Baseball Hall Call, 2026

We've been spoiled with the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot over the past few years.  After nobody was elected period in 2021, there have been five first-ballot inductees in the past four elections.  This year, we don't have an Ichiro.  There may not be a first-ballot lock next year, either.  Then we get to Albert Pujols in 2028 and Miguel Cabrera in 2029.  Fortunately, the Eras Committee voted in Jeff Kent, so there will be an induction ceremony this year.  But who will the writers elect to join him on stage in Cooperstown?

All signs are pointing towards Carlos Beltran getting in.  Since he played for a lot of teams, it's really more of a question which hat will be on his plaque.  (My money's on Mets.)  He almost got in last year and is the clear headliner on the 2026 ballot.  Beltran's over 89 percent on the Hall of Fame tracker, so his finishing over the required 75 percent seems likely.  Will he be the only one, though?

The other name that's getting a lot of traction is Andruw Jones.  The Hall of Fame tracker has him at 83 percent, so he's not quite the lock that Beltran seems to be.  In fact, I think he will stay above the 75 percent threshold and also receive the call to give us a three-member Hall of Fame class.  If he doesn't get in, he'll be close (and the likely headliner next year, which would be his final time on the ballot).

What I'm curious to see is how everybody else falls.  Without the sure-fire first-ballot guy and with the Steroid Era players cycling off the ballot, that theoretically leaves more votes out there for everyone else.  How close will players like Andy Pettitte and Chase Utley and Felix Hernandez get?  What about David Wright and Dustin Pedroia, the one-team guys whose careers were derailed by injuries?  Will Cole Hamels be the only new addition who survives to a second year on the ballot?

As usual, I'm using this space to reveal the 10 players who I'd include on my ballot if I had one.  Last year, I had all three who were elected, so that gives me three additional spots to go with the seven players I voted for in 2025.  And Cole Hamels is the only new name who makes the cut for me, so I'm voting for two players this year who I didn't have last year.

1. Andy Pettitte, Pitcher (1995-2003 Yankees, 2004-06 Astros, 2007-10 Yankees, 2012-13 Yankees): How Andy Pettitte hasn't gotten more Hall of Fame support really boggles my mind.  He's trending upward on the tracker, though, so maybe he's on his way to election.  As he should be.  The whole point is winning.  Andy Pettitte was a winner.  He won five World Series rings, and not just because he was on those Yankees dynasty teams.  I'd argue that the Yankees won those World Series because of him!  Pettitte's postseason dominance, frankly, is enough before you even take his regular season success into consideration.

2. Carlos Beltran, Outfielder (1998-2004 Royals, 2004 Astros, 2005-11 Mets, 2011 Giants, 2012-13 Cardinals, 2014-16 Yankees, 2016 Rangers, 2017 Astros): I rank my votes based on who's a definite "Yes" and who's the last on/first off.  That's the only reason I have Pettitte above Beltran.  Don't get me wrong, though.  I absolutely think Carlos Beltran is a Hall of Famer!  He hit 435 home runs, played Gold Glove defense in center field, and was a productive hitter into his late 30s.  Beltran is one of four players all-time with 1,500 runs scored, 2,700 hits, 400 homers and 300 steals.

3. Andruw Jones, Outfielder (1996-2007 Braves, 2008 Dodgers, 2009 Rangers, 2010 White Sox, 2011-12 Yankees): With Andruw Jones, the question has been whether those years at the end when he was just hanging on diminished his Hall of Fame case.  To which my response is, had he retired after the 2007 season, would his Braves career alone be enough?  And I think it would.  He was the premier defensive center fielder of the late 90s/early 2000s (sorry, Junior), winning 10 consecutive Gold Gloves.  He also hit 20 home runs in all 10 of those seasons, so he wasn't just a one-trick pony.  When/if he gets the call, he'll become the first Hall of Famer from Curacao (or, as Wayne Gretzky calls it, "Cuh-Rock-Oh.")

