The class of 2025 was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame with Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, Billy Wagner, Dave Parker and Dick Allen all receiving the prestigious honor during a well-attended ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y., on Sunday.
Wagner, who was the only inductee who played for the Boston Red Sox during his career, was selected on his 10th and final ballot this past winter after saving 422 games during his impressive 16-year big league career.
A highlight of the ceremony was the induction speech read by two-time batting champion and 10-time All-Star Ichiro Suzuki. The former Seattle Mariners legend became the first Japanese player in history to be selected to join the Hall of Fame. When detailing his path to the big leagues, Suzuki praised former Red Sox pitcher Hideo Nomo for influencing his decision to play baseball in the United States.
“I was searching for something that I could not find. In the middle of my internal struggle, something historic happened,” said Suzuki. “Hideo Nomo became the first major leaguer from Japan in my lifetime. His success inspired many, including me. Thanks to him, MLB was always in the news in Japan, and MLB games were broadcast on TV. Because of Hideo Nomo’s courage, my eyes suddenly opened to the idea of challenging myself by going somewhere I never imagined.”
Nomo, who pitched for the Red Sox during the 2001 season, is fondly remembered by Boston fans for throwing a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles on April 4 of that year. Overall, he produced a record of 13-10 with a 4.50 ERA in 33 starts that season.
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The trailblazing Japanese right-hander had a career record of 123-109 with a 4.24 ERA and 1,918 strikeouts during 12 seasons in MLB. He won National League Rookie of the Year honors and was selected to the NL All-Star team in his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995.
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