Dodgers fans reflect on legacy of Fernando Valenzuela
The Los Angeles Dodgers and their fans gathered to celebrate their 8th World Series title, but took time to reflect on the impact of Fernando Valenzuela.
A singular force and a classic workhorse are expected to gain entrance to baseball’s Hall of Fame when results of 2025 balloting are released Tuesday night.
Ichiro Suzuki, who can be plausibly anointed the global hit king after amassing 4,367 knocks over two decades in Japan and the major leagues, is expected to be elected in overwhelming fashion as balloting is revealed by the Baseball Writers’ Association (6 p.m. ET, MLB Network). Suzuki, a 10-time All-Star, 10-time Gold Glove winner and two-time batting champ – all after beginning his major league career at 27 – has a decent shot to become the first positiion player elected unanimously.
Meanwhile, left-hander CC Sabathia – who racked up 251 victories in 18 seasons as a rotation rock for Cleveland, Milwaukee and the New York Yankees – should also received the required 75% support required for induction and earn a Cooperstown ticket in his first year of eligibility.
Closer Billy Wagner, though, has no margin for error: He’s in his 10th and final year of eligibility and hopes to get a last-gasp gust to push him across the induction line after receiving 73.8% in 2024.
What time is Hall of Fame announcement?
The results of the 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting will be announced at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Jan. 21
How to watch Baseball Hall of Fame announcement
The Baseball Hall of Fame announcement show will air on MLB Network.
2025 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot
- Billy Wagner (10th year on ballot)
- Andruw Jones (8th)
- Carlos Beltrán (3rd)
- Alex Rodriguez (4th)
- Manny Ramirez (9th)
- Chase Utley (2nd)
- Omar Vizquel (8th)
- Bobby Abreu (6th)
- Jimmy Rollins (4th)
- Andy Pettitte (7th)
- Mark Buehrle (5th)
- Francisco Rodríguez (3rd)
- Torii Hunter (5th)
- David Wright (2nd)
- Carlos González (1st)
- Curtis Granderson (1st)
- Félix Hernández (1st)
- Adam Jones (1st)
- Ian Kinsler (1st)
- Russell Martin (1st)
- Brian McCann (1st)
- Dustin Pedroia (1st)
- Hanley Ramírez (1st)
- Fernando Rodney (1st)
- CC Sabathia (1st)
- Ichiro Suzuki (1st)
- Troy Tulowitzki (1st)
- Ben Zobrist (1st)
The first time Ichiro Suzuki set foot into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. was nearly a quarter-century ago, back on Nov. 12, 2001.
Suzuki, who had already donated a bat from his MVP and Rookie of the Year campaign during the season, wanted to check out the hallowed site reserved for baseball’s greatest players and was completely mesmerized by the history of his surroundings.
“It became pretty quickly to me that this guy was a renaissance man,” former Hall of Famer president Jeff Idelson tells USA TODAY Sports. “He was much more than baseball. It was the culture of baseball, his admiration, and he wanted to understand that, starting with the art collection, and learning about another collection every subsequent trip.
“It was pretty impressive.”
– Bob Nightengale
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