Japan's Ichiro Suzuki makes history; becomes first Asia-born player in USA's National Baseball Hall of Fame
The Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWA) voted Ichiro Suzuki into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Ichiro, recently voted into the Japanese Hall of Fame, became the first Asian-born player selected for the Hall of Fame.
In his first year of eligibility, Suzuki was just one vote shy of a unanimous election. He received 393 votes out of 394 (99.7%), while the candidates needed 296 votes (75%).
"There was a time I didn't even know if I'd get the chance to play in MLB," Suzuki said through an interpreter. "So what an honour it is for me to be here and to be a Hall of Famer. It's a special day."
Ichiro was born in 1973 and made his MLB debut in 2001. He retired after the 2019 season with 2,653 games and 3,089 hits. He was a 10-time All-Star and Gold Glove outfielder. He earned three American League Silver Slugger Awards and was the 2001 MVP and Rookie of the Year.
Former left-handed ace starter CC Sabathia and former lockdown closer Billy Wagner were also voted by the BBWAA.
Born in 1980, after failing to make the US National Team for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, Sabathia pitched in the Big League from 2001 to 2009, earning 251 wins. He helped the New York Yankees win the 2009 World Series. He was in his first year of eligibility and received 342 votes (86.8%).
Wagner, born in 1971, pitched in the Majors from 1995 to 2010, collecting 422 saves, including 37 in his final season. He received 325 votes (82.5%). He was in his 10th and final year of eligibility.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2025 includes Dick Allen and Dave Parker, who earned election in December in voting from the Classic Baseball Era Committee.
They were part of an eight-player ballot, which focused on candidates who contributed to the game prior to 1980, including Negro Leagues and pre-Negro Leagues stars. Allen received 13 votes, and Parker 14 out of the 16 committee members. The threshold was 12 (or 75%).
Allen (1942-2020) was the 1972 American League MVP, an American League and National League All-Star. He played 1,749 games (808 at first base, 652 at third and 256 in left field; he also appeared at second base and DH) from 1963 to 1977, combining 1,848 hits and 351 home runs.
Legendary Cobra Parker, born in 1951, played 2,466 games from 1973 to 1991. He had 2,712 hits and 339 home runs. He was the National League 1978 MVP, a six-time All-Star and a three-time gold glove outfielder.
The induction ceremony will be held on July 27 at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, New York.