Cooperstown is acquiring a troika of southpaws who represent nearly every aspect of baseball greatness. He is an indomitable hitting machine in the batter’s box, a classic workhorse on the mound, and an all-time relief ace.
Ichiro Suzuki and CC Sabathia were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday night, and while Suzuki received the overwhelming support, Billy Wagner made the most of his 10th and final vote, out of 394 votes. He received 325 votes, clearing the 75% barrier to selection. .
Suzuki almost joined Mariano Rivera (a man tasked with pitching just one inning in nearly every appearance) as the only unanimous selections to the Hall. He received 393 of 394 votes for a total of 99.746%, placing him second in Hall of Fame voting in 2020 to the best record for a position player, shortstop Derek Jeter, with 99.748%. Ta.
Mr. Wagner received a total of 82.5% of the vote, easing the only real tension of the night. In 2024, he was named on 73.8% of the ballots, but lost by just five votes. It is now certain that three Hall of Famers will be selected through the Baseball Writers Association of America in July.
It has to be a large, noisy, multinational force.
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Suzuki was the first Japanese player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame after a top-class performance in Cooperstown, despite not starting his major league career until he was 27 years old. Still, he recorded 3,089 hits and 4,286 between the majors and Japan’s top league, winning two batting titles. He began his career with 10 consecutive 200-hit seasons, and in his fourth year in 2004, he set a major league record with 262 hits.
Suzuki did it all with a bit of showmanship and a subtle but undeniable swagger. Sabathia, on the other hand, was a tug who was motivated to help his team succeed while leaving a zero on the scoreboard. Sabathia won 251 games and accumulated a WAR of 62.3 over his 19-year career despite a career 3.74 ERA.
Suzuki, Sabathia and Wagner will be joined by veterans committee members Dick Allen and Dave Parker at the induction ceremony on July 27 in Cooperstown.
2025 Baseball Hall of Fame voting results
Ichiro Suzuki: 99.7% (1st year) CC Sabathia: 86.8% (1st) Billy Wagner: 82.5% (10th, final year) Carlos Beltran: 70.3% (3rd) Andrew Jones: 66.2% (8th) Chase Utley: 39.8% (2nd) Alex Rodriguez: 37.1% (4th) Manny Ramirez: 34.3% (9th) Andy Pettitte: 27.9% (7th) Felix Hernandez: 20.6% (1st) Bobby Abreu: 19.5% (6th) Jimmy Rollins: 18% (4th) Omar Vizquel: 17.8% (8th) Dustin Pedroia: 11.9% (1st place) Mark Buehle: 11.4% (5th place) Francisco Rodriguez: 10.2% (3rd place) David Wright: 8.1% (2nd place) Torii Hunter: 5.1% (5th place) Ian Kinsler: 2.5% (1st place) Russell Martin: 2.3% (1st place) Brian McCann: 1.8% (1st place) Troitulowitzki: 1% (1st place) Curtis Granderson: 0.8% (1st place) Adam Jones: 0.8% (1st place) Carlos González: 0.5% (1st place) Hanley Ramirez: 0% (1st place) Fernando Rodney: 0% (1st place) Ben Zobrist: 0% (first)
2025 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot
Billy Wagner (10th year voting) Andrew Jones (8th) Carlos Beltran (3rd) Alex Rodriguez (4th) Manny Ramirez (9th) Chase Utley (2nd) Omar Vizquel (8th) ) Bobby Abreu (6th place) Jimmy Rollins (4th place) Andy Pettitte (7th place) Mark Buehrle (5th place) Francisco Rodriguez (3rd place) Torii Hunter (5th place) David Wright (2nd place) Carlos Gonzalez (1st place) Curtis Granderson (1st place) Felix Hernandez (1st place) Adam Jones (1st place) Ian Kinsler (1st place) Russell Martin ( 1st) Brian McCann (1st) Dustin Pedroia (1st) Hanley Ramirez (1st) Fernando Rodney (1st) CC Sabathia (1st) Ichiro Suzuki (1st place) Troy Tulowitzki (1st place) Ben Zobrist (1st place)
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