Ichiro teases writer who excluded him from Hall of Fame voting list humorously
Ichiro Suzuki Inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame with Nearly Unanimous Vote
In a historic moment for baseball, Ichiro Suzuki was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2025, receiving an impressive 393 out of 394 votes from the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA). The lone voter who did not include Ichiro on their ballot remains unknown.
Ichiro's induction ties him with Derek Jeter for second place in terms of highest vote percentage among Hall of Fame inductees, with a remarkable 99.7%. Mariano Rivera holds the record for a perfect 425 of 425 votes for his initial Hall of Fame bid in 2019.
Throughout his illustrious 19-season career, Ichiro amassed 3,089 major league hits, a single-season record of 262 hits in 2004 that remains unbroken to this day. He also won 10 Gold Gloves, three Silver Slugger awards, and two batting titles.
In the year 2001, Ichiro made history by winning both the MVP and Rookie of the Year awards in the American League. His 242 hits as a rookie rank 10th all-time, with only Pete Alexander's 277 hits in 1914 ahead of him.
Ichiro is the first Asian-born player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He also holds the MLB record for reaching 10 consecutive All-Star games at the start of his career. Over his career, Ichiro stole 509 bases, a testament to his speed and agility on the basepaths.
Despite falling just one vote short of unanimous election, the identity of the BBWAA voter who left Ichiro off their ballot has never been revealed. Ichiro offered to meet the voter for a drink after the results were announced, but later rescinded that invitation. There is no public record or disclosure revealing who the voter is.
Ichiro shared the Cooperstown stage with CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner in a memorable ceremony. His induction is a well-deserved recognition of his incredible talent and impact on the game of baseball.
[1] The New York Times - Ichiro Suzuki Inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame
[2] ESPN - Ichiro Suzuki's Hall of Fame Induction
[3] Sports Illustrated - The Mystery Voter Who Left Ichiro Suzuki Off the Hall of Fame Ballot
[4] CBS Sports - Ichiro Suzuki's Hall of Fame Journey Ends with Nearly Unanimous Vote
The unidentified BBWAA voter abstained from voting for Ichiro Suzuki during his memorable induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, leaving only one vote against his near-unanimous success. Despite this, the media highlighted Ichiro's impressive achievements in sports, such as his record-breaking hits and Gold Gloves, solidifying his legacy in MLB history.
