The Baseball Hall of Fame welcomes five new members on Sunday, July 27, with Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, Billy Wagner, Dave Parker and Dick Allen set to be inducted in Cooperstown, New York.
Suzuki becomes the Hall of Fame’s first Japanese player – assembling a 19-year MLB career after nine decorated professional seasons in Japan – and was just one vote shy of a unanimous election.
Sabathia also got in on the first ballot after winning 261 games as one of the best starting pitchers of the new millennium. Wagner ranks eighth on the all-time saves list with 422, while Allen (1972) and Parker (1978) were MVP award winners.
An enormous crowd showed for the festivities with Suzuki a fan favorite on both sides of the Pacific and Cooperstown a four-hour drive from Yankee Stadium, where Sabathia pitched 11 seasons.
"You are the true achievement of my life."
Dave Parker II delivers a message to his family on behalf of his late father. https://t.co/Cr8KyH27kG pic.twitter.com/EYkSmLgg9g
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 27, 2025
Pirates’ legend Dave Parker passed away less than a month away from his induction ceremony, making his son’s speech hit that much harder as it happened. Dave Parker II even mentioned that he died while writing his Hall of Fame speech.
Parker II finished his speech with a poem written by his father, noting that it was specifically his father’s request that it be read during the acceptance speech.
The poem was a good conclusion, with Parker posthumously praising himself for his “rocket arm” and willingness to “run any catcher over.” The best moment of the poem though was the finale. After mentioning that Cooperstown would be his last stop, Parker wrote, “I didn’t lie in my documentary, I told you I wouldn’t show [to my acceptance speech].” Considering Parker’s recent death, this line hit infinitely harder.