Everyone can agree, Ichiro Suzuki is more than deserving of his enshrinement in Cooperstown. Well, everyone but one member of the Baseball Writers Association of America.
In January, Ichiro fell one vote shy of the illustrious unanimous selection into the Hall of Fame. At the time, he had some choice words for that writer, who remains anonymous since the BWAA does not require a public ballot. “I was able to receive many votes from the writers, and [I’m] grateful for them,” Ichiro said via his interpreter at the time. “But there’s one writer that I wasn’t able to get a vote from. I would like to invite him over to my house, and we’ll have a drink together and we’ll have a good chat.”
Well, Ichiro decided to twist the knife just a bit more on Sunday, calling out the lone writer during his Hall of Fame acceptance speech.
“3,000 hits or 262 hits in one season are achievements recognized by the writers. Well, all but one of you. And by the way, the offer for that writer to have dinner at my home has now expired,” Ichiro told the crowd gathered in Cooperstown.
Good for Ichiro. Everyone at the time derided the lone dissenter for gatekeeping history, and he’s well within his right to get some shots off. Ichiro’s career isn’t up for debate. This was one writer who wanted to make it about themselves, even if said writer doesn’t have to face the music from the public.
Luckily, the rest of the world was paying attention when Ichiro earned his 3,000 hits, 10 Gold Gloves, 509 stolen bases, and two batting titles.
About Drew Lerner
Drew Lerner is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and an aspiring cable subscriber. He previously covered sports media for Sports Media Watch. Future beat writer for the Oasis reunion tour.