Ichiro Suzuki has become the first Japanese player to be chosen for the esteemed Baseball Hall of Fame. Suzuki’s induction was nearly unanimous, with 393 out of 394 votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). He fell just one vote shy of achieving a perfect consensus, a feat only Mariano Rivera has accomplished, receiving 100% of the vote in 2019.
Suzuki’s impressive career has traveled across multiple continents. He had a remarkable 1,278 hits in Nippon Professional Baseball and 3,089 in Major League Baseball (MLB). His combined total of 4,367 hits surpasses Pete Rose’s MLB record of 4,256, solidifying his position as perhaps the best contact hitter in baseball history.
Joining Suzuki in the Hall of Fame class of 2025 are CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner. Sabathia received 342 votes, while Wagner garnered 325, exceeding the required 75% threshold. Sabathia and Suzuki were elected in their first appearance on the ballot, while Wagner secured his spot on his 10th and final attempt.
The trio will be formally inducted into the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown on July 27, alongside Dave Parker and Dick Allen, who were voted in by the classic era committee last month.
Other notable players who fell short of induction include Carlos Beltran, who received 70.3% of the vote, and Andruw Jones, who secured 66.2%.
Suzuki’s remarkable career, which spanned 19 seasons in MLB, was marked by numerous accolades. He was a two-time AL batting champion, 10-time All-Star, and 10-time Gold Glove outfielder. His impressive stats include a .311 batting average, 117 home runs, 780 RBIs, and 509 stolen bases, cementing his status as one of the greatest contact hitters in baseball history.
