Two former New York Yankees, pitcher CC Sabathia and outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday.
Sabathia and Suzuki were elected in their first year of eligibility on the Hall of Fame ballot, while closer Billy Wagner was elected in his final year of eligibility.
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Sabathia, 44, began his 19-season career in Cleveland as the runner-up to Suzuki for the AL Rookie of the Year Award in 2001. He went on to post a 251-161 record with a 3.74 earned run average and 3,093 strikeouts – 18th all-time – for Cleveland, the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Yankees.
Suzuki, who was on the ballot for the first time, came within one vote of being a unanimous selection. A multiple Gold Glove Award-winning outfielder who retired with 3,089 hits in MLB — 4,367 including his career in Japan — Suzuki received 393 votes, which accounted for 99.7 percent of the electorate.
Only his former Yankees teammates, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, received a higher share of the vote.
"During my career with the Yankees, I had the honor of playing with so many talented players," Jeter said in a statement released by the Yankees on Tuesday. "No player exemplified a Hall-of-Fame player and person more than CC Sabathia. His career on the field speaks for itself, but it's his career as a teammate that stands out the most. I look forward to welcoming CC to Cooperstown.
"Ichiro was a player who I always admired while competing against," Jeter continued. "I also had the pleasure to play with him and get to know him on a personal level. His unique abilities, devotion to his craft, and consistency on the field were unmatched. He is truly one of a kind."
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The current Yankees captain, Aaron Judge, also spoke fondly of Sabathia in a statement released through the team.
"CC was an incredible competitor, teammate and leader who embodied the heart and soul of our team and this city," Judge said. "As a leader, CC led by example, demonstrating courage, resilience and integrity in the face of adversity — literally leaving it all out on the field.
"As a teammate, CC was the ultimate glue that held us together, celebrating our successes and supporting us through our challenges. His legacy extends far beyond his accomplishments, as he's left an indelible mark on the lives of everyone who got the opportunity to share the field with him."
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