(AP) COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. Ichiro Suzuki might be the ideal candidate for your upcoming celebrity roast.
The first Japanese-born player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame stole the show Sunday in Cooperstown, combining sly comedy with poignant themes.
The festivities were postponed by an hour due to morning showers and overcast sky, but the rain eventually gave way to sunny skies and mild temperatures. When Suzuki gave his acceptance speech, the sun appeared to be at its brightest.
Closer Billy Wagner, who made it on the writers’ ballot in his last try, and pitcher CC Sabathia, who was also elected in his first year of eligibility, joined the outfielder. Suzuki made fun of the anonymous sports writer who didn’t vote for him after he came within one vote of being chosen unanimously.
The authors acknowledge two accomplishments: 262 hits in a single season and 3,000 hits overall. To thunderous applause, Suzuki remarked, “Well, all but one.”
He continued, emphasizing the word “expired” for good measure, “The offer for the writer to have dinner at my house has now expired.”
The Class of 2025 was completed by two Era Committee selections: slugger Dick Allen and Dave Parker, who was known as Cobra during his 20 major league seasons. Parker passed away on June 28, one month prior to his induction.
Sun umbrellas and Japanese flags were scattered as an estimated 30,000 spectators flocked to the field next to the Clark Sports Center. As thousands of Seattle Mariners supporters who traveled from the Pacific Northwest screamed “Ichiro” multiple times during the day, Suzuki’s number 51 appeared to be everywhere. Thank You Ichiro was written on the sign. On his special day, Suzuki’s admiration was summed up in the English and Japanese phrases “Forever a Legend.”
Suzuki gave his 18-minute statement in English in front of 52 returning Hall of Famers, honoring his new baseball home in Cooperstown and his devoted followers. Many were surprised by his wit, which charmed the audience.
He made disparaging remarks about his final professional stop, the Miami Marlins.
To be honest, I had never heard of your team before you guys offered me a deal in 2015, Suzuki jokingly said.
Holy smokes! He joked that he always arrived at spring training with his arm already in condition only to hear Mariners broadcaster Rick Rizzs yell. Ichiro threw another laser beam!
He even paused for a minute of joking modesty.
People frequently use my records to judge me. Three thousand hits. Ten Gloves of Gold. 200 hits in ten seasons.
Not bad, isn’t it? Suzuki remarked to more chuckles.
He expressed gratitude to his late agent Tony Anastasio for bringing him to America and for instilling in him a love for wine.
However, he also spent time examining the core of his exceptional qualities.
There is a lot more to baseball than just running, throwing, and hitting. I learned how to make wise choices about what matters from playing baseball. It influenced how I see the world and life. As I grew older, I saw that the only way I could continue playing the game I loved until I was 45 was to fully commit to it, he added. Whether you are winning by ten or losing by ten, you have an obligation to entertain the people who have sacrificed their valuable time to see you play.
I think the primary reason I’m here now is because baseball taught me what it meant to be a professional. Without continually focusing on the little things every day for all 19 seasons, I would not have been able to reach the figures.
He has now achieved the highest point, defeating skeptics, one of whom told him, “Don’t embarrass the nation.” He has brought honor to his country.
I never wanted to be inducted into the American Baseball Hall of Fame. I was completely unaware of its existence. Although my first visit to Cooperstown was in 2001, it feels like a wonderful dream to be here today.
Sabathia acknowledged all of the outstanding players seated behind me, including Ichiro, who snatched my 2001 Rookie of the Year honor. In today’s game, he honored Parker and discussed Black culture.
Being a member of Dave’s Hall of Fame class is an additional honor. For a generation of Black celebrities, he served as a father figure. When I first started watching baseball in the 1980s and early 1990s, when Dave Parker was hitting home runs, there were only approximately 18% of Black players in the major leagues. Since we watched those men on TV and there was always someone who looked like me wearing a baseball outfit, my friends and I decided to play the game.
Black sportsmen have long loved baseball, but Black people haven’t always enjoyed baseball culture. I’m hoping that we’re beginning to change it. I don’t want to be the last Black pitcher to win 20 games and a member of the Black Aces. Furthermore, I don’t want to be the last Black pitcher to speak at the Hall of Fame.
Wagner advised young athletes to view challenges as stepping stones rather than impediments.
The biggest player wasn’t me. This isn’t where I should be. The Hall of Fame only included seven full-time relievers. He added, “There are eight now because I didn’t give up or give in.”
Suzuki was chosen by the Baseball Writers Association of America with 393 out of 394 votes, or 99.7%. Wagner received 325 votes (82.5%) and Sabathia 342 votes (86.8%), which is 29 votes more than the 296 required for the necessary 75%.
Suzuki joined Fred Lynn (1975) as the only players to win both MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season after entering the major leagues in 2001.
Suzuki was a two-time AL batting champion and 10-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner, hitting .311 with 117 homers, 780 RBIs and 509 stolen bases with Seattle, the New York Yankees and Miami.
He is perhaps the best contact hitter ever, with 1,278 hits in Nippon Professional Baseball and 3,089 in MLB, including a season-record 262 in 2004. Pete Rose’s big league record of 4,256 is surpassed by his total of 4,367.
Sabathia, second to Suzuki in 2001 AL Rookie of the Year voting, was a six-time All-Star who won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award and a World Series title in 2009. He went 251-161 with a 3.74 ERA and 3,093 strikeouts, third among left-handers behind Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton, during 19 seasons with Cleveland, Milwaukee and the New York Yankees.
A seven-time All-Star, Wagner was 47-40 with a 2.31 ERA and 422 saves for Houston, Philadelphia, the New York Mets, Boston and Atlanta.
Tom Hamilton and Tom Boswell were also honored during Hall of Fame weekend. Hamilton has been the primary radio broadcaster for the Cleveland Guardians franchise for 35 seasons and received the Ford C. Frick Award. Boswell, a retired sports columnist who spent his entire career with The Washington Post, was honored with the BBWAA Career Excellence Award.
