NEW YORK – Ichiro Suzuki, a prominent figure in baseball, experienced a mixture of anxiety and anticipation as he awaited a crucial phone call on Tuesday concerning his induction into the Hall of Fame. Initially expecting to receive a call promptly, he found himself growing nervous after a quarter of an hour elapsed without any news. “I actually started getting kind of nervous,” Suzuki admitted through an interpreter, revealing his relief upon finally receiving the anticipated call.
Making history, Suzuki was selected as the first Japanese player to join the Hall of Fame, missing out on a unanimous decision by just one vote. Together with him in this honor were CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner. Suzuki, who made his MLB debut in 2001 after moving from the Pacific League’s Orix BlueWave, expressed his disbelief at achieving such a prestigious accolade. “I don’t think anybody in this whole world thought that I would be a Hall of Famer,” he noted. “As a baseball player, this is definitely the top of the top.”
The results from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America showed Suzuki with 393 out of 394 votes, translating to an impressive 99.7% approval rating. Sabathia received 342 votes (86.8%), and Wagner garnered 325 votes (82.5%), all surpassing the 75% threshold necessary for election. Both Suzuki and Sabathia were inducted in their first year of eligibility, while Wagner was honored in his tenth and final attempt. The induction ceremony is scheduled to take place in Cooperstown on July 27, alongside Dave Parker and Dick Allen, who were elected by the classic era committee last month.
Mariano Rivera remains the only player to have received 100% of the votes from the BBWAA after appearing on every ballot in 2019, while Derek Jeter achieved 395 out of 396 votes in 2020. In a show of respect, the Space Needle in Seattle was illuminated in blue to honor Suzuki, who shares the distinction of being one of only two players ever to win both the Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in the same season, alongside Fred Lynn. The Mariners have designated August 9 as the date to retire Suzuki’s iconic No. 51.
A remarkable player, Suzuki is a two-time AL batting champion and a ten-time All-Star with a Gold Glove award to his name. He holds a career batting average of .311, with 117 home runs, 780 RBIs, and 509 stolen bases amassed during his time with the Seattle Mariners (2001-12, 2018-19), the New York Yankees (2012-14), and the Miami Marlins (2015-17). Renowned for his exceptional contact hitting abilities, Suzuki recorded 1,278 hits in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball and an outstanding 3,089 in MLB, including a record-setting 262 hits in a single season in 2004. His cumulative total of 4,367 hits surpasses Pete Rose’s former MLB record of 4,256.
Even in his role as a special assistant for the Mariners, Suzuki remains dedicated to maintaining a baseball presence and even dons his uniform for training sessions to inspire current players. “I want to be able to show the players how I did it,” he stated. “Also in the offseason, I go to a few high schools in Japan to demonstrate what a professional baseball player looks like.”
In a nod to Suzuki’s achievements, CC Sabathia, who was a runner-up in the 2001 AL Rookie of the Year race, celebrated his own induction. A six-time All-Star and 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner, Sabathia played a significant role in the Yankees’ 2009 World Series championship. With a career record of 251-161 and an ERA of 3.74, he is also noted for his 3,093 strikeouts, ranking third among left-handed pitchers in history.
With the Hall of Fame’s decision on his plaque’s cap still to be determined, Sabathia expressed his wish to have it adorned with the Yankees logo. “The Yankees is the place that wanted me,” he said. “I found a home in the Bronx and I don’t think I’ll ever leave this city.” He revealed that his decision to continue his career came after reassessing his statistics following a heartbreaking Game 7 loss during the 2017 AL Championship Series, helped by MLB Network’s Harold Reynolds.
Wagner, who had fallen just five votes short in previous attempts, finally received the recognition he long sought. After tough years on the ballot, Wagner commented on the challenges faced during his decade-long wait for induction. Known for his unique transition to a left-handed pitcher following injuries, Wagner’s career spans notable performances and records—the ninth reliever among Hall of Famers, boasting a 2.31 ERA and 422 saves.
Aside from Wagner, the voting results also reflected growing support for other players. Carlos Beltrán fell just 19 votes short of induction, while Andruw Jones saw an increase in his votes, giving him more chances on future ballots. Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramírez continue to struggle in their induction bids due to past suspensions. With new names joining the ballot next year, the landscape of Hall of Fame voting continues to evolve.
In total, 278 of the 351 elected Hall of Famers were players, and 142 of them received a nod from the BBWAA, with 62 entering in their first year of eligibility. Several players, like Carlos González and Hanley Ramírez, failed to meet the threshold and will be removed from future ballots as their time for consideration concludes.
