Baseball Legends Unleashed: The Shocking New Additions To The Hall Of Fame

Ichiro Suzuki missed unanimous election to the Baseball Hall of Fame by one vote Tuesday night, when he headlined a three-player class selected by the 394 voting members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Suzuki, the first Japanese-born inductee, is widely regarded as one of the greatest contact hitters in baseball history, with a career batting average of .322 and 4367 hits across both his time in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball in the United States.

Joining Suzuki in the class of inductees are CC Sabathia, a dominant left-handed pitcher who won the Cy Young Award in 2007 and was a key member of the New York Yankees' rotation for over a decade, and Billy Wagner, a hard-throwing left-handed reliever who ranks sixth all-time in saves with 422. Both Sabathia and Wagner had long and distinguished careers, with numerous All-Star appearances and accolades between them.

Suzuki's election to the Hall of Fame is a significant milestone, not just for his on-field accomplishments, but also for his impact on the game as a trailblazer for Japanese players. He made his major league debut in 2001 with the Seattle Mariners and quickly became a fan favorite, known for his unique batting style and impressive defensive skills. Over the course of his 19-year career, Suzuki won numerous awards, including seven batting titles, 10 Gold Glove awards, and the 2001 American League Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards.