COOPERSTOWN — Ichiro Suzuki was known for visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame often throughout his major league career.
On Sunday, he’ll be enshrined there.
Speaking on Saturday through an interpreter, Ichiro said making the Hall “has never been a goal.”
Instead, he visited the Hall of Fame to overcome tough times during different seasons in an effort to hit “the reset button.”
That included when he played two-plus years for the Yankees from 2012-14.
Although he only accumulated 311 of his 3,089 career regular-season hits while with the Yankees, his time there after being traded from Seattle in July 2012 was unforgettable.
“My 2 ½ years in New York was an amazing experience,” Ichiro shared. “It can be challenging. Glancing at the Manhattan skyline, there’s a sense of ‘You don’t belong here.’ It occasionally feels that way, but it’s an experience I believe everyone should have at least once.”
He spent his time in The Bronx alongside CC Sabathia after they both entered the league in 2001 and now the two are going into Cooperstown together.
“We were rookies the same year and I always say he stole my Rookie of the Year Award,’’ Sabathia said with a laugh.
During that season, Ichiro claimed 27 out of 28 first-place votes, with Sabathia receiving the remaining one, as Ichiro led the majors by racking up 242 hits.
Ichiro, though, had the advantage of being 27, having played professionally in Japan for nine seasons before heading to Seattle, while Sabathia was only 20 in his first season with Cleveland.
Billy Wagner promised to be emotional in the lead-up to his induction after waiting the full 10 years on the ballot — and he got a start Saturday.
“It was well worth the wait,’’ Wagner said.
He noted he was representing his part of Virginia, as well as small colleges, having played at Division III Ferrum College in Ferrum, Va.
“Being the first, there are going to be emotions,’’ Wagner said, pausing to collect himself. “I represent a lot. It’s overwhelming.”
Wagner is also the first lefty reliever to get into the Hall, which may open the doors for other southpaws.
“To be the first lefty to be here carries a lot of weight,’’ Wagner said.
Wagner finished his career with 422 saves, second all time for lefty closers.
Only another ex-Met, John Franco, finished with more (424).
Franco only spent one year on the Hall of Fame ballot, a product of bad timing as much as anything.
That 2011 ballot included 13 Hall of Famers and Franco failed to get the 5 percent necessary to remain on the ballot another year, coming up short with 4.6 percent.
He’d have to rely on a veteran’s committee to get in at some point, which is how a pair of other inductees this year, Dick Allen and Dave Parker, made it.
