Recorded a 99.746% Voting Rate in January This Year
Missed Unanimous Selection by Just One Vote
Ichiro Suzuki, the Japanese baseball player known as the "hitting machine," has become the first Asian player to be inducted into the Major League Baseball (MLB) Hall of Fame. On July 28, Yonhap News reported that during his induction speech at the Hall of Fame ceremony in Cooperstown, New York, Ichiro expressed his deep sense of honor and even made a joke directed at the only journalist who did not vote for him.
Ichiro Suzuki, nicknamed the "Hitting Machine," became the first Asian player to be inducted into the Major League Baseball (MLB) Hall of Fame at age 52. Photo by AP and Yonhap News
On this day, Ichiro attended the Hall of Fame induction event and delivered his remarks in English for 19 minutes. He said, "The Hall of Fame was never my goal, and to be honest, I didn't even know it existed, but standing here now feels like a dream." He went on to recall his debut in Japanese professional baseball after graduating high school and his first entry into the Major Leagues in 2001, adding, "Today feels like the third time in my life that I have become a rookie."
Ichiro began his professional career with the Orix team in Japan in 1992 and signed with the Seattle Mariners in 2001 at the age of 27. In his first season, he posted a batting average of .350, recorded 242 hits, and stole 56 bases, winning both the American League Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, sparking the "Ichiro Syndrome." Over 19 seasons, he accumulated a total of 3,089 hits and a .311 batting average. In 2004, he set the MLB single-season record with 262 hits and won the Gold Glove award for 10 consecutive years.
Ichiro also expressed deep affection for his wife Yumiko, who accompanied him to the event. He said, "During the 19 seasons I spent in Seattle, New York, and Miami, my wife was always by my side," and called her "the most reliable teammate in my life." He added, "For the first time after my retirement, I watched a baseball game from the stands with my wife and ate a hot dog. It was the most special moment in my baseball life."
A Lighthearted Joke for the Journalist Who Didn't Vote for Him: "Dinner Invitation Expired"
Earlier this year, Ichiro received 393 out of 394 votes in the journalists' ballot that determined Hall of Fame induction, narrowly missing a unanimous selection. At the time, Ichiro responded lightheartedly, saying, "I would like to invite the one person who didn't vote for me to my home." During his speech, he joked again, "The journalists recognized my 3,000 career hits and my single-season record of 262 hits. Except for one person," and added, "I invited that person to my home, but now the invitation has expired." On this day, along with Ichiro, left-handed pitcher CC Sabathia (45) and closer Billy Wagner (54) were also inducted into the Hall of Fame.
On this day, Ichiro, left-handed pitcher CC Sabathia (45), and closer Billy Wagner (54) were also inducted into the Hall of Fame. Photo by UPI and Yonhap News
For anyone in baseball, being inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, is the highest honor. The opportunity is open to players, managers, commentators, and others who have contributed to the development of baseball. For players, they become eligible for induction five years after retirement. However, this opportunity is not open to every player. A special committee of six members, organized by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA), can nominate candidates with the approval of at least two members. To be inducted, a player must receive more than 75% of the votes in the BBWAA ballot. Players have up to 10 years to be considered, but must receive at least 5% of the votes each year to remain eligible for the following year. This time, Ichiro narrowly missed unanimous selection by just one vote. Among all players inducted into the Hall of Fame, the only one to receive unanimous support was Mariano Rivera, the legendary closer for the New York Yankees.
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