COOPERSTOWN — Ichiro Suzuki captivated the audience during his nearly 20-minute speech at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, marking a significant moment in baseball history. Known for his outstanding career as a player, Ichiro chose this occasion to address the crowd in English, a departure from his usual practice of speaking in Japanese with an interpreter. This decision was particularly meaningful as he aimed to connect more deeply with his American fans.
Ichiro's speech drew thousands of fans, many proudly wearing his iconic No. 51 Mariners jersey. After finishing his speech, Ichiro reverted to Japanese, mentioning that he “always knew” he would deliver his address in English. His motivation was clear: he wanted his American supporters to grasp his message fully. CC Sabathia, a former teammate, praised Ichiro’s speaking ability, saying, “I played with him, so I knew he could do that. It was good for people to get to know his personality and how hard he worked.”
Brian Cashman, the general manager of the New York Yankees, recounted his experience with Ichiro when he was traded to the team in 2012. Cashman shared that he and an interpreter had a lengthy phone call with Ichiro to discuss his role within the Yankees. “It took forever,” Cashman recalled. When they met in person a week later, Cashman was impressed by Ichiro’s command of English, stating, “He responded by speaking better English than I did.”
During his speech, Ichiro took a moment to express his gratitude to the Mariners and their fans, as well as his Orix team in Japan, which allowed him to come to the majors in 2001. He fondly remembered his time with the Yankees from 2012 to 2014, saying, “I enjoyed my two-and-a-half years in pinstripes and to get to experience the great leadership of Derek Jeter and the organization’s proud touch.”
Billy Wagner, another notable inductee, shared that he had been preparing his Hall of Fame speech for “about 10 years.” This Sunday marked a historic occasion as Wagner became the first left-handed reliever to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame, thanks in part to his impressive three-plus years with the Mets. Although he is often remembered for his time in Houston, Wagner acknowledged the significant role his experiences in Queens played in his journey to Cooperstown.
Wagner expressed his appreciation for the Mets and their former owners, the Wilpons, for making his transition to New York seamless. “For a small-town guy like me, going to a big city, Fred Wilpon and his son, Jeff, and the Mets organization made it easy to come to the field and compete,” Wagner noted. He reminisced about riding to the ballpark with Tom Glavine and credited the strong team around him for helping him reach this prestigious stage.
In an interesting fact, Wagner pointed out that he and Whitey Ford are the only pitchers in the Hall of Fame who are shorter than 6 feet. He also highlighted that he is the sole pitcher from a Division III college (Ferrum College) to attain this honor. “I’m from a very small part of southwest Virginia,” Wagner said. “To grow up in a small, rural area, this isn’t something you think about.”
The ceremony also included heartfelt tributes to baseball legends who have passed away. Dave Parker, who died in June at the age of 74, had been preparing a speech for his induction. In his absence, his son, Dave II, delivered a touching address on his father’s behalf. Additionally, Willa Allen spoke in honor of her late husband, Dick Allen.
Among the attendees was Sandy Koufax, the oldest living Hall of Famer at age 89, who added a sense of history to the event. The ceremony’s start was delayed by an hour due to inclement weather, yet an estimated 30,000 fans remained in attendance, showcasing their unwavering support and passion for the game.
