Ichiro wasn't unanimous and Billy Wagner probably got in later than he should have, but all three are deserving of their place in Cooperstown.
In Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner, the Baseball Writers Association delivered quite an eclectic trifecta to Cooperstown on Tuesday. The first Japanese player ever elected to the Hall of Fame,
Ken Griffey Jr. has a unique request for fellow Mariners legend Ichiro Suzuki after Hall of Fame selection. One of the greatest players in Seattle Mariners history has officially punched his ticket to Cooperstown. Following a near-unanimous vote, Ichiro Suzuki has been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
It's been a franchise rule that players eligible to have their jersey retired must be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Griffey Jr. (No. 24) and Martinez (No. 11) met that criteria and have their uniform numbers hanging in the left-center corner of T-Mobile Park.
The bad news is that Andruw Jones will have to wait at least one more year. The good news is that he is on a path similar to the one traveled by former Braves closer Billy Wagner, one of the baseball’s new Hall of Famers.
If that vote was given to a player who deserves to stay on the ballot, then why are MLB writers and baseball fans upset that Suzuki wasn't a unanimous choice?
The Mariners will retire Ichiro's iconic number 51 amid his Baseball Hall of Fame induction during the 2025 season.
Ichiro Suzuki could join Mariano Rivera as the only unanimous picks for baseball’s Hall of Fame and CC Sabathia, Billy Wagner and Carlos Beltrán also could be elected when results
There are two people you could talk about. But only one Ichiro.
From 1936-2015, no players were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame with even 99 percent of the Baseball Writers Association of America's vote. A funny thing
In a video posted on X by sports writer Jose de Jesus Ortiz, Wagner leaned against a pool table while taking the call. He listened for more than 15 seconds before he put his hand on his face, fighting tears and hunching over. “Thank you,” he eventually said to the person on the other end of the phone.