Three new Major League Baseball (MLB) legends are officially heading to Cooperstown! Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, and Billy Wagner have all punched their tickets to the hallowed halls of the Baseball Hall of Fame, as announced by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA).
And let’s be honest, none of these names should come as a surprise to anyone who’s been following the game. Getting that Hall of Fame nod isn’t easy—players need a hefty 75% vote to secure their place among the game’s immortals.
For those stepping onto the ballot for the first time, the magic number is 5% just to stick around for another shot next year. But for Ichiro, CC, and Billy? No sweat.
They sailed through, and they’ll join Dave Parker and Dick Allen, who were voted in last month by the Classic Era Committee, at the big induction ceremony on July 27 in Cooperstown, New York.
Ichiro Becomes a Near-Unanimous Hall of Famer
Let’s start with Ichiro Suzuki—what a story! The man is a legend in Seattle and across the baseball world.
He nearly became the second-ever unanimous Hall of Famer, pulling in 99.7% of the vote. The only other player to get a clean sweep? Mariano Rivera in 2019.
Ichiro’s career numbers are simply jaw-dropping—4,367 hits between MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball, the most in professional baseball history. Over 19 seasons in the big leagues, he hit .311 and swiped 509 bases, dazzling fans with his speed and precision.
And let’s not forget his incredible rookie season in 2001—MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season, hitting .350 with a staggering 242 hits. Oh, and did we mention his single-season record of 262 hits in 2004?
Just a casual day at the office for Ichiro. Ten All-Star appearances, two batting titles, 10 Gold Gloves—yeah, this one was a no-brainer.
CC Sabathia: A First-Ballot Powerhouse
Now, onto the big lefty, CC Sabathia. The former Yankees ace breezed into the Hall in his first year of eligibility with 86.8% of the vote, and rightfully so.
Over 19 seasons, he racked up 251 wins, a 3.74 ERA, and a jaw-dropping 3,093 strikeouts in over 3,500 innings.
The man was a workhorse, anchoring rotations and delivering clutch performances when it mattered most.
Billy Wagner’s Final Ballot Triumph
And then there’s Billy Wagner—the flamethrower who finally got his due in his 10th and final year on the ballot with 82.5% of the vote.
Wagner was simply electric out of the bullpen, racking up 422 career saves, which ranks eighth all-time.
He struck out an absurd 1,196 batters in 903 innings while boasting a career ERA of 2.31. His final season with the Atlanta Braves? Just a casual 1.43 ERA over 69 innings—pure dominance.
Andruw Jones: So Close, Yet So Far
Of course, not everyone was celebrating. Andruw Jones, one of the best defensive center fielders the game has ever seen, fell just short with 66.2% of the vote.
The longtime Braves star still has two more shots to get in, and with a relatively weak class coming up, he’s got a real chance in 2026.
Brian McCann Falls Off MLB HOF Ballot
Meanwhile, another Braves staple, catcher Brian McCann, saw his Hall of Fame hopes end early, earning just 1.8% of the vote—well below the threshold to stay on the ballot.
A seven-time All-Star with 188 homers for Atlanta, McCann had a solid career, but it just wasn’t enough to get him to Cooperstown.
So, there you have it! Ichiro, CC, and Billy Wagner are officially MLB Hall of Famers. Baseball fans, mark your calendars for July 27—this is going to be one unforgettable induction ceremony.
