The Japanese superstar more than made the cut for Cooperstown enshrinement — along with ex-Yankees great CC Sabathia and former Mets closer Billy Wagner — coming up just one vote short

Ichiro had more hits than anyone, while serving as a powerful precedent for Japanese players. That overshadows whether his Hall of Fame election was unanimous.

On the same day that Ichiro Suzuki learned that he'd been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Seattle Mariners announced that they'll retire his No. 51 during the upcoming season: Ichiro's number will be officially honored in a ceremony prior to the Mariners' game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday,

Suzuki easily cleared the bar for first-ballot induction. But like Derek Jeter, he missed getting in unanimously by one vote.