Credited from: LATIMES
In a historic moment for baseball, Ichiro Suzuki has become the first Japanese player elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, garnering 393 out of 394 votes from the Baseball Writers' Association of America. The announcement, made on Tuesday, also saw CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner joining him as inductees for the 2025 class. The trio will be inducted at a ceremony in Cooperstown on July 27, alongside Dave Parker and Dick Allen, who were previously voted in by the Classic Era committee.
Suzuki, who made his MLB debut in 2001 at age 27, is celebrated for his exceptional achievements. He won the American League (AL) Rookie of the Year and AL MVP in the same season, joining just one other player, Fred Lynn, to achieve this feat. Over his career, he was a two-time AL batting champion and a ten-time All-Star, with impressive stats including a .311 batting average, 117 home runs, 780 RBIs, and 509 stolen bases across his time with the Seattle Mariners (2001-12, 2018-19), New York Yankees (2012-14), and Miami Marlins (2015-17).
Additionally, Suzuki's remarkable contact-hitting abilities are underscored by his total of 4,367 hits combined from both Nippon Professional Baseball and MLB, surpassing Pete Rose’s MLB record of 4,256. He recorded an astonishing 262 hits in a single season in 2004, marking one of the highlights of his illustrious career.
CC Sabathia, who was also elected in his first year on the ballot, had a standout career as a six-time All-Star, clinching the 2007 AL Cy Young Award and winning a World Series in 2009. The left-handed pitcher ends his career with a record of 251-161, a 3.74 ERA, and 3,093 strikeouts, ranking him behind only Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton among left-handed pitchers.
Billy Wagner, on his tenth and final ballot appearance, received 325 votes, exceeding the required 296 for induction. Recognized as one of the best closers, Wagner recorded a 2.31 ERA and 422 saves throughout his career, and was a seven-time All-Star. His 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings is a remarkable statistic that further highlights his extraordinary performance as a reliever.
Meanwhile, Carlos Beltrán fell short of election, receiving 277 votes this year, while Andruw Jones had 261 votes. Notably, the only player to achieve unanimous selection was Mariano Rivera in 2019, appearing on all 425 ballots. The upcoming years promise fresh talent on the ballot, with Cole Hamels, Ryan Braun, and Matt Kemp set to join next year.
This year's election highlights the profound impact and legacy of the inductees, particularly Suzuki, whose achievements have transcended cultural barriers and enriched the fabric of baseball history.
For more details on Ichiro Suzuki’s election, visit SFGate or read further on Los Angeles Times.