The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, is getting larger with two new players joining the ranks of Baseball’s echelon.
The Baseball Writers Association of America officially voted to induct outfielders Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones into the Hall of Fame on Tuesday, following a lengthy wait.
Beltran was in his fourth year of eligibility, while Jones was in his ninth year of eligibility. Beltran earned 84.2 percent of the vote, while Jones earned 78.4 percent.
No players in their first year made their way into Cooperstown, but Cole Hamels will return on the ballot next year.
Others, however, including Ryan Braun, Edwin Encarnacion, Shin-Soo Choo and Matt Kemp, fell off the ballot after missing the five-percent threshold. Manny Ramirez is no longer on the ballot after failing on their tenth and final year of eligibility.
The ballot included 15 new players among 12 newcomers, including Andy Pettite, Alex Rodriguez, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, and Omar Vizquel. The induction ceremony will take place on July 26 in Cooperstown.
Beltran played 20 seasons between 1998 and 2017, including stints with the Kansas City Royals, New York Mets, New York Yankees, and the Houston Astros, among other teams. The slugger ended his career with 435 home runs and a .279/.350/.837 slash line.
The veteran earned nine all-star nods and three gold glove selections, along with two silver sluggers. He also won the 1998 Rookie of the Year honors and finished in the top 10 of MVP voting twice. Beltran also earned the Roberto Clemente Award in 2013.
The centerfielder’s ambitions and hopes for the Hall of Fame found themselves in temporary uncertainty in 2020 following the revelations of the Houston Astros sign-stealing controversy. In its wake, Beltran was fired from the Mets managing role.
Jones played 17 seasons between 1996 and 2012, with most of his career being spent with the Atlanta Braves. He also had stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, and New York Yankees.
The veteran ended his career with a .254/.337/.823 slash line and 434 home runs. Jones was known for his defensive abilities, earning 10 Gold Glove awards over his career and five all-star nods. He also earned a Silver Slugger in 2005.
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