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GMA Network
a day ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
'I'm a rookie again': Ichiro Suzuki leads class of five into Baseball Hall of Fame
Jul 27, 2025; Cooperstown, NY, USA; Hall of Fame inductees Billy Wagner, Ichiro Suzuki and CC Sabathia with their Baseball Hall of Fame plaques after the Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Clark Sports Center. Photo: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — On an overcast Sunday in this charming village, thousands of fans from the Far East to the East Coast, from Texas to the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest, gathered to usher five icons of the game into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. And they heard heartfelt tales from -- and about -- the inductees: Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner, as well as Dick Allen and Dave Parker, who were honored posthumously. Despite the star power of the group, the man of the hour was Suzuki, 51, who became the first baseball player to be elected to two Halls of Fame, following his selection into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in January. He had a nine-year career in Japan before he was posted for availability to MLB teams after the 2000 season and signed by the Seattle Mariners to launch a splendid second career. "For the third time, I am a rookie," said Suzuki, who delivered his speech in English after using an interpreter most of his career. "In 1992, I was drafted out of high school (in Japan). In 2001, I became a rookie again at 27 when the Seattle Mariners signed me. "I realize I'm a rookie again ... I am 51 years old, so easy on the hazing." Suzuki mixed a sharp sense of humor with a serious tone in discussing what made him a Hall of Famer: preparation, taking responsibility for his game and feeling a sense of duty to give his all for fans. He cared for his own equipment, unwilling to blame an equipment manager if his glove weren't perfectly laced or his spikes not ready to run the bases. His arm was always in shape when he reported to spring training. "If you consistently do the little things, there's no limit to what you can achieve," said Suzuki, who won two American League batting titles and both the AL Rookie of the Year and MVP in 2001. Suzuki said he never envisioned playing in the United States until he saw Hideo Nomo pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers on television in Japan. "My eyes suddenly opened to the idea of challenging myself by going somewhere I never imagined," he said to a crowd that included fans from Japan. "I'm grateful to the Seattle Mariners for believing I could become the first position player from Japan." Fans of Sabathia had a much shorter distance to travel, whether from his first MLB home in Cleveland, his brief one in Milwaukee or his final one with the New York Yankees. Sabathia's speech was a love letter to the women in his life, including to his grandmother, who allowed him to take the grapefruits that fell off her tree in the yard and throw them at a chair -- his strike zone. To his mother, who used to put on the gear to catch his pitches, took him to Athletics games at the Oakland Coliseum and talked pitch selection with him when he got to the majors. And to his wife, whom he met as a high school junior and has been with since. And he talked with passion about the places he played. "I was born and raised in Vallejo," the Northern California native said. "But Cleveland is where I grew up." It was in New York that Sabathia burnished his Hall of Fame resume, leading the majors in wins in 2009 and 2010, and he called signing with the Yankees "the best decision we ever made." Suzuki and Sabathia, 45, were elected in their first years of eligibility. Wagner, the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year in 1999 with the Houston Astros, entered the Hall of Fame on his 10th and final ballot. Wagner was born a right-hander who learned to throw left-handed after a childhood injury to his right arm. He told his underdog story, from being a small kid from Virginia who went from a "5-foot-nothing, 100-pound nothing to the Hall of Fame." It was perseverance and passion that got him from Division III Ferrum College to Cooperstown, he said. "I refused to give up," said an emotional Wagner, 54. "I refused to listen to the outside critics. ... Perseverance isn't just a trait. It's a path to greatness." Parker and Allen, both seven-time All-Stars and recipients of Most Valuable Player awards, were selected for induction by the Classic Era Committee. Parker passed away on June 28 at age 74, six months after learning of his long-awaited entry into the hall. Allen was 78 at his death in 2020. David Parker II, Parker's son, and Allen's widow, Willa, reflected in their speeches just what baseball meant to their loved ones and what this day would have meant to them. The younger Parker took the crowd through the journey of his father's career, through the six major league cities in which he played. He became a legend in Pittsburgh, where he won two batting titles and his first World Series, learning from cornerstones of the franchise -- Roberto Clemente, Al Oliver and Dock Ellis -- about being a major leaguer. And as he proceeded in his career through his hometown of Cincinnati, through Oakland, Milwaukee, Anaheim and Toronto, Parker transitioned to "Pops," helping to guide the next generation, including fellow Hall of Fame members Barry Larkin, Robin Yount and Paul Molitor. "He cherished his role as a spiritual father to these young men," David Parker II said. As Parker struggled with his health in his final months, he wrote a poem that summed up his thoughts about his career and his induction, read by his son to the crowd filled with fans in "Parker 39" jerseys. The poem hilariously started, "Here I am. 39. About damn time." Allen, famous for swinging a 42-inch bat, was described by his widow as a heavyweight as a player, a man and a friend in the warm stories she told of him. He was a man of "principle, compassion and determination," Willa Allen said. That determination was evident as a child, when a teacher in his small-town Pennsylvania school asked her pupils what they wanted to be when they grew up. He confidently told the class he wanted to be a Major League Baseball player. That was before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947. The other kids laughed. "He didn't laugh. He believed it," Willa Allen said. "Now look at him." Looking ahead to 2026, there likely won't be any first-year eligible players selected. Carlos Beltran, who was named on 70.3 percent of ballots in 2025, and Andruw Jones, selected on 66.2 percent, could hear their names called next year. Both are members of the 400-home run club, and Jones won 10 Gold Glove awards. —Field Level Media/Reuters
