Lefty starter CC Sabathia, outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, and lefty reliever Billy Wagner were voted into the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. First baseman Dick Allen and outfielder Dave Parker were voted into Cooperstown by the Hall of Fame's Classic Baseball Era Committee.

The former University of Alabama player and coach was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977 after being chosen for enshrinement by the Veterans Committee. A .312 career hitter, the Wetumpka High School alumnus is the hardest player to strike out in baseball history, once going 115 consecutive games without striking out.