Beltrán, Jones, and Kent inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame after lengthy waits
Carlos Beltrán, Andruw Jones, and Jeff Kent are set to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, concluding journeys that involved multiple election cycles. While some players achieve first-ballot entry, these three athletes faced a combined 24 elections before securing their places in Cooperstown. Beltrán endured four elections, Jones nine, and Kent eleven.
Kent, a second baseman, expressed his excitement last winter at a press conference where he first wore his Hall of Fame jersey. His induction marks the first time a second baseman has entered the Hall since Craig Biggio in 2015, a position historically underrepresented in the Hall of Fame. Kent’s significant offensive numbers may lead future visitors to question the time it took for his recognition.
Beltrán’s Path to Cooperstown
Beltrán, a switch-hitting center fielder, played for seven different teams over 20 seasons, including stints with the Mets, Royals, Yankees, and Cardinals. He also played for Texas, San Francisco, and had two periods with the Houston Astros. He is one of only two switch-hitting Hall of Fame center fielders from the live-ball era, the other being Mickey Mantle.
His election was complicated by his involvement in the 2017 Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, which was first reported in 2019. This role led to a delay in his induction, with voters taking three additional elections to consider his candidacy. However, voters ultimately focused on his achievements over his first 19 seasons, recognizing his consistent excellence.
Beltrán’s career statistics highlight his all-around impact. According to Baseball Reference, he recorded Plus-262 Batting Runs above average, Plus-40 Fielding Runs above average, and Plus-55 Baserunning Runs above average. He is among a group of retired outfielders since 1900 with at least Plus-250 Batting Runs, Plus-40 Baserunning Runs, and Plus-40 Fielding Runs, a list that includes Willie Mays, Rickey Henderson, Joe DiMaggio, Henry Aaron, Barry Bonds, and Larry Walker.
His Wins Above Replacement (WAR) total of 70.0 places him among a select group of seven retired center fielders who have reached this threshold, all of whom are now Hall of Famers. Beltrán also stole 312 bases in his career, with a success rate of 86.4 percent. He is 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 Willie Mays.
Beltrán is also one of two players to appear in at least 40 postseason games with a batting average over .300, an on-base percentage over .400, and a slugging percentage over .600, alongside Babe Ruth.
Regarding his Hall of Fame plaque, Beltrán chose to wear a Mets hat over a Royals hat. He played seven seasons with both the Royals and the Mets. While he won Rookie of the Year with the Royals, he made four All-Star Games with the Mets compared to one with the Royals. His OPS was .869 with the Mets, compared to .835 with the Royals.
Beltrán’s induction holds special significance for his homeland of Puerto Rico. He spoke about his journey and the inspiration he hopes to provide, noting that George Brett once told him he could be a Hall of Famer. Beltrán also highlighted the importance of his charity foundation and baseball academy, including a high school he established on the island 15 years ago, which promotes education and community involvement.
Jones’ Defensive and Offensive Prowess
Andruw Jones, known for his exceptional defensive skills and power hitting, made his major league debut at age 19. He hit two home runs in the 1996 World Series as a teenager. His 10 seasons from 1998 through 2007, between ages 21-30, were particularly impactful.
During this period, Jones averaged more than 34 home runs per year and earned 10 Gold Gloves in 10 consecutive years. Only two other center fielders, Willie Mays and Ken Griffey Jr., have had a similar 10-season run. Jones finished his career with 434 career home runs and 10 Gold Glove awards. He is among a group of outfielders with multiple seasons achieving both a Gold Glove and 30+ home runs, with seven such seasons.
Beltrán and Jones, both born one day apart in April 1977, will share their induction day. They are the first two center fielders elected by baseball writers to be inducted on the same day. The induction ceremony is scheduled for Sunday.
Source: nytimes.com
