Latest news with #induction
Fox News
a day ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Ichiro Suzuki takes swipe at lone writer who kept him from unanimous Hall of Fame election
Ichiro Suzuki was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday as the ceremony took place in Cooperstown, New York. On a day that was emotional for many, Suzuki brought humor to his speech. The former Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees and Miami Marlins outfielder received 393 out of a possible 394 votes to be elected to the Hall of Fame. Only Mariano Rivera was a unanimous first-ballot Hall of Famer. Suzuki, in January, offered to meet with the lone writer for dinner to discuss the reasoning for being left off the ballot. The dinner didn't appear to happen, and the legendary outfielder rescinded the invitation. "Three thousand hits or 262 hits in one season are two achievements recognized by the writers," he said. "Well, all but one. "By the way, the offer for the writer to have dinner at my home has now expired." He also joked that he had never heard of the Marlins when the team offered him a contract. "Honestly, when you guys offered me a contract in 2015, I had never heard of your team." Suzuki joined the Hall of Fame in class with CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner. Dave Parker and Dick Allen were also elected via the Era Committee. Suzuki had 3,089 hits, 10 All-Star appearances and 10 Gold Gloves during his career. "Baseball is much more than just hitting, throwing and running. Baseball taught me to make valued decisions about what is important. It helped shape my view of life and the world. … The older I got, I realized the only way I could get to play the game I loved to the age of 45 at the highest level was to dedicate myself to it completely," he said. "When fans use their precious time to see you play, you have a responsibility to perform for them whether you are winning by 10 or losing by 10. "Baseball taught me what it means to be a professional and I believe that is the main reason I am here today. I could not have achieved the numbers without paying attention to the small details every single day consistently for all 19 seasons." He added that getting into the Baseball Hall of Fame was never really the goal but now that he has achieved it, he called the notion a "fantastic dream."
Japan Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Japan Times
Ichiro's Hall of Fame induction becomes family affair for some fans
Although a light rain delayed the start of the 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony by an hour, it did little to dampen the spirits of the fans who gathered on Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, to celebrate their hero, Ichiro Suzuki. For the families who made the trip from Japan or from the Japanese communities across the United States, the induction ceremony on Sunday wasn't simply about baseball history. It was a moment to honor a player whose precision and consistency came to define an era and, in many cases, their own childhoods. One fan named Kaori, originally from Japan but now living in New York, visited with her husband, three sons and daughter. Although they are mostly New York Mets fans, Ichiro's induction transcended team loyalties.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 Baseball Hall of Fame induction: CC Sabathia, Ichiro Suzuki, Billy Wagner show humor, grace entering Cooperstown
The National Baseball Hall of Fame added five members with the 2025 class inducted during the 53rd annual ceremony at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, New York on Sunday. Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner were welcomed into baseball immortality. They were joined Dick Allen and Dave Parker, who were voted in by the Classic Baseball Era committee. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Billy Wagner was known for closing out ballgames, and he's now one of three Baseball Hall of Famers who never started a game. But he led off Sunday's festivities with his speech. "What a humbling moment standing in front of my heroes on the ultimate stage," Wagner said to begin his speech. Setting a fun tone for the day, Wagner thanked several of his teammates including Moises Alou for teaching him to appreciate Dominican culture "even though I can't speak a lick of Spanish" and Jeff Bagwell for the "glare" that often set the tone in the Houston Astros' clubhouse. Dave Parker's son, David Parker II, spoke on behalf of his late father, who died just a month before the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. He read a poem that his father wanted to read for this moment. Reading from the speech his father wrote, he thanks the players who called his father "Pops," including former Reds teammates Eric Davis and Barry Larkin. He thanked Dave Winfield for asking him to play for the Blue Jays and pursue another World Series. And he expressed admiration to Tony La Russa, who said he didn't just want Parker's numbers, he wanted him to provided leadership for the team's younger players how to play baseball. David Parker recalled seeing how famous his father was when they went out in public and were approached by so many fans. Dave Parker clarified for his son, "They ain't fans, son. They're friends.' The other player elected by the Classic Baseball Era committee also unfortunately earned the honor posthumously. Dick Allen was represented by his wife, Willa. She became emotional while