Ichiro Becomes First MLB Hall of Fame In Asia

Japan's Ichiro, dubbed the "hit machine" of the U.S. professional baseball, has become the first Asian player to be named in the MLB Hall of Fame.

The American Baseball Journalists Association announced that Ichiro won 393 out of 394 votes, winning 99.75% of the vote.

It was just one vote short of unanimous agreement, which was the biggest concern.

In MLB history, only Mariano Rivera, the closing pitcher's pronoun, has been unanimously inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Ichiro played nine seasons with the Orix Buffaloes in the Japanese professional baseball league and signed with the Seattle Mariners in 2001 to make the U.S. professional stage.

In his first year, he hit 242 hits to win the Rookie of the Year award and the Most Valuable Player award.

Ichiro hit 3,089 hits in 19 seasons, and he left 4,257 hits in his professional career when his Japanese professional baseball record is combined.

Along with Ichiro, this year's Hall of Fame honorees are left-handed starting pitchers Sabathia, who dominated the era, and Wagner, the best left-handed closer of all time.