Arguably the best hitter to ever live is heading to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Seattle Mariners legend Ichiro Suzuki was announced as one of three members who will be inducted this summer, joining CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner.

The BBWAA recognized CC Sabathia’s prolonged excellence by voting the former Yankees left-hander into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Suzuki's close call means New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera remains the only unanimous electee. Rivera received all 425 votes in 2019. Another longtime Yankees icon, shortstop Derek Jeter, came within one vote of unanimous election in 2020. Suzuki, Rivera and Jeter were teammates with New York from 2012-13.

It was no surprise that former Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki was elected by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) on his first ballot. While Ichiro had an outstanding career in his own right, he was not the only first-ballot Hall of Famer selected to Cooperstown this year.

It's been a franchise rule that players eligible to have their jersey retired must be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Griffey Jr. (No. 24) and Martinez (No. 11) met that criteria and have their uniform numbers hanging in the left-center corner of T-Mobile Park.

Former Milwaukee Brewers left-handed pitcher CC Sabathia was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame today, receiving 86.8% of the vote in his first year on the ballot.

A leadoff hitter, an ace starter and a lockdown closer walk into a Hall … It’s no joke. The National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 is complete after Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner

Ichiro Suzuki is the first Japanese-born player voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He'll be joined by CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner in the Class of 2025.

The Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2025 has been decided. Outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, pitcher CC Sabathia and reliever Billy Wagner have all been elected, each earning at least 75% of votes from eligible members of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

The Yankees will have a pair of new representatives in the Baseball Hall of Fame in CC Sabathia and Ichiro Suzuki after the 2025 voting results.

The Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 will be honored in the annual induction ceremony July 27 in Cooperstown, New York.