recalling how much her husband wanted to speak to the Phillies fans when the team retired his No. 15 in 2020, despite being sick with cancer. He had difficulties with the fans early in his career, but came to love them. "Thank you for finally bringing him home," Willa Allen said to baseball fans and those who elected him to Cooperstown. CC Sabathia began his acceptance speech by thanking his fellow Hall of Famers including former Yankees teammate Derek Jeter, who graciously praised the pitcher in a video shown beforehand. He also thanked fellow inductee Ichiro Suzuki, "who stole my Rookie of the Year trophy" in 2001. Sabathia also expressed gratitude for becoming a Hall of Famer in the same class as Parker, who was the DH on the 1989 Oakland Athletics team he loved while growing up as a baseball fan. He also referenced Ken Griffey Jr., who was his mother's favorite player and shared the stage with him in Cooperstown on Sunday. He also expressed regret for not being able to win a World Series for the fans in Cleveland. Finally, Ichiro Suzuki practically put on a stand-up comedy routine with his speech. Notably, he made the speech in English after conducting most interviews during his career, and interviews leading up to the Hall of Fame ceremony, in his native Japanese. "For the third time, I am a rookie," he said, referencing joining the Orix Blue Wave and Seattle Mariners as a first-timer before entering the Baseball Hall of Fame. 'I am 51 years old, so easy on the hazing," he said, turning to the 52 Hall of Famers on stage behind him. Suzuki also made a point to mention the one Baseball Writers Association of America voter who did not give him a first-place vote, preventing him from being the second-ever unanimous selection. "The offer for that writer to have dinner at my home has now expired," he said for the day's biggest laugh. Suzuki also thanked former Marlins president David Samson and president of baseball operations Mike Hill for signing him to play three seasons in Miami from 2015-17. "When you guys called to offer me a contract in 2015," he jokingly admitted, "honestly… I had never heard of your team." The frequent humor provided the perfect note for a day made longer by a one-hour rain delay and hot temperatures in Cooperstown that compelled Parker II to take off his jacket during his speech and Sabathia to frequently wipe his bald head with a towel. Yet no one will likely remember those inconveniences, but instead recall some funny, touching speeches and an outstanding Hall of Fame class for 2025. Here are the highlights from Sunday's Hall of Fame induction ceremony as Yahoo Sports followed along with its live blog:
Forbes
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
CC Sabathia Exudes Humility In Eloquent Hall Of Fame Induction Speech
Baseball Hall of Fame inductee CC Sabathia arrives on stage during the National Baseball Hall of ... More Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y., Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. CC Sabathia's induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum goes well beyond an elite left-handed starting pitcher being elected in his first year of eligibility. One of 15 pitchers who have won at least 250 ball games and struck out 3,000 batters, Sabathia is the personification of perseverance both on and off the field. Instead of a 15-minute induction speech that felt like a wandering trip down memory lane with occasional moments of levity, Sabathia was direct and spoke from the heart about the village of women who helped him navigate the struggles of life. Sabathia made it clear that he would be personally thanking a long list of people, but his induction speech was a tribute to a special group of women. Sabathia paid homage to his mother, wife, aunts and grandmother. Amid family tragedies and the absence of his father for a period, Sabathia's mother stressed the importance of character and always looking to move beyond the storm. She also didn't mind wearing catcher's equipment to work with her son as an adolescent or talk about pitch selection after a ball game when Sabathia was making a name for himself at the major league level. The joy in Sabathia's eyes was overwhelming while talking about his wife, Amber, and their four children. A renewed outlook on life is allowing Sabathia to enjoy his children's theater, dance and baseball endeavors. A first-round selection (20th pick) by the Cleveland Indians in Major League Baseball's 1998 draft, Sabathia received a $1.3 million signing bonus out of high school in Vallejo, California. According to Baseball-Reference's calculation of the wins above replacement (WAR) statistic, Sabathia's 62.3 WAR is the highest in his draft class. A raw talent by all accounts, Sabathia's first minor league bullpen session in front of pitching coach Carl Willis could have been viewed as a disaster since he didn't know how to demonstrate the grips on a two-seam fastball or four-seam fastball. Willis' patience and attention to detail instilled confidence in Sabathia as he acquired a comprehensive education in pitching mechanics. Sabathia is a proud member of the Black Aces, an exclusive fraternity of 15 Black pitchers who have won at least 20 ball games in a single season. A 21-game winner with the New York Yankees in 2010, Sabathia is one of three Black Aces who are enshrined in the hallowed halls of Cooperstown alongside right-handed pitchers Bob Gibson and Ferguson Jenkins. As a 17-year-old minor league pitching prospect, Sabathia was introduced to Jim 'Mudcat' Grant, a former right-handed pitcher and veteran of 14 major league seasons. Grant impressed upon Sabathia the importance of being a Black starting pitcher and getting connected with Buck O'Neil and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. A driving force in creating the Black Aces, Grant won 21 ball games in 1965 while pitching for the Minnesota Twins. Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Billy Wagner, left, Ichiro Suzuki, second from left, and CC ... More Sabathia, center, pose with Willa Allen, wife of Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Dick Allen, second from right, and Dave Parker II, son of Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Dave Parker, at the National Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y., Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. In honor of Sabathia and fellow Hall of Fame classmate Ichiro Suzuki, the Yankees curated a stadium museum exhibit celebrating their achievements while wearing the venerable pinstripes. As Sabathia selected the Yankees as the cap designation on his bronze plaque, the franchise chose three phrases that eloquently summarized his career in the Bronx. Sabathia was a clubhouse leader who served as a mentor and inspiration to teammates. A consistent winner, he was the epitome of the workhorse starting pitcher who put the ball club's needs ahead of personal achievements. An advocate for empowering others, Sabathia's PitCCh In Foundation enriches lives in underserved communities through athletic and educational endeavors such as clinics, renovating baseball fields, and distributing backpacks with school supplies for children. Clayton Kershaw Pays Tribute To CC Sabathia Left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers recently joined the prestigious 3,000 strikeout club. A reporter asked Kershaw which member of the club resonated the most with him. While he paid respect to contemporaries such as right-handed pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, Kershaw was effusive in his praise of Sabathia. He specifically referenced what Sabathia did in September 2008 when he made three consecutive starts each on three days' rest to catapult the Milwaukee Brewers into the postseason for the first time since Game Seven of the 1982 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Kershaw was in awe of Sabathia's selflessness and blatant disregard for his well-being even as free agency awaited him at season's end. Besides his infectious smile and gregarious personality, you can't help but feel attracted to Sabathia given his brutal honesty regarding alcoholism, mental and physical health. Through personal experiences and the bravery to ask for help, Sabathia has learned how to manage the duality of beauty and tragedy in life one day at a time. An addiction to alcohol exacerbated decades of pain caused by anxiety, grief and insecurity. The pressures were compounded by Sabathia viewing his left arm as a golden ticket out of poverty and an opportunity to build a life of privilege for loved ones. It was as if his left arm was maintained in pristine condition while the rest of Sabathia's body and soul suffered from years of neglect and addiction. CC Sabathia Reinvented Himself As A Starting Pitcher As choices have consequences, Sabathia was physically breaking down just as he was developing a healthy mindset for baseball and life. No one will ever forget his final appearance in Game Four of the 2019 American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium where he sustained a left shoulder subluxation as the FS1 cameras caught a distraught Sabathia sitting on the dugout steps leading into the clubhouse. Besides ravaging his right knee to the point where he needs a replacement, Sabathia underwent angioplasty in December 2018 to remove a 90% blockage in an artery leading to his heart. BRONX, NY - OCTOBER 17: CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees walks off the field with Head ... More Athletic Trainer Steve Donohue during Game 4 of the ALCS between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, October 17, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) MLB Photos via Getty Images Age and injuries forced Sabathia to confront limitations, but he made the necessary adjustments while earning universal respect from teammates and opponents. Instead of relying on four-seam fastballs pushing triple digits in velocity, Sabathia evolved into a cerebral pitcher who treated baseball more like a game of chess. He took pride in the art of inducing soft contact and moving pitches around the strike zone. While the days of complete games and throwing more than 100 pitches in a start were a distant memory, Sabathia took tremendous pride in five-inning performances where he kept hitters off balance with a new repertoire that featured a cutter, slider and two-seam fastball. CC Sabathia competed with integrity and intensity while maintaining a deep loyalty to his teammates. In retirement, he is an invaluable asset to Major League Baseball as a special assistant to commissioner Rob Manfred. Besides sharing his vast insights and serving as a liaison between the league and current ball players, Sabathia wants to ensure that he won't be the final member of the Black Aces. A healthy future for Major League Baseball begins with accessibility, affordability, diversity and Sabathia's regular involvement when it comes to growing the game.
