Overview

• On July 27, five inductees officially joined the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, concluding a weekend marked by live speeches and ceremonies
• Ichiro Suzuki delivered his address in English, trading jokes about a single missing vote for reflections on the preparation behind his 4,367 professional hits
• In his speech, CC Sabathia paid tribute to his wife and mother before urging baseball to create more opportunities for Black pitchers; Billy Wagner emphasized perseverance after gaining induction on his tenth ballot
• The National Baseball Hall of Fame opened a new 'Yakyu | Baseball: The Transpacific Exchange of the Game' exhibit tracing over 150 years of cultural and athletic ties between the United States and Japan
• With ceremonies concluded, attention shifts to the Class of 2025’s enduring influence on the game; notable players such as Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones stand out on the 2026 ballot