Cooperstown, N.Y. — Ichiro Suzuki made history on Sunday by becoming the first Japanese-born player enshrined into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Joining him were pitchers CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner, and sluggers Dick Allen and Dave Parker.
Suzuki expressed gratitude to writers who supported him throughout his career, acknowledging that not everyone shared the same recognition for his achievements. He thanked the writers for recognizing his 3,089 major league hits and 4,367 total hits in both Japan and MLB.
The hall of fame veteran credited his attention to detail and work ethic for his success, stating that if you consistently do the little things, there’s no limit to what you can achieve. Suzuki also referenced his journey from being told he was too skinny to compete with bigger major leaguers to becoming one of baseball’s biggest stars.
Other inductees delivered heartfelt speeches, with Sabathia thanking his friends and family for their unwavering support. Wagner shared a story about how his love for the game started at a young age, watching Johnny Bench on TV. Allen’s widow Willa delivered a touching tribute to her late husband, highlighting his dedication to teammates and fans.
Suzuki’s induction marks a milestone in baseball history, as he joins an elite group of players who have made significant contributions to the sport.
Source: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45838704/ichiro-joins-sabathia-wagner-parker-allen-hall-fame