Fourteen new candidates have been added to the Hall of Fame ballot, including outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and pitcher CC Sabathia. They join 14 holdovers, with reliever Billy Wagner leading the pack. Other newcomers include Félix Hernández, Carlos González, Dustin Pedroia, Hanley Ramírez, Fernando Rodney, Ian Kinsler, Ben Zobrist, Troy Tulowitzki, Russell Martin, Brian McCann, Curtis Granderson, and Adam Jones.
Wagner, who received 73.8% of the votes in the 2024 balloting, fell just five votes short of the 75% threshold needed for induction. Notable holdovers from previous years include Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Andruw Jones, Carlos Beltran, and Omar Vizquel.
Unfortunately, Gary Sheffield was dropped from the ballot after his 10th and final year of eligibility. The voting process is open to BBWAA members with 10 or more consecutive years of membership, with results set to be announced on January 23.
Ichiro Suzuki made history in 2001 by becoming only the second player to win AL Rookie of the Year and AL MVP in the same season. He was a two-time AL batting champion and a 10-time Gold Glove winner, with a career that spanned multiple teams including the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, and Miami Marlins.
CC Sabathia, a six-time All-Star and 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner, amassed an impressive record of 251-161 with 3,093 strikeouts over 19 seasons with the Cleveland Indians, Milwaukee Brewers, and New York Yankees.
Other notable candidates like Félix Hernández, Carlos González, Dustin Pedroia, and Hanley Ramírez have also left their mark on the baseball world with their exceptional performances and accolades.
The classic era committee is considering several players for induction, including Dick Allen, Dave Parker, Luis Tiant, Tommy John, Steve Garvey, Ken Boyer, and former Negro Leaguers John Donaldson and Vic Harris.
For more information on the Hall of Fame ballot and the upcoming induction process, visit the official MLB website.
