This past Sunday, the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, welcomed five new inductees: Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, Billy Wagner, Dick Allen, and Dave Parker.

Ichiro Suzuki became the first Japanese-born player inducted into the Hall of Fame. He was known for his exceptional hitting and speed. Suzuki won the American League MVP and Rookie of the Year awards in 2001, while playing for the Seattle. Suzuki was already a star in Japan, and at 27 years of age, he proved he could be a star in MLB, as well.

Over a 19-year career (2001-2019), Suzuki compiled 3,089 hits, 10 All-Star selections and 10 Gold Gloves. He spent time with the Mariners, Yankees and Marlins, and retired when he was 45 years old.

Like Suzuki, CC Sabathia’s career also spanned from 2001-2019. The big left-hander began his career with Cleveland and developed into one of the best pitchers in the league American League. In 2007, Sabathia won the AL Cy Young Award with a 19-7 record, 3.21 ERA and a league-leading 241 innings-pitched. The following year, Cleveland traded him to Milwaukee midseason, and he led the Brewers to the playoffs by going 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA and seven complete games in 17 games started.

In 2009, Sabathia signed with the New York Yankees as a free agent and helped the team win the World Series that year. From 2009-2012, Sabathia totaled 64 wins while keeping his ERA between 3.00 and 3.38 each season.

Billy Wagner, a seven-time All-Star relief pitcher, makes the Hall of Fame on his tenth and final ballot of eligibility.

The longtime closer was a dominant reliver for over a decade, totaling an ERA under 3.00 in all but one season in the majors. He began his career in Houston and spent time in Philadelphia and New York, providing a solid closer in the bullpen.

The left-hander ended his career with 422 saves, which is currently eighth in MLB history as one of eight players to record at least 400 saves in a career. With just 903 career innings as a full-time reliever, Wagner has the fewest number of career innings of any other Hall of Famer.

Dick Allen, elected posthumously, by the Hall of Fame veterans committee, was a seven-time All-Star, National League Rookie of the Year in 1964, and the 1972 American League MVP. The power hitter spent 15 years in MLB with Philadelphia, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Chicago White Sox and Oakland.

Allen hit 351 home runs and was a feared slugger who hit 30 or more home runs in six seasons, winning the AL home run title in 1972 and 1974. He died in 2020.

Dave Parker was also elected by the veterans committee earlier this year, but he passed away on June 28. Like Allen, Parker was a feared slugger throughout his career. He hit 339 home runs and played pivotal roles for two World Series-winning teams. The former Pirates outfielder hit 25 home runs in 1979, then batted .341 in the playoffs to help Pittsburgh win the World Series. In 1989, Parker drove in 97 runs in the regular season and led the Oakland Athletics to a World Series victory that season.

Parker was a two-time batting champion and NL MVP in 1978. Parker played 18 seasons in MLB and spent time with the Reds, Brewers, Angels and Blue Jays.

WRITER AND BROADCASTER

As a part of the Hall of Fame induction weekend, the Baseball Writers Association of America gives the annual BBWAA Career Excellence Award. This year, the award went to Thomas Boswell for his contributions to baseball writing. This award honors a baseball writer for meritorious contributions to baseball writing and is recognized in the “Scribes & Mikemen” exhibit in the Library of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Ford C. Frick award, presented annually for excellence in broadcasting by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, was awarded to Tom Hamilton. He has called Cleveland Guardians games on the radio for 35 seasons and has been a finalist for this award four times before finally receiving the honor. The award is indicative of broadcasters who demonstrate “commitment to excellence, quality of broadcasting abilities, reverence within the game, popularity with fans, and recognition by peers.”

TULSA BEACON RADIO

Tune in to “Tulsa Beacon Weekend” radio show every week, featuring interviews with local and national guests, talking about everything from politics to family issues. This week we will have a “best of” show, re-airing interviews with local American Idol contestant Kobi Jordan, and Chris Olsen, the author of Lucy Comes Home. The show airs on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. CST on 970am KCFO.