Ichiro Suzuki, a Japanese icon, becomes the first player from his country to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Ichiro Suzuki Makes History as First Japanese Player Inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame

Ichiro Suzuki has become the first player from Japan to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 class. The all-time great received 99.4% of the vote, just one vote shy of becoming the second player to be unanimously selected for induction. Suzuki joins C.C. Sabathia and Billy Wagner as part of the 2025 Hall of Fame class.

Suzuki’s impressive career included two AL Rookie of the Year and AL MVP awards, as well as 10 All-Star and Gold Glove appearances. He hit.311 with 117 homers, 780 RBIs, and 509 stolen bases over his 19-year career with the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, and Miami Marlins.

Sabathia, a six-time All-Star and 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner, received 86.8% of the vote in his first year on the ballot. Wagner, a seven-time All-Star and 422-save reliever, received 82.5% of the vote in his 10th and final year on the ballot.

Dave Parker and Dick Allen will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 class, having been voted in by the classic era committee last month. Ichiro Suzuki’s induction marks a historic milestone for Japanese players in Major League Baseball.

Other notable players who fell short of induction include Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramírez, who were hurt by suspensions for performance-enhancing drugs. Players who will be eligible for induction in future years include Cole Hamels, Ryan Braun, and Matt Kemp.