WHAT A FANTASTIC HALL OF FAME CLASS!

What an exhilarating moment for baseball fans everywhere! The Hall of Fame has just welcomed three incredible legends into its prestigious ranks: Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, and Billy Wagner. This is a time to celebrate their remarkable careers and contributions to the sport we all love!

Ichiro Suzuki, making his first appearance on the ballot, came breathtakingly close to a unanimous selection! He missed it by just one vote, a distinction achieved only by Mariano Rivera back in 2019. Ichiro's stellar performance earned him a whopping 393 votes, which is 99.746 percent of the electorate—just a whisker behind Derek Jeter’s record for a position player. An outfielder par excellence, Ichiro dazzled with his multiple Gold Glove Awards and an extraordinary career that spanned continents and decades.

Let’s not forget the incredible journey of Ichiro, who started his pro career in Japan at just 18 with the Orix BlueWave. After nine standout seasons, he joined MLB with the Seattle Mariners at 27 and still managed to surpass the 3,000-hit milestone in the majors—a testament to his unparalleled talent and dedication.

CC Sabathia, another first-timer on the ballot, received 342 votes, securing 86.8 percent of the vote. Sabathia, who spent 11 triumphant years with the Yankees, intends to don the Yankees cap as he takes his rightful place in the Hall. His powerful presence at the front of the rotation in The Bronx will forever be remembered.

2009 the Yankees roll out the red carpet for CC Sabathia, signing him to a jaw-dropping seven-year, $161 million megadeal. And did he ever deliver! In his very first season, Sabathia took the mound like a king, tossing 230 innings of 3.37 ERA brilliance and racking up an MLB-best 19 wins.

Come the postseason, CC morphed into an unstoppable force. Over five starts, he dazzled with a microscopic 1.98 ERA, clinched the ALCS MVP award, and led the Yankees to their 27th World Series title. Talk about making an entrance!

And the hits kept coming. In the following two seasons, Sabathia racked up 21 and 19 wins, each year surpassing 230 innings with a slick low-3.00s ERA. He was so good, he snagged top-four finishes in Cy Young voting three years running. Yankee fans were in love, and for good reason!

Sabathia kept the fire burning, earning his last All-Star nod in 2012 and hitting the 200-inning mark for the final time in 2013. Even as his initial mega-contract wrapped up, he stuck around the Bronx on shorter deals, proving he still had plenty left in the tank as a solid back-end starter.

By the time Sabathia hung up his cleats in 2019, his career stats were legendary: nearly 3600 innings, a 3.74 ERA, 251 wins, and over 3000 strikeouts. And his 3093 Ks? They rank him a fabulous 18th on the all-time leaderboard. CC Sabathia, a true Yankee legend and a fan favorite.

Billy Wagner, who finally earned his well-deserved place on his 10th and final ballot appearance, garnered 325 votes, making up 82.5 percent of the electorate. His perseverance and incredible skill as a relief pitcher have been recognized, marking a fitting end to his Hall of Fame journey.

And for the Yankees fans among us, this is a double delight! Ichiro and Sabathia, both having donned the pinstripes, hold a special place in our hearts. If you’ve been following Bleeding Yankee Blue, you’ll know there are a couple of standout articles about these modern legends that are a must-read. I'll include them below for you to relive their incredible journeys.

Congratulations to Ichiro, CC, and Billy! What a phenomenal Hall of Fame class! We LOVE IT! Let’s celebrate these amazing players and their unforgettable contributions to the game! 

Read these, from Bleeding Yankee Blue:

CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR: INTERVIEW WITH THE SABATHIAS

IT WILL BE ICHIRO FEVER IN THE BRONX