Ichiro Suzuki Misses Unanimous Hall of Fame Vote by One Ballot

The Baseball Writers' Association of America reveals 321 of 394 ballots, leaving one anonymous voter’s decision a mystery.

Ichiro Suzuki, a legendary hitter with 4,367 combined professional hits, was elected to the Hall of Fame but fell one vote short of unanimity.
Out of the 394 ballots cast, 321 were made public, all of which included Suzuki, leaving the dissenting vote among the 73 anonymous ballots.
The Hall of Fame’s voting rules allow voters to keep their ballots private, a policy criticized for its lack of transparency and accountability.
Ichiro joins the 2025 Hall of Fame class alongside CC Sabathia, Billy Wagner, Dave Parker, and Dick Allen, with the induction ceremony set for July 27 in Cooperstown.
Mariano Rivera remains the only MLB player to achieve unanimous Hall of Fame selection, a feat accomplished in 2019.