4. Omar Vizquel, Shortstop (1989-93 Mariners, 1994-2004 Indians, 2005-08 Giants, 2009 Rangers, 2010-11 White Sox, 2012 Blue Jays): Vizquel is one where I really had some trouble.  I really considered dropping him from my list of 10.  But, ultimately, I decided to keep him on, mainly because I've put Vizquel down every year.  The allegations against him did give me pause and are probably why he hasn't gotten as much support as he probably otherwise would have.  But, again, I've either had or considered Omar Vizquel every year he's been eligible, so why stop now?

5. Dustin Pedroia, Second Baseman (2006-19 Red Sox): Pedroia only played nine total games over his final two seasons, so his career arc really only stretches 12 years from 2006-17.  That career arc was a might impressive one, though!  Boston won two World Series in that span (he picked up a third ring in 2018), during which Pedroia won both a Rookie of the Year (2007) and an MVP (2008).  He also won four Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger.  Not to mention the leadership he provided on good Red Sox teams.

6. Mark Buerhle, Pitcher (2000-11 White Sox, 2012 Marlins, 2013-15 Blue Jays): It doesn't seem likely that we'll see a Mark Buerhle-type starting pitcher again anytime soon.  Sure, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are still kicking around, but once they're gone, the horse who'll just go out there every five days and you know you'll get seven innings out of him.  Last season, only three pitchers in the Majors reached 200 innings pitched.  Buerhle threw 200 innings in 14 consecutive years!

7. David Wright, Third Baseman (2004-16, 2018 Mets): Oh, what could have been for the longtime face of the New York Mets?!  Like Pedroia, he's an icon to a fan base after spending his entire career with one team.  Like Pedroia, his career was derailed by injuries.  But when he was healthy and at his peak, boy, was he something else!  The best third baseman in baseball?  No, he was one of the best players in baseball!

8. Chase Utley, Second Baseman (2003-15 Phillies, 2015-18 Dodgers): If I'd had 11 spots last year, the 11th would've gone to Utley.  With three extra places available this year, Utley's on.  Kent's election has brought up the lack of second basemen in Cooperstown, and Utley certainly belongs.  He was the heart and soul of those Phillies teams, and he was consistently one of the best second basemen in the Majors throughout his career.  Utley was a six-time All*Star, four-time Silver Slugger and incredible postseason performer.  He hit seven career World Series home runs (including five in 2009), the most ever by a second baseman.

9. Cole Hamels, Pitcher (2006-15 Phillies, 2015-18 Rangers, 2018-19 Cubs, 2020 Braves): Welcome to the ballot Cole Hamels, who apparently ended his career with the 2020 Braves?!  Anyway, he was the stalwart in that rotation as the Phillies won back-to-back pennants and the 2008 World Series.  He, of course, started the longest game in World Series history and was actually on deck during the two-day rain delay.  My other favorite Cole Hamels fun fact is how, in 2015, he threw a no-hitter in what would end up being his final start for the Phillies before being traded to Texas.

10. Felix Hernandez, Pitcher (2005-19 Mariners): Ultimately, it came down to Jimmy Rollins or Felix Hernandez for the final spot on my ballot.  As weird as it feels to vote for Utley and not Rollins, it also would've felt weird to put all three of the Phillies and leave King Felix off.  Because Felix Hernandez was ahead of his time.  He's the type of starting pitcher we see in baseball now.  Yes, his career was short and he was essentially done once he turned 30.  But when King Felix was in his prime, he wasn't just dominant.  He was the best pitcher in the game.

Before I sign off, I'd be remiss without mentioning my friend Jim Henneman.  Jim was a Hall of Fame voter for years and served on several Eras Committees, as well.  The first time he attended the induction ceremony was in 1966 for Casey Stengel and Ted Williams (not a bad class!).  He passed away last year, so he won't be attending this year's induction ceremony and didn't vote in this year's election.  But his spirit definitely lives on, and I'm dedicating this post (as well as all future Baseball Hall of Fame posts) to Jim's memory.