Ichiro falls one vote short, plus a possible Jimmy Butler trade brewing

 

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Unanimity: Ichiro and the Loss of One Single Vote

The term "unanimous" can carry various meanings, from everyone agreeing on something being cool to every voter deeming someone deserving of baseball's highest honor. It’s a sentiment with different layers.

Ichiro Suzuki, a legend in both skill and style, almost achieved both yesterday. However, one lone voter—whose identity remains undisclosed—left Ichiro off their Hall of Fame ballot. While it’s not a colossal tragedy, it’s still a letdown.

Here’s the full Hall of Fame class announced yesterday: Ichiro, CC Sabathia, and Billy Wagner. Let’s take a quick sidebar to talk about the pitchers before we return to Ichiro:

• CC Sabathia: A no-brainer. Earning 86.8% of the vote, well above the 75% threshold, his career speaks volumes. From winning the 2007 Cy Young in Cleveland to claiming a 2009 World Series title with the Yankees, Sabathia’s legacy is cemented. Brendan Kuty’s feature on Sabathia’s Hall of Fame teammate status is worth reading. One of the game’s greats.
• Billy Wagner: Just made it on his final chance, earning 82.5% of the vote (up from 73.8% last year). Known for his electric stint with the Houston Astros, Wagner’s place as one of the best closers in history is secure, even though his innings pitched were relatively low.

Back to Ichiro, who was a wonder of consistency and excellence for decades. He truly deserved to be the second unanimous Hall of Famer (joining Mariano Rivera). Consider the following:

• Ichiro finished with 3,089 hits in MLB, ranking 25th on the all-time list, after joining the league at 27. Add in his 1,278 hits from Japan, and he surpassed Pete Rose's 4,256 total.
• He won the 2001 MVP as a Mariners rookie and was a 10-time All-Star, 2-time batting champion, and 10-time Gold Glove winner. Even into his mid-30s, Ichiro was among the game’s top players.
• Beyond the diamond, Ichiro was a cultural icon—his fashion sense and witty personality made him an all-time cool figure. I highly recommend reading this 2021 feature on Ichiro’s impact in the clubhouse.

Jayson Stark shared his thoughts on this Hall of Fame class, but his preview of the 2026 class and the upcoming Induction Day had me particularly excited. Don’t miss his notebook.

Ichiro, forever.

Found Treasure: The Decision Is Yours

On the path to Cooperstown after just one season? Pirates phenom Paul Skenes might be heading there if he stays healthy and maintains his velocity.

Which makes a one-of-a-kind Topps rookie card of Skenes, discovered by an 11-year-old collector yesterday, a truly big deal.

This card is immensely valuable, and The Athletic’s Larry Holder estimates it could be worth $1 million at auction. The young collector now has a choice:

• Option 1: Sell the card for $1 million
• Option 2: Accept the Pirates' offer:
  • Two season tickets behind home plate for 30 years
  • A softball game for 30 people at PNC Park
  • A meet-and-greet with Skenes, a chance to warm up with the team, autographed jerseys, and more exclusive experiences
  • Plus, Skenes’ girlfriend, LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, offers her suite to the cardholder.

Before I weigh in, I want to hear from you! Check out the Pulse Poll and cast your vote on what the collector should do. We’ll share the results tomorrow.

News to Know
Butler Trade in the Works?
Sources told The Athletic last night that the Phoenix Suns are preparing to trade for disgruntled Heat star Jimmy Butler. The Suns recently made a picks-only deal with the Utah Jazz, acquiring three first-round picks—indicating that they are building trade assets. The only hurdle: Bradley Beal’s no-trade clause. Read the full report here. On a related note, Butler’s Suns-themed shoes from last night didn’t attract much attention.