Cooperstown welcomes Beltrán, Jones, and Kent to Baseball Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame Induction for Three Players
Carlos Beltrán, Andruw Jones, and Jeff Kent are set to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Their paths to this recognition involved a combined 24 elections, with Beltrán appearing on four ballots, Jones on nine, and Kent on 11. Kent, the first second baseman inducted since Craig Biggio in 2015, noted the moment was “unbelievable” last winter when he first wore his Hall of Fame jersey.
Beltrán and Jones, both center fielders born one day apart in April 1977, will share their induction day. This marks a rare occasion, as it is the first time two center fielders elected by baseball writers have been inducted on the same day. Center fielders have historically been prominent Hall of Famers, including figures like Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Ken Griffey Jr.
Beltrán’s Journey to Cooperstown
Beltrán’s career spanned 20 seasons with seven different teams, including stints with the Mets, Royals, Yankees, and Cardinals, as well as the Rangers, Giants, and Astros. He is one of only two switch-hitting Hall of Fame center fielders from the live-ball era, the other being Mantle. Beltrán’s induction came after a period of scrutiny related to his involvement with the 2017 Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, which was first reported in 2019. Voters ultimately focused on his 19 years of consistent performance before joining the 2017 Astros.
His statistical profile highlights his all-around contributions, with strong numbers in batting, fielding, and baserunning. According to Baseball Reference, he achieved plus-262 in Batting Runs above average, plus-40 in Fielding Runs above average, and plus-55 in Baserunning Runs above average. Beltrán is among a select group of retired outfielders since 1900 with these combined metrics, a list that includes Mays, Rickey Henderson, DiMaggio, Henry Aaron, Barry Bonds, and Larry Walker.
Beltrán’s career Wins Above Replacement (WAR) total of 70.0 places him among only seven retired center fielders to cross this threshold. He also stole 312 bases with an 86.4 percent success rate, a record unmatched by any other player with that many stolen bases. Additionally, he is one of five members of the 300-steal/400-homer club and one of two outfielders to win a Rookie of the Year award at age 22 or younger and play in an All-Star Game at age 39 or older, the other being Mays. Beltrán also shares a unique postseason record with Babe Ruth, being one of two players with at least 40 postseason games and an October batting average over .300, an on-base percentage over .400, and a slugging percentage over .600.
Beltrán’s election marks him as only the second player in the last four decades to be elected in his fourth year on the ballot, following Mike Piazza in 2016. In his first year on the ballot in 2023, he received 181 votes, tying with Jeff Kent.
Hat Choice and Career Highlights
For his Hall of Fame plaque, Beltrán chose to wear a Mets hat over a Royals hat. This decision came after playing seven seasons with each team. He played 839 games with the Mets and 795 with the Royals. While he hit 123 home runs with Kansas City, he hit 149 for New York. His 516 RBIs with the Royals were slightly less than his 559 with the Mets. Beltrán stole more bases with the Royals (164) compared to the Mets (100).
His batting average was slightly higher with the Royals (.287) than with the Mets (.280), but his OPS was .869 with the Mets compared to .835 with the Royals. Beltrán won the Rookie of the Year award with the Royals and made four All-Star Games with the Mets, compared to one with the Royals. He also played for the Astros, Yankees, Cardinals, Rangers, and Giants, though these teams were not considered for his plaque.
Beltrán’s induction holds personal significance, particularly for his homeland of Puerto Rico. He expressed pride in his journey and the potential to inspire others from Puerto Rico to pursue their dreams in baseball and beyond. He highlighted the importance of education, noting his work with his charity foundation and baseball academy, which includes a high school built 15 years ago on the island. Beltrán’s emotions were evident during his press conference, especially when discussing his family and the impact of his induction.
Jones’ Defensive Prowess
Andruw Jones is recognized for his exceptional defensive skills and power hitting. During his first 12 seasons with Atlanta, he was considered one of the most spectacular defensive center fielders, a sentiment reportedly shared by Willie Mays. Jones made his major league debut at age 19 and hit two home runs in the 1996 World Series as a teenager. His prime years, from 1998 to 2007 (ages 21-30), were particularly impactful.
During this 10-season span, Jones averaged more than 34 home runs per year and earned 10 Gold Gloves in 10 years. Only three center fielders, Mays, Griffey, and Jones, have achieved such a 10-season run. Jones finished his career with 434 home runs and 10 Gold Glove awards, placing him in an exclusive group alongside Mays and Griffey as outfielders with that many Gold Gloves and home runs. He also had seven seasons with a Gold Glove and 30 or more home runs, a mark shared with Mays (8 seasons) and Bonds (7 seasons).
Jones, a native of Curaçao, led the Braves through many postseason appearances. The induction ceremony is scheduled for Sunday.
Source: nytimes.com
