Suzuki is the first Japanese player chosen for baseball’s Hall of Fame, falling one vote shy of unanimous. NEW YORK (AP) — Ichiro Suzuki became the first Japanese player chosen for baseball’s Hall of Fame, falling one vote shy of unanimous when he was elected Tuesday along with CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner.

The most important thing that happened on Tuesday insofar as the Baseball Hall of Fame is concerned is that three players – Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, and Billy Wagner – were announced as having been elected to Cooperstown by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA).

Ichiro began his MLB odyssey in 2001 with the Mariners, already a seasoned professional at the age of 27, and quickly became one of the game’s biggest stars with the Mariners.

Ichiro Suzuki, whose uncanny hitting talent made him a Seattle Mariners icon, became the first Japanese player elected to Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame on Tuesday.

Ichiro Suzuki was among the few Japanese players who transitioned well from Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball to Major League Baseball.

Ichiro Suzuki, the dominant contact hitter whose 19 years in the major leagues, most of them with the Seattle Mariners, was lined with records and accolades, on Tuesday became the first Asian player elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame.

Players are elected to the Hall of Fame provided they are named on at least 75% of ballots cast by eligible voting members of the BBWAA. With 394 ballots submitted in the 2025 election, candidates needed to receive 296 votes to be elected.

Ichiro Suzuki is the first Japanese-born player voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He'll be joined by CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner in the Class of 2025.

Ichiro Suzuki is heading to the Hall of Fame - but he fell one vote short of history. The Japanese outfielder is one of three players announced Tuesday as part of the 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame class.

Ichiro joins fellow Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr. (No. 24) and Edgar Martinez (No. 11), along with Jackie Robinson (No. 42) as the only players to have their number retired by the Mariners. In a pregame ceremony on Aug. 9, Ichiro's No. 51 will officially be hung up for good.

Ichiro Suzuki and CC Sabathia were elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America on Tuesday. Billy Wagner also received enough votes to round out the 2025 Hall of Fame class. Results were unveiled in an election show on MLB Network.