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Baseball Hall of Fame 2025 induction: Best moments from Ichiro, Sabathia, more
The Baseball Hall of Fame welcomed five new members on Sunday, July 27, as Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, Billy Wagner, Dave Parker and Dick Allen were inducted in Cooperstown, New York. Suzuki became 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 his 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 Ocean. Sabathia also had a huge number of fans on hand with Cooperstown a four-hour drive from Yankee Stadium, where Sabathia pitched 11 seasons. Here are some of the best moments from Sunday's Hall of Fame induction ceremony: Ichiro steals the show Ichiro was undoubtedly the biggest name of the 2025 Hall of Fame class, the first Japanese-born player to be enshrined in Cooperstown. Despite his immense fame, success and long, illustrious career though, Ichiro started his speech talking about his familiarity with being a rookie – first in Japan, then Seattle, and now Cooperstown. He asked his fellow Hall of Fame members to take it "easy with the hazing." Ichiro then spoke on his accomplishments, mentioning that he was honored that "all but one" of the BBWAA writers believed he was worthy of Hall of Fame consideration. Ichiro had previously offered to have that writer over for dinner at his house, but during his speech, Ichiro rescinded the offer, which drew a large laugh from the crowd. Ichiro also did not shy away from the pressure he faced as a Japanese-born player. He went out of his way to thank Hideo Nomo for carving the path toward Japanese players commonly being found in Major League Baseball. After a day of largely emotional speeches filled with tears and heartfelt poems, Ichiro's was much lighter, speaking largely on the difference between "dreams" and goals", his love for Seattle, and his love for the high-octane calls he heard on the television and radio for some of his most iconic plays. He even talked about his greatest experience in baseball, being able to enjoy a hot dog in the stands with his wife after he'd retired. Ichiro finished his speech to massive applause and "I-CHI-RO" chants from fans in the crowd. CC Sabathia learned lessons from each place he lived Sabathia's speech was a bit of an autobiography, speaking on lessons that he learned and people who inspired him at each step in his life, from his childhood to Cooperstown. He started his speech talking about how his mother inspired his love for baseball, and how he can still remember the starting lineups from certain All-Star games, pointing out fellow 2025 Hall of Fame class member Dave Parker as a player he loved watching growing up. At the same time, he did poke fun at Ichiro Suzuki, who Sabathia claims "stole [his] Rookie of the Year award in 2001." Sabathia's speech was all about family, from the women who raised him in Vallejo to the brothers he found during his Major League career to his own kids. He's had a lot of homes throughout his career, but home isn't where you live, it's wherever you feel most at peace, and that is very clearly the case for CC Sabathia. Dick Allen's widow speaks on his character Phillies' legend Dick Allen was known for his strong build, but his widow Willa, made most of the acceptance speech about his kind heart. Whether it was taking time to speak with children who were fans of his or his simple "Thank you" when the Phillies told him that they were going to retire his number, Allen never took the fact that he got to play baseball for a living for granted. Willa Allen got noticeably emotional when speaking on her husband's death, which came just four months after the Phillies told him they would retire his number. Dave Parker's son shares memories of his father 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. Billy Wagner leads off Hall of Fame speeches Renowned for his closing ability, Billy Wagner led off the Hall of Fame acceptance speeches reminiscing about being a kid who never thought he'd end up in Cooperstown. Wagner's speech was preceded by incredible words from fellow Hall of Famer and former teammate, Craig Biggio. Wagner continued on, speaking about his luck to finish his career with his hometown team, the oddity that he never closed a game in the minors and never started a game in the majors, and thanking his family for their support, even getting teary-eyed while mentioning his wife. Arguably the highlight though was when Wagner turned to speak to his Hall of Fame teammates Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell. Sharing the stage with them, Wagner wasted no time both praising and teasing them, mocking Bagwell's terrifying "glare" and Biggio's whininess, while also praising their consistency and competitiveness. Ken Griffey Jr. receives monumental applause With Ichiro Suzuki entering the Hall today, it was no surprise that numerous Mariners fans had made their way to Cooperstown. Before Suzuki could take the stage though, several other Hall of Famers took the stage to show their support, including Mariners' legend Ken Griffey Jr. The applause was enormous, definitely the largest of the day before Ichiro. Unsurprisingly, the next largest applause came from the announcement of Mariners' designated hitter and third baseman Edgar Martinez. When Suzuki was finally announced, he an Griffey shared a handshake on stage. The two played together for two seasons in Seattle. What time is the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony? The 2025 Hall of Fame ceremony was scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. ET. But due to inclement weather expected between noon and 2 p.m., the start of the induction ceremony has been moved to 2:30 p.m. ET. How to watch Baseball Hall of Fame induction Where is the Baseball Hall of Fame located? The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Cooperstown, New York, about a four-hour drive north of New York City. (This story has been updated with new information.)
