winter cactus league even though it's obvious to everyone he needs to drop thirty pounds and practice his pitching, and e) whines and refuses to speak to reporters after he screws up. Sometimes it's difficult to recognize a class act, like Atsunori Inaba, until you see the alternative.