Unanimous Baseball Hall of Fame inductees: Ichiro falls one vote short of joining Mariano Rivera in MLB history

Ichiro Suzuki is heading to the Hall of Fame — but he fell one vote short of history.

The Japanese outfielder is one of three players announced Tuesday as part of the 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame class. A 10-time All-Star, 10-time Gold Glove Award winner, two-time AL batting champion, and AL MVP recipient, Suzuki starred in the league for nearly two decades, known most for his time with the Mariners. 

Suzuki is regarded as the greatest contact hitter of all-time. Between his time in the Nippon Professional Baseball League and MLB, he has the most combined hits of all-time out of a batter. He recorded 1,278 in Japan’s pro league and then 3,089 in MLB, giving him a total of 4,367, which is higher than Pete Rose’s MLB record of 4,256. 

During this year’s Hall of Fame balloting, it was not a matter of if Suzuki would get into the Hall of Fame but a matter of if he would be a unanimous selection. But while he became the first Japanese player to reach Cooperstown, he fell one vote short of a unanimous selection.

Here’s more to know about unanimous Hall of Famers in MLB history and how Suzuki could join an exclusive list.

SN’s MLB HQ: Live MLB scores | Updated MLB standings | Full MLB schedule

How many unanimous Hall of Famers in MLB history?

There have been a plethora of names to enter into the Hall of Fame, but there is only one that was a unanimous selection — Mariano Rivera. All 425 ballots that were submitted in 2019 included the legendary Yankees closer on them. 

A number of other players have come close, but no one else has unanimously been elected to the Hall of Fame. One ballot left Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter off in 2020, giving him a 99.74% vote. Outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. received 99.32% of the votes, with three of the 440 voters opting not to check his name on the ballot in 2016. 

First unanimous Baseball Hall of Famer

The first — and only— unanimous baseball Hall of Famer has been Rivera. All 425 voters in 2019 checked his name off on the ballot, making MLB Hall of Fame history. 

Mariano Rivera HOF voting results

Rivera was one of four inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019. In addition to the all-time saves leader, the HOF added pitchers Roy Halladay and Mike Mussina, as well as DH/3B Edgar Martinez to the exclusive group. 

Here is a look at the voting for the 2019 ballot. 

Did Ichiro join Marino Rivera?

Suzuki did not become the second player to be a unanimous selection into the Hall of Fame.

He still enters the Hall of Fame in his first year eligibility and was checked off on a all but one ballot.

Japanese players in the Hall of Fame

Suzuki paved the way for Japanese players to make a career in the MLB. He’s doing the same with the Hall of Fame. 

With the outfielder’s induction into the Hall of Fame in 2025, he makes history as the first Japanese player to join the prestigious group. No other player from the country has earned enough votes to get into the Hall of Fame.