Stephen A. Smith loses it over Ichiro Suzuki missing unanimous Hall of Fame selection, applauds Rob Manfred's efforts to improve MLB

On Tuesday evening, Seattle Mariners legend Ichiro Suzuki became the Japanese player to get inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He secured 99.7% of the total ballot and needed only one vote to make him a unanimous selection.

Veteran sportscaster Stephen A. Smith went ballistic during a scathing rant at the lone person who didn't vote for Ichiro Suzuki to be in the Hall of Fame. Smith called it a deliberate, cowardly act from the voter knowing that his anonymity will be assured. Nevertheless, he lauded the work MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has done to improve the game and hoped that this type of issue will be dealt with in the future.

Stephen A. Smith spoke out during Wednesday's episode of First Take on ESPN after it came out that Ichiro Suzuki had received 393 of 394 total votes.

"One of the most complete players the game has ever seen in the history of baseball. We know this. That's why he's received all the votes that he's received, yet one person is holding out. Who the hell is that person? I want their names!" he shouted. "These weak-a** people that want to have a vote, but then you don't want to let anybody know who you are. Stand up! Justify!

"To have the right to vote is a privilege," Smith continued. "What was your rationale behind being the lone dissenter when everybody associated with Major League Baseball from a voting perspective voted differently than you? You're the only person that felt differently despite a clear Hall of Fame résumé. You must justify that!

Smith A. Smith also laid praise on MLB Comissioner Rob Manfred.

"Everything he does says to me, 'I'm thinking about you, fans. I'm thinking about making this game more popular. I'm thinking about ensuring that we don't get lost in the dust of football and basketball. We have a contribution to sports in America and the world of sports, just like football, basketball, and everybody else.' He pays attention to that, and I applaud him for it."

New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter had also missed out on being a unanimous choice to the Hall of Fame due to a single vote in 2020.

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"It's cowardly, but it's typical of baseball": Stephen A. Smith after Ichiro Suzuki misses unianimous selection

Ichiro Suzuki recorded more than 200 hits in each of his first 10 seasons in the MLB (Image Source Imagn)

Stephen A. Smith demanded that the identity of the voters involved in the ballots for the Hall of Fame should be made public after Ichiro Suzuki missed out on being a unanimous choice by one vote.

He feels MLB commissioner Rob Manfred will address the issue in the future, as he wants to improve the game for fans.

"If we know a publication has an 'x' number of votes, why the hell don't we know who voted and what their vote was?," Smith asked.

"It's cowardly, but it's typical of baseball. It's probably why I'm such a big fan of Rob Manfred, because he's changing the game, and he's changing it for the better."

CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner were also voted into Cooperstown alongside Ichiro Suzuki by the Baseball Writers Association of America for the Class of 2025.