Scotsman
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Paul Gascoigne's Best Quotes: 13 of the best and funniest quotes from Rangers and England legend Gazza
One of the greatest footballers to ever grace the Ibrox turf, Rangers legend Paul 'Gazza' Gascoigne is still loved by the Govan faithful, almost three decades on from his departure. Signed in July 1995 from Lazio, the club paid a fee of £4.3million for the Geordie midfielder, who went on to become a club legend glittering three season period in Glasgow. A spell that not only left a mark on Gers faithful, but also Gascoigne himself. Included in the club's Hall of Fame list in 2006, Gascoigne won two Scottish titles, one Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup during his time in Glasgow, alongside several individual honours. Gazza was named PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year and SFWA Footballer of the Year in 1996, before departing for Middlesbrough for £3.45 million in March 1998, in a switch he later admitted he wish he'd never had to make. Arguably one of the club's greatest midfielders of all time, we look back on the best quotes about his ex-boss Walter Smith, team mate Ian Durrant and - of course - the Rangers fans he adores so much. 1 . On how much he loved playing at Rangers... "I there was anything I could turn the clock back to, it would be just getting off the aeroplane at Glasgow Airport and joining Glasgow Rangers Football Club. I would do those two years over and over again for the rest of my life" | SNS Group 0141 221 3602 Photo: SNS Group Photo Sales 2 . On proving people wrong... "I remember the press saying I wasn't going to do well up there. I just won everything. Players' player - the lot. I just really enjoyed my football" | Getty Images Photo Sales 3 . On his first meeting with Walter Smith... 'When I spoke to Walter he asked me what I was missing in football and I told him it was playing with a smile on my face. I wasn't getting that in Italy and he told me I would get that here and he was spot on" | SNS Group 0141 221 3602 Photo Sales 4 . On playing for Rangers... "Glasgow Rangers. God. I loved playing for them" | SNS Group 0141 221 3602 Photo: SNS Group Photo Sales
Axios
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Connie Francis, international pop singer and movie star, dies at 87
International pop singer Connie Francis died Wednesday at 87. Francis, known in part for her hit " Pretty Little Baby," had been living in Parkland since the late 1990s, per the Miami Herald. She was born in Newark, New Jersey. Flashback: Francis' film "Where the Boys Are," which was set and filmed in Fort Lauderdale, put South Florida's beaches on the map as a popular spring break destination. In 2010, on the 50th anniversary of the film, the city established a Walk of Fame on Fort Lauderdale beach at the inaugural Great American Beach Party to pay tribute to Francis with a star, the Sun Sentinel reported. The intrigue: Last month, Universal Music Group honored Francis with a plaque to honor the recent streaming success of "Pretty Little Baby."
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
NHL player Dominik Hasek slams US President Donald Trump over false Epstein files claim
Dominik Hasek walks the red carpet at Meridian Hall prior to the Hockey Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony (Credit: Getty Images) Dominik Hasek, former NHL player and Hall of Fame goaltender, expressed strong opposition to a recent claim made by US President Donald Trump suggesting that former President Barack Obama and ex-FBI Director James Comey were responsible for fabricating the Epstein files. The Epstein case, which exposed a global sex trafficking network involving high-profile figures, has been investigated by US federal agencies. Across multiple administrations, Contrary to Trump's statement, public records show the first probe into Epstein. Hasek's reaction comes at a time when misinformation surrounding the Epstein case is once again gaining traction online, prompting concern about political interference and public confusion. NHL veteran supports justice for victims over political spin Hasek's statements have consistently emphasized justice for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes, and his recent commentary reflects concern over how public figures. Particularly political leaders, can distort facts to deflect accountability. While some may see his involvement in political matters as unusual for a former athlete, Hasek has previously spoken out on global and humanitarian issues, particularly involving Europe and North America. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo False claim linked to renewed criticism of Trump's actions Trump's assertion that the Epstein files were fabricated by Obama and Comey has drawn wide criticism. Legal analysts and observers have pointed out that the claim is not supported. By the publicly available investigation timeline or court records; the claim has been described as misleading and harmful. Particularly in its potential to distract from the victims' pursuit of justice. Hasek also targets Trump's Ukraine stance amid Russian attacks In addition to addressing the Epstein matter, Dominik Hasek also criticized President Trump's perceived alignment with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Hasek cited a wave of drone and missile attacks on Kyiv that occurred shortly after Trump reportedly engaged with the Russian leader. Dominik Hasek's dual criticism of Donald Trump, regarding misinformation about the Epstein files and perceived complicity in Russian aggression. This demonstrates his growing presence as a socially and politically active former NHL figure. Also Read: NHL trade news: Bowen Byram stuns nhl fans by inking new deal with Buffalo Sabres, skipping arbitration drama Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
