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At long last, after six years on the ballot, legendary Tennessee quarterback Colorado first baseman Todd Helton has been given the honor of being elected to the Hall of Fame. In 2019, his first year on the ballot, Helton garnered only 16.5% of the vote. Support increased year after year until he crossed the 75% minimum in 2024. He will join former Rockies manager Jim Leyland on the stage this summer.
A first-ballot Hall of Famer? By a four-vote margin, Joe Mauer became just the third catcher in Hall of Fame history to gain entrance to Cooperstown on his first try, following Johnny Bench in 1989 and Iván Rodriguez in 2017. Mauer was the last of the top eleven catchers according to JAWS to be named a baseball immortal (Ted Simmons, eleventh on the list, was inducted in 2020).
There was little doubt that Adrián Beltré would clear the 75% threshold for election into the Hall of Fame; the question was how many voters would put a checkmark next to his name. When all the ballots were counted, only 19 voters left Beltré off their ballots. He amassed more than 3000 hits and almost 500 home runs while holding down third base for the Dodgers, Mariners, Red Sox, and Rangers.
Jim Leyland will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the summer of 2024 as the sole selection of the “Eras Committee” (which I will continue to call the Veterans Committee in casual conversation). Leyland’s managerial career began in 1986 with the Pirates. After 11 years in the ‘burgh, he went to Florida where he led the Marlins to a World Championship in 1997. He managed the Colorado Rockies in 1999, then won two pennants with the Tigers (2006, 2012).
Todd Helton missed Hall of Fame election by eleven votes. Eleven votes! He is poised to gain induction in 2024 with his 2519 hits, 369 homers, 1406 RBI, and .316 batting average. His 61.8 WAR is just below the average for first basemen in the Hall. The only non-Hall of Famers ahead of Helton are either not yet eligible (Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, and Joey Votto) or tainted by PEDs (Rafael Palmeiro and Mark McGwire).
In his final year on the BBWAA ballot, Jeff Kent received 46.5% of the vote, his highest total since debuting at 15.2% in 2014.
Kent’s Cooperstown case rests primarily on his power as a second baseman with 377 home runs while playing the position. Kent, a very good player, was selected to five All-Star Games and named the 2000 NL MVP. His WAR total in 2000 was 7.1, 5th in the NL behind fellow-snubbee Todd Helton, Andruw Jones, Randy Johnson, and teammate Barry Bonds.
The knocks against Kent include a career 55.4 WAR, 19th among second basemen. That’s behind non-Hall of Famers Lou Whitaker (75.1), Bobby Grich (71.1), Robinson Cano (68.1), Willie Randolph (65.9), and Chase Utley (64.5).
Does Kent belong in the Hall of Fame? Should the home runs alone earn him a spot among the greatest of the greats?
Congrats to Scott Rolen! In his sixth year on the ballot, Rolen received 76.3% of the vote to join Fred McGriff in Cooperstown this summer!
Congrats to “The Crime Dog” Fred McGriff. A long overdue honor for a great baseball player. Unanimous support from the Contemporary Era committee. No other candidate received more than 50% of the vote.
If I was granted a ballot for the Hall of Fame, these are the only three players I would have voted for.
Curt Schilling will no longer appear on the BBWAA ballot. His fate is now in the hands of what used to be called the Veteran’s Committee.
Jeff Kent holds the record for most home runs by a second baseman. He has one year left with the writers, but it is unlikely he will see the increase in support he needs for induction.
Scott Rolen is one of the best third basemen to ever play the game. His percentage of the votes has increased every year, and he is almost certain to get the votes needed, if not in 2023, then the following year.
I don’t agree with this selection. I believe it smacks of hypocrisy. But, it is what it is. David Ortiz is a Hall of Famer.
The Writer's Journey 