The Baseball Hall of Fame has announced the results of this year’s voting, with Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner exceeding the necessary 75% threshold for induction into the Class of 2025. The induction ceremony will be held July 27 at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Suzuki received 393 of 394 possible votes from the Baseball Writers Association of America, thus failing to join Mariano Rivera as the only player unanimously elected to the HOF. His 99.7% vote percentage was tied with Derek Jeter for the second-highest in history, trailing only Rivera. Starting pitcher Sabathia received 342 (86.8%) votes in his first year of eligibility, with closer Wagner earning 325 (82.5%) in his 10th and last year eligible.
Ichiro, the first Japanese player elected to the Hall of Fame, told reporters Tuesday: “I don’t think anybody in this whole world thought that I would be a Hall of Famer. As a baseball player, this is the highest honor you can achieve. It started in 2001, at that time there was probably not one person on this earth that thought that this day would come. Obviously, many things have happened, not just good but some bad, too. But to be able to be here through all the things that have happened means a lot. I’m just very honored.”
Ichiro, 51, hit .311 with 3,089 hits, 117 home runs, 780 RBIs and 509 stolen bases over his 19-year career. He recorded at least 200 hits and recorded a batting average of at least 310 through each of his first 10 seasons, earning 10-consecutive All-Star selections to start his MLB career. Ichiro also won 10 Gold Glove Awards and was a three-time Silver Slugger Award winner. The Seattle Mariners also announced that they will retire Ichiro’s No. 51 jersey, with a ceremony planned for Aug. 9 in Seattle. Mariners president Jerry Dipoto said in a statement: “Ichiro is truly one of a kind. His commitment, legendary work ethic, physical endurance, mental toughness, attention to detail and passion for the game are all on a different level.”
Sabathia, 44, is a six-time All-Star, went 251-161 with a 3.74 ERA over 561 career appearances, including 560 starts. The left-handed pitcher went 19-7 with a 3.21 ERA en route to Cy Young Award honors with the Indians in 2007, and won an American League-best 19 games in 2009, when the Yankees went on to win the World Series. He won an MLB-best 21 games the next season.
Wagner, 53, was a seven-time All-Star and went 47-40 with a 2.31 ERA over 853 appearances during his 16-year MLB career. The left-handed relief pitcher totaled 422 saves, the eighth-most in MLB history.
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