Stephen A. Smith UNLOADS on anonymous BBWAA writer as Ichiro Suzuki falls one vote shy of unanimous induction into MLB Hall of Fame

Ichiro Suzuki received 393 votes out of 394 and fell one short of becoming a unanimous inductee into the MLB Hall of Fame.

Stephen A. Smith UNLOADS on anonymous BBWAA writer as Ichiro Suzuki falls one vote shy of unanimous induction into MLB Hall of Fame

Ichiro Suzuki and Stephen A. Smith (Image via NBC Sports/The Hill)

On Tuesday, the MLB announced the next set of Hall of Famers. Along with Billy Wagner and CC Sabathia, 10-time MLB All-Star Ichiro Suzuki were announced as the next inductees. Suzuki would garner 99.7 percent votes, falling one shy of a unanimous induction. Popular sports broadcaster Stephen A. Smith later unloaded on the anonymous writer who did not vote for him.

The MLB Hall of Famers are selected through the votes from the members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). Players need to receive 75 percent of votes to reach the MLB Hall of Fame.

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Suzuki received a total of 393 votes from a possible 394. Due to that one missing vote, the Japanese international failed to become a unanimous inductee.

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On ESPN’s First Take, Smith would discuss this along with Chris “Mad Dog” Russo and Molly Qerim. During this, Smith unloaded on that person for not voting for it and angrily shouted to express his frustration.

One person is holding out. Who the hell is that person? I want their names! These weak-a** people that want to have a vote, but then you don’t want to let anybody know who you are. Stand up! Justify!… You’re the only person that felt differently despite a clear Hall of Fame resume. You must justify that!

Stephen A. Smith on First Take

Suzuki is now the second player to have missed out on the unanimous induction by one vote after his former teammate Derek Jeter. Just like Suzuki, Jeter received 99.7 percent of votes and missed out on 100 percent. As of now, only Mariano Rivera has received all the votes and is a unanimous inductee.

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Seattle Mariners to retire Ichiro Suzuki’s No.51 jersey following Hall of Fame Induction

After his induction into the Hall of Fame, the Seattle Mariners announced a big decision. The American League side will retire the No.51 jersey of Ichiro Suzuki on August 9, 2025.

Ichiro Suzuki
Ichiro Suzuki (Image via Imago)

Suzuki made his MLB debut at the age of 27 with the Mariners. In his very first season in 2001, the outfielder won the American League Rookie of the Year and the American League MVP as the Mariners won 116 games.

He went on to spend 11 more years with the Mariners, making an All-Star appearance in 10 successive years with them. In 2012 he joined the New York Yankees and spend three seasons with them before moving on to the Miami Marlins.

Suzuki would return to the Mariners in 2018 and retire in 2019. His number 51 jersey will now go into the rafters at the T-Mobile Park.

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His number will now be the fourth one which will be retired by the Mariners. Before this, Ken Griffey Jr.‘s No.24, Edgar Martinez‘s No.11, and Jackie Robinson‘s No.42 were the numbers retired by the Mariners organization.