NEW YORK (Kyodo) -- Derek Jeter, Sadaharu Oh and Hideki Matsui were among many to offer their praises Tuesday after former Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki became the first Asian player elected to the U.S. National Baseball Hall of Fame.

The 51-year-old Ichiro, Major League Baseball's first Japanese position player in 2001, had his record-studded 19-year career in the United States through 2019 recognized by being checked off on all but one of the 394 votes cast by eligible members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

"Ichiro was a player who I always admired while competing against. I also had the pleasure to play with him and get to know him on a personal level," said former New York Yankees shortstop Jeter, who played the last three seasons of his career with Ichiro through 2014.

Jeter himself fell one vote shy of being a unanimous selection when he was inducted in 2020 after a 20-year career in which he amassed 3,465 hits, sixth on the all-time MLB ranking, and a record 200 postseason hits.

Ichiro had 3,089 hits in MLB, including a record 262 in 2004, on the back of 1,278 he hit for the Orix Blue Wave in Nippon Professional Baseball, closing with 4,367 in total.

"His unique abilities, devotion to craft, and consistency on the field were unmatched," Jeter said. "He is truly one of a kind."

Japanese Hall of Fame slugger Oh, SoftBank Hawks chairman and Suzuki's manager when Japan won the 2006 World Baseball Classic, applauded Suzuki, who also excelled at fielding as well as base running and stealing.

"I'm naturally happy as this is the first time for a Japanese to be elected," the 84-year-old said. "I believe Japanese baseball developed significantly thanks to his batting which continued to astonish the American fans."

"Next I hope (Shohei) Ohtani gives his all and bridges the gap between Japan and the United States further."

Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar, sent his congratulations to Ichiro on Instagram by posting his countryman's photo while he was playing for the Mariners.

Hideki Matsui, a slugging former Yankees outfielder and the 2009 World Series MVP, also lauded his compatriot's monumental achievement.

"I believe this is a historic day for baseball in Japan as well," said the 50-year-old, who was a candidate in 2018 but failed to get the required 5 percent of votes needed to remain on the ballot the following year.

"I feel that your career has been one in which you had achieved the greatest possible results and accomplishments by following your own philosophy and not being bound by the conventional wisdom of baseball."

"It has truly been an honor and a pleasure having been able to play during the same period as you, both in Japan and in Major League Baseball."