Who knew that Ichiro Suzuki’s Hall of Fame acceptance speech was going to turn into a roast?
While Ichiro was most well-known for his time with the Seattle Mariners, the Major League Baseball single-season hits leader spent three of his 19 MLB seasons with the Miami Marlins. And he had some fun at the expense of the ballclub and their former executives during his acceptance speech on Sunday.
“I appreciate David Samson and Mike Hill for coming today,” he said of the Marlins’ former president and general manager. “Honestly, when you guys called to offer me a contract for 2015, I had never heard of your team.”
Ichiro Suzuki: “And to the Miami Marlins- I appreciate David Samson and Mike Hill for coming today. Honestly, when you guys called to offer me a contract for 2015, I had never heard of your team.” ⚾️💀🎙️ #MLB #HallofFame pic.twitter.com/7I7H77H199 https://t.co/SzsSty2ocR
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 27, 2025
Samson, who now hosts the podcast Nothing Personal with David Samson and makes regular appearances on Meadowlark Media shows, was the president of the Marlins from 2002 until September 2017. Hill was the team’s general manager.
While Ichiro’s time with the Marlins was mostly forgettable, it was a nice way to ensure the connection became part of his Hall of Fame lore.
Suzuki also took a jab at the anonymous lone member of the Baseball Writers Association of America who didn’t vote for him in his first year of eligibility.
Gonna be a real fun episode of The Sporting Class with @DavidPSamson and @JohnSkipper this week.
cc @matthewcoca https://t.co/sHMhuSuLpS
— Pablo Torre 🕳️ (@PabloTorre) July 27, 2025
“3,000 hits or 262 hits in one season are achievements recognized by the writers. Well, all but one of you. And by the way, the offer for that writer to have dinner at my home has now expired,” Ichiro told the crowd gathered in Cooperstown.