SEATTLE — Many players have entered sports’ fiercest rivalry in a lot of ways. None will be taking the avenue Ichiro Suzuki will travel Friday night.
That’s when Ichiro, a Yankee for three games, sticks his toes into the Red Sox-Yankees madness for the first time when the blood rivals open a three-game series at Yankee Stadium.
He is among the best players of his generation, a legitimate Hall of Fame candidate and acquired to give the Yankees’ lineup a boost with his legs.
At 38, Ichiro has seen a lot of live baseball except Red Sox-Yankees.
“When I watched those games on TV they looked like fighting, not in a real sense, but physically,’’ he said. “It was more like a fighting atmosphere is what I felt watching TV.’’
Though Ichiro may have seen it on TV, he admits to not knowing what will develop.
“I know there is a lot of tradition,’’ Ichiro said. “I have just been here a few days. I don’t know what to expect.’’
Acquired Monday by the Yankees from the Mariners, Ichiro 3-for-12 in three games at Safeco Field, was 1-for-2 in stolen bases.
Ichiro’s memories of Yankee Stadium consist of fans heckling him. Now that he is a Yankee, he should get a favorable reception.
“I need to prove myself,’’ said Ichiro, who went 1-for-5 in Wednesday’s 5-2 win over the Mariners. “When I get there I have to show them what I can do.’’
Ichiro, who batted lead-off Wednesday, bowed to the fans before his initial at-bat at Safeco Field, a place he called home for 11 ½ seasons but may never play in again.
“I really didn’t show it but inside it was emotional,’’ he said. “This has been very special the last few days. I was emotional inside.’’
When Ichiro arrived Monday, manager Joe Girardi’s plan was to hit him eighth. That lasted two games because Alex Rodriguez, who has batted third 51 times and fourth 40, suffered a non-displaced fracture of the fifth metacarpal on the left hand Tuesday night when hit by a Felix Hernandez pitch.
Wednesday, Girardi returned Ichiro to the leadoff spot and batted Derek Jeter second for the first time this season after 94 games on top of the order.
Jeter hit second 35 times last season and has hit there in 1,306 games, easily the most of anywhere in the lineup.
“I prepare myself to play,’’ Ichiro said. “Wherever that might be, I am ready for that.’’
Girardi didn’t commit long-term to Ichiro batting first.
“He has been there a long time and I wanted to move [Curtis Granderson] into an RBI spot,’’ Girardi said of dropping Granderson from second to fifth. “Give it a shot and see how it works out.’’
As for the “Roll Call’’ segment in the first inning Friday night at the Stadium, Ichiro wants to hear from the crowd.
“I hope New York fans call my name,’’ he said. “I hope I play to my ability where they will call my name.’’
george.king@nypost.com