The MLB world is abuzz with talks about the Hall of Fame Class of 2025. And there is one name that’s dominating the conversation, and that’s Ichiro Suzuki. The Seattle Mariners icon is on track to achieve what most of the even celebrated players can only dream of—a unanimous induction! It is true. Right now, with a stunning 120-for-120 tracking on the ballots, Ichiro could be the first to join Mariano Rivera in the exclusive club of players to be voted in without a single dissent. But is this result surprising?

Not really, because Ichiro Suzuki’s career is the stuff of legends. He has over 14 years in Major League Baseball, and his stats speak for themselves. He has collected 3,089 hits, had a batting average of .311, and swiped 509 bases. And in his 2001 debut season, he ended up getting Rookie of the Year and MVP honors. But that’s not all. Ichiro ended up getting 10 Gold Gloves, 10 All-Star nods, and a reputation for being consistent.

In fact, such was his durability that even in his forties, Ichiro ended up playing at least 136 games every season. Now he is ready to get into the Hall of Fame, but then, there is another Seattle Mariners star as famous as Ichiro, and that’s Alex Rodriguez. However, he is still not anywhere close to getting inducted. But why? Well, A-Rod is a stellar icon, yet, he is still in the Hall of Fame waiting room. His jaw-dropping stats and brilliance in MLB are overshadowed because of his PED fiasco.

Rodriguez’s talent is undeniable for sure, with over 600 home runs, 2,000 runs batted in, and a career batting average of .295. He also is a 14-time All-Star and has two Gold Glove awards and 10 Silver Slugger awards, among many accolades. However, being in the Hall is more than just the stats. It’s about the integrity, and this is where A-Rod falters. So, while he is on the ballot yet again, his journey to Cooperstown is more of a marathon than a sprint. Meanwhile, for Ichiro Suzuki, there is no such cloud hanging. He will probably wear the Mariners’ cap and will join Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez in the Hall of Fame.

Joe Morgan’s letter echoes why Ichiro Suzuki, not A-Rod

In the same vein, let’s rewind for a moment to 2017. It was then that Joe Morgan, the Hall of Fame second baseman, made huge waves with a letter to the Baseball Writers Association of America. And the letter was stern—nothing like an average note. It listed who should and shouldn’t be elected to the Hall of Fame. For him, one thing is clear: any player who was linked to PEDs had no place in Cooperstown.

“Players who failed drug tests, admitted using, or were identified as users in Major League Baseball’s investigation into PED abuse, known as the Mitchell Report, should not get in. Those are the three criteria that many of the Hall of Fame players and I think are right,” mentioned Morgan on the road. Not just that, he also warned that allowing such users could even lead to a boycott of induction ceremonies by the Hall of Famers right now. Morgan passed in 2020, and six years later the echo of this letter still is lingering.

Look at 2023, for example. Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, both of whom were dominant players of their time, didn’t get the vote to reach Cooperstown. Bonds is a legend in MLB! This was their tenth and final appearance on the ballot and is enough proof that Hall doesn’t tolerate any players with a history of PEDs. Right now, even Alex Rodriguez is in the same boat and got only 47 votes out of 104 ballots. So, he would need to be on 244 more ballots this year. It’s a rather tall task!

What’s your opinion on A-Rod and his Hall of Fame induction? Let us know in the comments.