COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. Billy Wagner will wear the Houston Astros’ emblem, CC Sabathia will wear the New York Yankees’ badge, and Ichiro Suzuki will wear the Seattle Mariners’ logo on the top of his Hall of Fame plaque.
All five of this year’s entrants’ decisions were made public by the hall on Monday. Dick Allen will cap the Philadelphia Phillies, while Dave Parker will cap the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The hall takes the final judgments after receiving input from the players and their families.
Prior to the 2002 voting, the hall assumed control of the selection process after inductees had the opportunity to make it during the 2001 induction. The modification came after rumors circulated in 1999 that Tampa Bay would pay Wade Boggs, who had just retired, provided his plaque featured the Devil Rays emblem. Boggs’ plaque features the Boston Red Sox emblem, and he was inducted in 2005.
Suzuki played with the Yankees (2012–14), Miami (2015–17), and the Mariners for 14 of 19 seasons (2001–12, 2018–19).
After pitching for Cleveland (2001-08) and Milwaukee (2008), Sabathia spent the final 11 seasons of his 19-year major league career with the Yankees (2009-19).
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.
After spending his first nine seasons (1995–2003) as a pitcher for Houston, Wagner went on to play for the New York Mets (2006–09), Boston (2009), Atlanta (2010), and Philadelphia (2004–05).
Prior to playing for Cincinnati (1984–87), Oakland (1988–89), Milwaukee (1990), California (1991), and Toronto (1991), Parker played for Pittsburgh during his first 11 seasons (1973–83).
In addition to spending time with St. Louis (1970), the Los Angeles Dodgers (1971), the Chicago White Sox (1972–74), and Oakland (1977), Allen played for the Phillies for nine seasons (1963–69, 1975–76).
On July 27, inductions will take held. Plaques feature a picture of the individual along with a 90-word description of their achievements, which includes the names of all the teams they have managed or played for.
The Associated Press
