COOPERSTOWN, N.Y.—Ichiro Suzuki wants to toast the voter who didn’t cross his name off the ballot for the Hall of Fame.
Two days after earning 393 of 394 votes from the Baseball Writers Association of America, one writer told me through a translator on Thursday that he was unable to cast a vote. I would want to invite him to my house so we can have a good conversation and share a drink.
Before joining fellow electees Billy Wagner and CC Sabathia for a press conference Thursday, Suzuki had visited the Hall seven times. Together with Dave Parker and Dick Allen, who were elected last month by the committee for the classic era, the three will be honored on July 27.
Being the first Japanese player inducted to the Hall of Fame was difficult for Suzuki to comprehend.
In five or ten years, I might be able to look back and say, “This is what it meant,” he added.
Suzuki was at the Hall in 2001 when he called to tell the Seattle star that he had won AL Rookie of the Year, according to BBWAA secretary-treasurer Jack O. Connell. With the exception of one vote from an Ohio writer who chose Sabathia, Suzuki garnered 27 of 28 first-place votes.
Playfully, Sabathia remarked, “He stole my Rookie of the Year award.”
On July 30, 2005, Sabathia recalled a game played at Safeco Field. In a bullpen session with Cleveland pitching coach Carl Willis, he had developed a slider pitch that he could use to retire Suzuki.
Regarding the 428-foot blast off the second deck restaurant in right field, which at the time was Suzuki’s longest home run in his big league career, Sabathia remarked, “I get two strikes on Ichi and he hits it off the window.” Return for his subsequent at-bat, toss it to him once more, and he hits the first pitch out once more.
In the Mariners’ 3-2 victory, Suzuki’s second home run ended a tie in the sixth inning.
Suzuki brought up a model of a Hall of Fame plaque that featured his dog, Ikkyu, that the Hall had made rather than a design for the actual one while the three talked about their favorite souvenirs.
The only animals with the Hall of Fame plaque are our dog and Bob Feller’s cat. “I treasure that,” Suzuki remarked, pointing to a facsimile of the pitcher’s cat, Felix.
At a press conference Thursday, January 23, 2025, in Cooperstown, New York, newly elected Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Ichiro Suzuki, left, Billy Wagner, middle, and CC Sabathia pose for a picture.AP Han Pennink took the picture.
When Sabathia signed a seven-year, $161 million contract as a free agent, he helped the New York Yankees win the World Series in 2009. After spending the 2008 season in Milwaukee and beginning his major league career in Cleveland, Sabathia was hesitant to join with the Yankees until general manager Brian Cashman convinced him to do so.
According to Sabathia, “I just heard everything that was going on, the turmoil in the Yankees clubhouse, going into the offseason.” After just two or three days of spring training, Andy (Pettitte) and I are sprinting in the outfield, I get to meet Derek Jeter, and we hang around. We also go to meals and basketball games with the pitching staff. Therefore, it didn’t take me long to feel that this was the appropriate choice.
Wagner received 325 votes (82.5%) and Sabathia 342 votes, 29 more than the 296 votes required for the necessary 75%. On his tenth and last attempt with the writers, Wagner was voted in, but Suzuki and Sabathia were elected on their first ballot appearance.
Wagner recalled the conversation with tears in his eyes, even two days after he had been informed of his election. His face flushed.
His voice wavered as he said, “It’s humbling,” and then he hesitated. It’s difficult to wait ten years and have your career questioned and all that, and I’m not sure if it’s worth it.
Standing five feet ten inches tall, Wagner was the first left-hander admitted to the Hall of Fame who was mostly used as a reliever. He recalled the remarks made by Pedro Martnez, a 5-foot-11 right-hander who was elected to Cooperstown in 2015.
Wagner stated, “I hope the kids around here realize that it is possible to get here and that it doesn’t matter how big you are or where you’re from.” I believe Pedro was the first to say that anyone can get here if I can.
–The Associated Press/Alex Rubinson
