Ichiro inducted into Hall of Fame

When the time came around for the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) to select three baseball stars to be inducted into the Hall of Fame class of 2025, former Seattle Mariners player Ichiro Suzuki found himself chosen.

Ichiro was born in Japan but moved to the United States when he was 27 to pursue his passion and love for baseball. He was an outfielder for the Seattle Mariners for 14 out of his 19 seasons and helped the Mariners reach the playoffs in his first season.

In part, Ichiro was chosen for his numerous accomplishments, and this helped him stand out from the rest of his competitors. He was a 10-time All-star, 10-time golden-glove winner, AL MVP, AL Rookie of the Year and holder of the MLB record for star hits in a single season with 262.

Not only is he the third Mariner to reach the HOF, but he will also become the first Japanese player to ever be inducted.

Although Ichiro played for other professional baseball teams including the Yankees and Marlins, he chose to enter the HOF as a Mariner, motivated by his connection to Seattle and his fans. After his baseball career ended, the team named him a special assistant to keep him involved with the Mariners during the season.

“It is really awesome that I started my career with the Mariners and was able to finish my career as a Mariner as well. You couldn’t have written a better script for my career than that,” Ichiro said in an exclusive interview.

However, it wasn’t an easy road for Ichiro to get to where he got today: he had to work for every triumph that he received. He put in countless hours of training every day and had to adapt to America by learning a new language and leaving his hometown behind.

“Many experiences have led me to where I am today. All of the things I did just added up and I ended up where I am,” Ichiro said.

The annual ceremony always takes place in Cooperstown, New York and will be held during the last weekend of July this year.

“I am looking forward to meeting many people that I wouldn’t be able to if I was not in the HOF. You gain and learn so many things by meeting new people,” Ichiro said.

At Bellevue, some hard-core Mariners fans are waiting for his big day as well.

“Ichiro is someone who I model my game after. He is one of my favorite players and I am glad to see him make the HOF,” senior Jack Warner said.

Ichiro was a fan favorite all throughout Washington during his seasons and remains a fan favorite today. Choosing to be inducted under the Mariners name, he is not only making Mariner history but also making Seattle proud.