In a surprising turn of events, the identity of the Hall of Fame voter who opted not to select Ichiro Suzuki has remained shrouded in mystery. Despite the overwhelming support for the Japanese baseball legend, with 393 out of 394 ballots in his favor, there was one voter who chose not to cast a vote for him. Expressing his good-natured bewilderment, Suzuki humorously extended an invitation to the elusive voter, suggesting a friendly gathering over drinks to discuss their differing perspectives.
The decision of whether to disclose one’s ballot is left to the discretion of each voter, as stipulated by the Hall’s rules. While the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) proposed making all ballots public in a decisive 80-19 vote back in December 2016, the Hall of Fame’s board of directors ultimately left the choice up to the individual voters.
Notably, Mariano Rivera holds the distinction of being the only player to receive a unanimous vote of 100% from the BBWAA, garnering support from all 425 ballots in 2019, followed closely by Derek Jeter with 395 out of 396 votes in 2020. This year, Suzuki, along with CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner, earned induction into the Hall by the BBWAA. They will be formally enshrined at Cooperstown on July 27 alongside Dave Parker and Dick Allen, who were voted in by the classic era committee in December.
Suzuki’s remarkable career achievements speak volumes, highlighted by his two AL batting titles, 10 All-Star selections, and multiple Gold Glove awards as an outfielder. With stints at Seattle, New York Yankees, and Miami, Suzuki amassed impressive statistics, boasting a .311 batting average, 117 home runs, 780 RBIs, and 509 stolen bases. His prowess as a contact hitter is unparalleled, evidenced by his record-breaking hit totals both in Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball, surpassing even the legendary Pete Rose’s MLB record.
