Couperstown, NY (AP) – If you want someone for your next celebrity Roast, Ichiro Suzuki can be your boy.
The first Japanese-birth player to join the Baseball Hall of Fame with heartburn messages stole the show on Sunday at the Cooperstown.
Morning rain and depressed sky delayed ceremonies in an hour, but moisture gave way to bright sky and hot temperatures. The sun looked its brightest during Suzuki’s acceptance speech.
The outfielder was included by Pitcher CC Sabathia, which was also chosen in the first year of its eligibility, and close to Billy Wagner, who made it in his final attempt on the voting of the authors. Suzuki fell shy to be a unanimous selection and took a jab to an unknown sports writer who did not vote for him.
Suzuki said to shake laughter, “There are three thousand hits or two achievements recognized by 262 hit writers in a season. Okay, but one,”
He said, “By the way, the offer for the author to have dinner at my house is now over,” he said, with emphasis on “expired” for good measures.
A pair of selection of ERA committee scored a 2025 orbit: Dave Parker, who earned a nickname cobra during 20 large league season and slogger dick allen. Parker died on June 28, in which he was to be included.
The estimated 30,000 fans crowded the ground in the ground adjacent to the Clarke Sports Center, Sun Chhatris and Japanese flags. Suzuki’s number 51 seemed to be everywhere as fans, thousands of Seattle Meriners Boosters who made a track from Pacific Northwest, chanting “Ichiro” several times throughout the day. One indication is that in English and Japanese, “Thank you Ichiro! Forever a Legend” was read, which praises for Suzuki on his special day.
With 52 Returning Hall of Fames, Suzuki paid tribute to his fans by giving a 18 -minute speech in his new baseball home and English in Coopsteoune. His humor, a surprise for many people, pleased the crowd.
He threw a shadow in Miami Marlins, the last stop of his professional career.
“Honestly, when you guys offered me a contract in 2015, I had never heard of your team,” Suzuki said jokingly.
He said that he showed “already in size” with his hand in spring training every year, just screaming mariners broadcaster Rick Rises, “Holy Smoking! Throw another laser-beam from Ichiro!”
He even took a moment for some tongue-in-in-gala Vinay.
“People often measure me with my records. Three thousand hits. Ten gold gloves. Ten seasons of 200 hits.
“Not bad, huh?” Suzuki asked for more laughter.
He thanked his late agent Tony Anneastasio for “I to get America and teach me to love wine.”
But he also took time whether he was made extraordinary.
“Baseball is much higher than just killing, throwing and running. Baseball taught me to take important decisions. It helped shape my attitude about life and the world. … I got as big as I found, I realized that I could find the game that I loved at the age of 45, I was to fully dedicate myself at the highest level,” he said. ” “When fans use your precious time to see you play, you have the responsibility of performing them whether you’re winning from 10 or losing 10.
“Baseball taught me what to be a professional and I believe that today I am the main reason here. I could not get the number every day for all 19 sessions without paying attention to small details every day.”
Now he has reached the summit to overcome the summit, one of whom said to him: “Don’t embarrass the nation.” “He was proud of his motherland.
“It was never my goal to go to the US Baseball Hall of Fame. I didn’t even know that I had a first visit to Coopstown in 2001, but today I definitely feel like a brilliant dream here today.”
Sabathia thanked “The great player sitting behind me, even Ichiro, who stole my Rukhi of the Year Award (in 2001).” He paid tribute to Parker and talked about the black culture in today’s game.
“This is an additional honor to be part of Dave’s Hall of Fame Class. He was a father of a father for a generation of black stars. In the 80s and early 90s when I first started watching baseball and crushing Dave Parker Homers, the number of black players in the major leagues saw his highest, about 18%.
“Baseball is always a great game for black athletes, but baseball culture has not always been great for black people. I hope we are starting to change it. I do not want to be the last member of Black Aces, a black patcher to win 20 games.
Wagner urged young players to treat obstacles, not “obstacles, but steppingstone”.
He said, “I was not the biggest player. I was not here. The hall of fame had only seven full -time relievers. Now, there are eight because I refused to give up or give,” he said.
Suzuki received 393 out of 394 votes (99.7%) from Baseball Writers Association of America. Sabathia was selected at 342 ballot (86.8%) and 325 (82.5%) on wagon, which was more than 296 votes required for 75%required.
After reaching Major in 2001, Suzuki joined Fred Lynn (1975), who was the only player to win a Rukhi of the Year and MVP in the same season.
Suzuki was a two-time al-batting champion and 10-time all-star and gold glove winners, with 117 Homeers.
He is probably the best contact hitter, including 1,278 hits in nippon professional baseball and 3,089 in MLB, Season-Trord 262 in 2004. His combined total is over 4,367 peat rose major league records over 4,256.
Subathia, after Suzuki in the 2001 Al Rukey of the Year Voting, was a six-time all-star, who won the Al-Cy-Young Award in 2007 and the World Series in 2009. He moved in 251–161 with 3.74 ERA and 3,093 strikeouts, between Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton among the left hand, with Cleve and Steve Carlton.
Seven-time all-stars, Wagner saved 47–40 with a 2.31 ERA and 422 for Houston, Philadelphia, New York Met, Boston and Atlanta.
Tom Hamilton and Tom Bosvel were also honored during the Hall of Fame Weekend. Hamilton has been the primary radio broadcaster for the Cleveland Guardian franchise for the 35 season and Ford C. Fric award has been received. Bosvel, a retired sports columnist, who spent his entire career with the Washington Post, was awarded the BBWAA Career Excellence Award.
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Mark Frank, Associated Press