Last week, Ichiro Suzuki earned his rightful Hall of Fame induction. However, there was one detail that caught everyone’s attention. Ichiro finished with a staggering 99.7% votes, earning 393/394 votes—just one off the unanimous club! Now, this lone voter has birthed a lot of scrutiny against himself; many, including Stephen Smith, were furious about this voter, questioning who could justify not casting a vote for one of the game’s greatest hitters.

Smith’s outrage was a blend of disappointment and frustration, as he demanded to know who the anonymous voter was and what the possible reason for not voting for Ichiro Suzuki was. For Smith, even the idea of overlooking Ichiro’s incredible career was baffling. He pointed out that Ichiro’s lack of home run power—hitting only 117 throughout his 19-year career—shouldn’t be held against him, especially when considering his elite batting average, unmatched speed, and exceptional defense. The fact that the vote was anonymous did nothing but add fuel to the fire.

While Ichiro’s Hall of Fame induction was celebrated by even his rivals, the lack of one vote made everyone question why the decision was made. “Who the hell is that person? I want their names! Who are they? These weak a** people that wanna have a vote, but then you don’t want to let anybody know who you are! Stand up! Justify!” said Steven Smith. His passionate yet furious outburst resonated with baseball fans all around the world.

It also raised a significant issue about the transparency and integrity of the Hall of Fame voting process. Given the recent trends in voting, the need for a transparent way of voting has become urgent. This issue is a focal point for the controversial conversations regarding the entire voting system.

Why the Hall of Fame selection needs transparency

This voting controversy surrounding Ichiro isn’t the first time that sparked debates across the baseball community. Derek Jeter witnessed somewhat similar voting handouts in 2020, securing 99.7% votes where he got 396/397 votes. With players like Ichiro and Derek Jeter coming so close to unanimous votes in recent years, the issue of anonymous voting has become increasingly problematic. Baseball analysts and critics feel that the voters should be held accountable for their voting choices. Not disclosing the identity of the voters creates room for unnecessary controversies and raises fingers about the Hall of Fame’s integrity.

And why wouldn’t it? The debate over transparency in Hall of Fame voting is more than just a question of public accountability. It’s about maintaining the honor and credibility of the institution itself. When players like Ichiro and Derek earned their trips to Cooperstown, their closely missing the unanimous achievement is questionable. Until now, only one player, Mariano Rivera, has achieved this feat.

So, allowing the process of knowing the voter’s identities would ensure clarity and transparency as well as help re-establish the tarnished image of the institution. Until then, Ichiro and Derek’s cases serve as reminders of the importance of holding accountable and transparency for the baseball world.