Baseball history was made Tuesday as Ichiro Suzuki shattered barriers by becoming the first Japanese player elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The legendary outfielder’s election, alongside pitchers CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner, marks a significant milestone in the sport’s international legacy.
A near-unanimous selection makes history
In a remarkable show of support, Suzuki received 393 out of 394 possible votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA), coming just one vote short of joining Mariano Rivera as the only players to achieve unanimous selection. CC Sabathia garnered 342 votes, while Billy Wagner secured his place with 325 votes, surpassing the required 75% threshold of 296 votes.
Ichiro’s remarkable career achievements
Suzuki’s journey to Cooperstown includes an impressive array of accomplishments after arriving in Major League Baseball at age 27 in 2001. His debut season saw him achieve the rare feat of winning both AL Rookie of the Year and AL MVP honors, matching Fred Lynn’s 1975 achievement. Over his career, Suzuki accumulated a combined 4,367 hits between Japan’s NPB (1,278) and MLB (3,089), surpassing Pete Rose’s MLB record of 4,256. His MLB career included a .311 batting average, 117 home runs, 780 RBIs, and 509 stolen bases across stints with Seattle, New York Yankees, and Miami.
Sabathia and Wagner join the hall
CC Sabathia enters the Hall following a distinguished 19-year career that included 251 wins, a 3.74 ERA, and 3,093 strikeouts. The left-hander’s achievements include the 2007 AL Cy Young Award and a World Series championship with the Yankees in 2009.
Billy Wagner becomes the ninth relief pitcher inducted into the Hall, concluding a career with a 2.31 ERA and 422 saves. His 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings stand as the highest rate among pitchers with at least 900 innings.
Notable votes and future considerations
Carlos Beltrán fell short with 277 votes, while Andruw Jones received 261 votes. Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramírez continue to face challenges in voting, likely due to their PED-related suspensions. The 2026 ballot will welcome new candidates including Cole Hamels, Ryan Braun, and Matt Kemp.
The induction ceremony is scheduled for July 27 in Cooperstown, where Suzuki, Sabathia, and Wagner will be honored alongside Dave Parker and Dick Allen, who were selected by the classic era committee.
