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The Major League Baseball offseason has been filled with drama and excitement as many big-name players have changed teams either via trade or free
Ichiro Suzuki became the first Japanese player chosen for baseball’s Hall of Fame, falling one vote shy of unanimous when he was elected along with CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner.
The Hall of Fame introduced the newest members of its Class of 2025 -- Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner \-\- live from Cooperstown on Thursday. The trio all donned matching Hall of Fame jerseys and caps and shared their thoughts on being elected to the Hall.
Newly-elected Baseball Hall of Fame members, from left, Ichiro Suzuki, left, Billy Wagner and CC Sabathia pose for photo during a news conference, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Cooperstown, N.Y. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink) Newly-elected Baseball Hall of Fame members,
Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, and former New York Mets closer Billy Wagner were introduced as the newest members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame
Seattle Mariners’ Ichiro Suzuki tips his batting helmet to fans after hitting a single against the Los Angeles Angels in the fourth inning during a baseball game, April 16, 2009, in Seattle.
With the Yankees, CC Sabathia gained immortality. The big lefty, who rose to the moment consistently and whose fiery attitude became as iconic as his pitching arm, was voted into the Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot.
(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, file) Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki tips his batting helmet to fans after hitting a single against the Los Angeles Angels ... New York Mets' Billy Wagner reacts ...
The Major League Baseball offseason has held the interest of many fans after multiple big-name players have signed with new teams via free agency
So the first “true” Ray in Cooperstown — whether elected by the Baseball Writers' Association of America or one of the era committees (that handle older players and non-playing candidates) — likely will be someone who spent most of his career in Tampa Bay and/or did much of his best work there.
Ichiro Suzuki falling one vote short of unanimous election raised eyebrows, but it’s far from the biggest flub in Hall of Fame voting history.