There is always one.
That was the case Monday when Ichiro Suzuki was just one vote shy of becoming the second player to be unanimously elected into the Hall of Fame.
Ichiro received 393 of the 394 votes cast by longtime baseball writers. Mariano Rivera remains the only unanimous vote, achieving the feat in 2019.
Ichiro, of course, undoubtedly belongs in Cooperstown with over 3,000 hits and 10 Gold Gloves in his prestigious career. It was always a guarantee that he would be in, but it was a question of whether he would get 100% of the votes.
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Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees and Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners pose before the MLB All-Star Game at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. (Photos by Ron Vesely/MLB via Getty Images)
When it was revealed that only one person did not vote for him, celebration quickly turned to anger on social media.
Five years ago, Derek Jeter also fell one vote short of unanimity. At the time, in typical Jeter fashion, he took the high road and said it was difficult to get everyone to agree on anything. During his induction ceremony, he took a shot at the lone voter who didn’t check his name on his ballot.
But with Ichiro’s snub, Jeter said voters should be held accountable for their actions.
“A lot of players have been incredible that are in the Hall of Fame and haven’t received 100% of the votes. I never expected it, and I would never sit here and say that everyone should have voted for me or that everyone should have voted for me. for Ichiro,” Jeter told Pak Gazette Digital in a recent interview.
“The only thing I think is fair is that I think a lot of members of the media want athletes to be responsible and accountable; I think they should do the same. I get asked this question, I get tired of being asked this. Question, and I think they should answer it.”
Former Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki throws a ball into the dugout before throwing out the first pitch for a game against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park. (Joe Nicholson-USA Today Sports)
Jeter had a lot of success on the diamond, and hopes to have more this weekend in Miami as captain of the Padel Reserve Cup, along with Andrew Schulz and Jimmy Butler.
“It’s a fun sport to watch. I’ve never seen professional padel live before. And it’s pretty fun to watch all the athleticism,” Jeter said. “It’s good to see people active. I haven’t been very active since I retired. I’ve slowed down my physical activity. It’s fun to see the sport grow. I know it’s huge internationally, Wayne [Boich] I had the vision to grow up here in the United States, and it really deserves a lot of credit.”
Ichiro joined the majors in 2001 as a highly touted Japanese prospect, hitting .353 during his nine seasons in his home country, where he won three MVPs and was a seven-time All-Star. Joining the Mariners at age 28, he immediately lived up to the hype, winning Al’s MVP and helping that year’s Mariners team to a record 116 wins.
American League All-Stars Vladimir Guerrero, left, Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, Derek Jeter and Ichiro Suzuki stand at attention during the national anthem before the 78th Major League Baseball All-Star Game at AT&T Park on July 10 2007, in San Francisco. . (Greg Trott/Getty Images)
From 2001 to 2010, Ichiro was named an All-Star in each season, while also winning a Gold Glove Award each year. In that span, he won three Silver Slugger Awards and two batting titles while posting a .331 average and .806 OPS. In 2004, he set the all-time season record with 262 hits, and is the only player in MLB history to record 10 consecutive seasons of 200+ hits. He also stole more than 500 bases and is one of seven players to record 3,000 hits and 500 stolen bases.
After just his 11th MLB game, his career average never again dipped below .300. He retired with a .311 average, 3,089 hits and a 60.0 war. In the Live Ball era (since 1920), he is one of 21 players with at least 10 seasons of hitting .300 (among qualified hitters) and only one of seven to do so 10 consecutive years. Ichiro spent most of his career with the Mariners, making stops with the Yankees and Marlins.
New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter talks with Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki during Game 4 of the ALCS on Oct. 21, 2001, at Yankee Stadium. (M. David Leeds/Getty Images)
Ichiro and Jeter played together from 2012 to 2014.
