The 2024 Baseball Hall of Fame vote results are in, and it’s official – the BBWAA has chosen Adrián Beltré, Joe Mauer, Todd Helton, and manager Jim Leyland to be the honored inductees this summer. This prestigious selection comes after a meticulous voting process, and there’s more to the story than just the names of the Hall of Famers. Let’s dive into the breakdown.
In the world of Hall of Fame voting, there are two critical thresholds. Players who receive at least 75% of the vote gain entry into the Hall of Fame, while those who garner less than 5% fall off the ballot entirely. The ones in between continue to be considered until they’ve been on the ballot for a maximum of 10 years. Unfortunately, Gary Sheffield has fallen off the ballot, but the others who received between 5% and 75% will return for another round next year. These players and their 2024 vote percentages are as follows:
– Billy Wagner (73.8%)
– Andruw Jones (61.6%)
– Carlos Beltrán (57.1%)
– Alex Rodríguez (34.8%)
– Manny Ramírez (32.5%)
– Chase Utley (28.8%)
– Omar Vizquel (17.7%)
– Bobby Abreu (14.8%)
– Jimmy Rollins (14.8%)
– Andy Pettitte (13.5%)
– Mark Buehrle (8.3%)
– Francisco Rodríguez (7.8%)
– Torii Hunter (7.3%)
– David Wright (6.2%)
Now, let’s talk about the newcomers to the ballot in the next round. Players who have been retired for five years and played in the majors for at least 10 years, under normal circumstances, become eligible for the Hall of Fame ballot. A screening committee composed of baseball writers determines the final list. Here are some notable names expected to join the ballot:
– Ichiro Suzuki, a 10-time All-Star and 2001 MVP, is a surefire first-timer. His impressive career includes leading the league in hits seven times, two batting titles, and 3,089 hits in MLB after 1,278 in Japan. He boasts a .311 career batting average, 1,420 runs scored, and 509 stolen bases.
– CC Sabathia, a Cy Young winner with multiple top-five finishes, finished his career with a 251-161 record and a 3.74 ERA (116 ERA+). His 3,093 strikeouts rank 18th all-time, and he delivered clutch performances in the playoffs, including winning the 2009 ALCS MVP.
– Dustin Pedroia, a four-time All-Star, secured three World Series rings and earned both Rookie of the Year and MVP honors. During his 14 seasons with the Red Sox, he compiled impressive stats, including a .299/.365/.439 slash line, 1,805 hits, 394 doubles, 140 homers, 725 RBI, 922 runs, and 138 stolen bases.
– Ian Kinsler, a four-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner, adds depth to the ballot. His 14-year career boasts impressive numbers, with 1,999 hits, 416 doubles, 257 homers, 909 RBI, 1,243 runs, and 243 steals.
– Félix Hernández, known as King Félix, won a Cy Young and finished in the top eight six times. He retired with a 169-136 record and a 3.42 ERA (117 ERA+), striking out 2,524 batters in 2,729 2/3 innings.
These potential additions to the ballot add excitement to the Hall of Fame discussions. Players like Troy Tulowitzki, Ben Zobrist, Curtis Granderson, Hanley Ramírez, Russell Martin, Adam Jones, Brian McCann, and Fernando Rodney are among the other candidates who could join the ranks of baseball legends. The Hall of Fame journey continues, and fans eagerly await the next chapter in baseball history.