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Japan Times
Ichiro leads latest class into Baseball Hall of Fame with humor and grace
On an overcast Sunday in this charming village, thousands of fans from the Far East to the East Coast, from Texas to the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest, gathered to usher five icons of the game into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. And they heard heartfelt tales from — and about — the inductees: Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner, as well as Dick Allen and Dave Parker, who were honored posthumously. Despite the star power of the group, the man of the hour was Ichiro, 51, who became the first baseball player to be elected to two Halls of Fame, following his selection to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in January. He had a nine-year career in Japan with the Orix BlueWave before he was made available to MLB teams through the posting system after the 2000 season and signed by the Seattle Mariners to launch a splendid second career. "For the third time, I am a rookie," said Ichiro, who delivered his speech in English after using an interpreter for most of his career. "In 1992, I was drafted out of high school (in Japan). In 2001, I became a rookie again at 27 when the Seattle Mariners signed me. "I realize I'm a rookie again ... I am 51 years old, so easy on the hazing." Ichiro mixed a sharp sense of humor with a serious tone in discussing what made him a Hall of Famer: preparation, taking responsibility for his game and feeling a sense of duty to give his all for fans. He cared for his own equipment, unwilling to blame an equipment manager if his glove was not perfectly laced or his spikes were not ready to run the bases. His arm was always in shape when he reported to spring training. "If you consistently do the little things, there's no limit to what you can achieve," said Ichiro, who won two American League batting titles and both the AL Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in 2001. Ichiro said he never envisioned playing in the United States until he saw Hideo Nomo pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers on television in Japan. "My eyes suddenly opened to the idea of challenging myself by going somewhere I never imagined," he said to a crowd that included fans from Japan. "I'm grateful to the Seattle Mariners for believing I could become the first position player from Japan." Fans of Sabathia had a much shorter distance to travel, whether from his first MLB home in Cleveland, his brief one in Milwaukee or his final one with the New York Yankees. Sabathia's speech was a love letter to the women in his life, including to his grandmother, who allowed him to take the grapefruits that fell off her tree in the yard and throw them at a chair — his strike zone. To his mother, who used to put on the gear to catch his pitches, took him to Oakland Athletics games at the Oakland Coliseum and talked pitch selection with him when he got to the majors. And to his wife, whom he met as a high school junior and has been with since. And he talked with passion about the places he played. "I was born and raised in Vallejo," the Northern California native said. "But Cleveland is where I grew up." It was in New York that Sabathia burnished his Hall of Fame resume, leading the majors in wins in 2009 and 2010, and he called signing with the Yankees "the best decision we ever made." Ichiro and Sabathia, 45, were elected in their first years of eligibility. Wagner, the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year in 1999 with the Houston Astros, entered the Hall of Fame on his 10th and final ballot. Wagner, 54, was born a right-hander who learned to throw left-handed after a childhood injury to his right arm. He told his underdog story, from being a small kid from Virginia who went from a "5-foot-nothing, 100-pound nothing to the Hall of Fame." It was perseverance and passion that got him from Division III Ferrum College to Cooperstown, he said. "I refused to give up," said an emotional Wagner. "I refused to listen to the outside critics. Perseverance isn't just a trait. It's a path to greatness." Parker and Allen, both seven-time All-Stars and recipients of MVP awards, were selected for induction by the Classic Era Committee. Parker passed away on June 28 at age 74, six months after learning of his long-awaited entry into the Hall. Allen was 78 at his death in 2020. David Parker II, Parker's son, and Allen's widow, Willa, reflected in their speeches about what baseball meant to their loved ones and what this day would have meant to them. The younger Parker took the crowd through the journey of his father's career, through the six major league cities in which he played. He became a legend in Pittsburgh, where he won two batting titles and his first World Series, learning from cornerstones of the franchise — Roberto Clemente, Al Oliver and Dock Ellis — about being a major leaguer. As he proceeded in his career through his hometown of Cincinnati, through Oakland, Milwaukee, Anaheim and Toronto, Parker transitioned to "Pops," helping to guide the next generation, including fellow Hall of Fame members Barry Larkin, Robin Yount and Paul Molitor. "He cherished his role as a spiritual father to these young men," David Parker II said. As Parker struggled with his health in his final months, he wrote a poem that summed up his thoughts about his career and his induction. His son read it to a crowd filled with fans in "Parker 39" jerseys. The poem hilariously started, "Here I am. 39. About damn time." Allen, famous for swinging a 42-inch (106.6-centimeter) bat, was described by his widow as a heavyweight as a player, a man and a friend in the warm stories she told of him. He was a man of "principle, compassion and determination," Willa Allen said. That determination was evident as a child, when a teacher in his small-town Pennsylvania school asked her pupils what they wanted to be when they grew up. He confidently told the class he wanted to be a Major League Baseball player. That was before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947. The other kids laughed. "He didn't laugh. He believed it," Willa Allen said. "Now look at him."
