Ichiro Suzuki Hopes to Share a Drink with Writer Who Snubbed Him on Hall of Fame Ballot
"Ichiro Suzuki Wants to Share a Drink with Writer Who Snubbed Him from Hall of Fame Ballot"
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — Ichiro Suzuki is taking his near-unanimous Hall of Fame selection in stride, even extending an invitation to the lone voter who didn’t check his name on the ballot.
“There’s one writer who didn’t vote for me,” Suzuki said through a translator on Thursday, just two days after receiving 393 out of 394 votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). “I’d like to invite him over to my house for a drink and have a good conversation.”
Suzuki, who has visited the Hall of Fame seven times before, was in Cooperstown for a press conference alongside fellow inductees CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner. The trio will be officially enshrined on July 27, joining Dave Parker and Dick Allen, who were selected last month by the Classic Era Committee.
As the first Japanese-born player elected to the Hall, Suzuki admitted the weight of the honor had yet to fully sink in.
“Maybe in five or ten years, I’ll be able to reflect on what this really means,” he said.
BBWAA secretary-treasurer Jack O’Connell recounted a previous Hall of Fame-related moment in Suzuki’s career. In 2001, Suzuki had been at the Hall when O’Connell called to inform him he had won the American League Rookie of the Year Award. Suzuki earned 27 of 28 first-place votes—losing out on one to Sabathia, who was a rookie pitcher for Cleveland at the time.
“He stole my Rookie of the Year,” Sabathia joked.
Sabathia reminisced about facing Suzuki in a memorable game at Safeco Field on July 30, 2005. After working on a new slider with Cleveland pitching coach Carl Willis to counter Suzuki’s hitting prowess, Sabathia put it to the test. The result?
“I get two strikes on Ichi, and he hits it off the window,” Sabathia recalled, referring to a 428-foot home run off the second deck restaurant in right field. “Next at-bat, I throw it again—first pitch, and he hits it out again.” Suzuki’s second home run of the game proved to be the game-winner in a 3-2 Mariners victory.
As the inductees discussed their favorite pieces of memorabilia, Suzuki mentioned a special Hall of Fame plaque mock-up featuring his dog, Ikkyu.
“Our dog and Bob Feller’s cat are the only animals to have Hall of Fame plaques,” he said. “That’s something I truly cherish.”
Sabathia, who won a World Series with the New York Yankees in 2009 after signing a $161 million, seven-year contract, admitted he had initial hesitations about joining the franchise. However, those concerns quickly disappeared after bonding with teammates like Andy Pettitte and Derek Jeter.
“I had heard about all the turmoil in the Yankees’ clubhouse,” Sabathia said. “But within two or three days of spring training, I was running in the outfield with Andy, meeting Jeter, going out to dinner with the pitching staff. I knew right away I had made the right decision.”
While Suzuki and Sabathia were elected in their first year on the ballot, Wagner finally received the necessary 75% vote in his 10th and final year of eligibility. He landed on 325 ballots (82.5%), surpassing the required 296 by 29 votes.
Even two days after the announcement, Wagner was emotional reflecting on his journey. Tears streamed down his face, and his voice trembled as he recalled the moment he received the call.
“It’s humbling,” he said. “I don’t know if I’m deserving, but sitting out there for ten years while your career is scrutinized—it’s tough.”
Wagner, at 5-foot-10, became the first left-handed reliever primarily used as a closer to be inducted. He drew inspiration from 5-foot-11 right-hander Pedro Martínez, who was elected in 2015.
“I hope kids watching understand that size and where you’re from don’t matter,” Wagner said. “I think Pedro said it first, but if I can get here, anyone can get here.”