In the world of baseball, the path to the Baseball Hall of Fame is a highly coveted one. Players must achieve a significant milestone - getting at least 75% of the vote. This standard sets the bar for excellence and ensures that only the truly great players are enshrined in this hallowed institution. Seattle, a city with a rich baseball history, now has two of its star players gearing up for their first shot at induction in 2025.

Ichiro Suzuki: A Global Baseball Sensation

Ichiro Suzuki is a name that resonates with baseball fans around the world. His professional career has been nothing short of extraordinary, spanning both his home country of Japan and Major League Baseball (MLB). One of the most remarkable achievements in his career is becoming one of just two rookies to ever win a Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Additionally, he holds the modern-day record with an astonishing 262 hits in a single season.Despite starting his pro career in Japan for the first nine seasons, Ichiro amassed over 3,000 hits and was named an All-Star a remarkable 10 times. In the field, his defensive skills were truly exceptional, winning 10 Gold Glove awards in a row from 2001 to 2010. Ichiro began his MLB career with the Seattle Mariners and left in 2012 but returned to the Pacific Northwest and finished his career in Seattle, retiring during the 2019 season. His impact on the game is undeniable and he is widely expected to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot.

Felix Hernandez: The Dominant Mariners Pitcher

Felix Hernandez has had a long and storied career with the Seattle Mariners. Spending his entire professional career from 2005 to 2019 with the team, he achieved great success. In 2010, he won the Cy Young Award as the American League's top pitcher, a testament to his dominance on the mound.One of the most memorable moments in Hernandez's career came several years after winning the Cy Young when he threw the first perfect game in Mariners franchise history and just the 23rd in the 100-plus year history of MLB. However, despite his exceptional pitching throughout his tenure in Seattle, the team never managed to earn a playoff berth during his time with them.The Baseball Hall of Fame, located in Cooperstown, New York, is the ultimate destination for baseball greats. Writers have until December 31 to cast their ballots, and the results will be announced on January 21, 2025. The induction process is a rigorous one, but for these two Seattle Mariners legends, the journey towards the Hall of Fame has begun.