The Baseball Hall of Fame Contemporary Era Veterans Committee has announced tht Jeff Kent is the lone man to have obtained the necessarry 75% to join the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

Kent received 14 of the 18 votes, and the man with the most Home Runs among any Second Baseman (351 of his career 377).   A five-time All-Star, Kent won the 2000 NL MVP and earned four Silver Sluggers.  Kent also had 2,461 Hits and 1,518 RBIs.

Three other players will be eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame on the next Contemporary Ballot.

Carlos Delgado received nine votes and Don Mattingly and Dale Murphy earned six.

As a new wrinkle, players who received five or fewer votes will not be on the next Contemporary Ballot in 2029.  This means that Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Gary Sheffield and Fernando Valenzuela will not be considered for that ballot.

Notably, this year’s committee consisted of Hall of Fame Fergie Jenkins, Jim Kaat, Juan Marichal, Tony Perez, Ozzie Smith, Alan Trammell and Robin Yount; major league executives Mark Attanasio, Doug Melvin, Arte Moreno, Kim Ng, Tony Reagins and Terry Ryan; and veteran media members/historians Steve Hirdt, Tyler Kepner and Jayson Stark.

Over the next five years, the respective committees will be voting for:

2027-Contemporary Baseball Managers/Executives/Umpires; 2028-Classic Baseball; 2029-Contemporary Baseball Players; 2030-Contemporary Baseball Managers/Executives/Umpires; 2031-Classic Baseball.

Please note that we will be revising our Notinhalloffame Baseball List once we know the Writers' elect for the Class of 2026.

We here at notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Jeff Kent for his impending induction.

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When the veterans committee (VC), officially convening as the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee for players, meets December 7 at the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida, the only burning question is whether it will elect Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, or both to the National Baseball Hall of Fame since this ballot repeats the VC's 2023 charade of gaming that ballot to ensure that Fred McGriff was elected to Cooperstown.

Joining this anointed pair are Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, who had joined the M & M boys on the 2023 VC ballot, along with first-timers Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kent, Gary Sheffield, and Fernando Valenzuela. Kent and Sheffield recently exited the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) ballot after ten fruitless years, with Delgado a one-and-done in 2015 and Valenzuela, who died in 2024 at age 63, gone in 2004 after two marginal appearances.

The Baseball Hall of Fame has announced the eight names who will be on the Contemporary Baseball Era ballot.  This Era focuses on players whose primary contributions occurred after 1980.

To gain induction, the candidate must receive 75% of the ballots cast among the 16-member committee.  That committee has yet to be announced.

The candidates are:

Barry Bonds, PIT 1986-92 & SF 1993-2007, Outfield.  Bonds is one of the greatest position players the game has ever seen.  The all-time leader in Home Runs (762) also boasts the single-season mark with 73.  The longtime Outfielder is also the all-time leader in bWAR (162.8), Walks (2,558), and MVPs (7), and he won two Batting Titles, 10 OBP Titles, seven Slugging Titles, and nine OPS Titles.  His trophy case also boasts 12 Silver Sluggers and eight Gold Gloves.  Bonds peaked on the regular ballot with 66% in his final year in 2022, and was on the Veterans ballot the year after, though did not receive enough support for his tally to be announced.  His issue, like many, is his suspected PED use, which has kept him out of Cooperstown.

Roger Clemens, BOS, 1984-96, TOR 1997-98, NYY 1999-2003 & 2007, & HOU 2004-06, Pitcher.  Clemens is the Pitching equivalent of Bonds regarding the Hall of Fame, as they joined the modern ballot together, left the modern vote together, and were also on the 2023 Senior Ballot, where, like Bonds, he did not receive enough votes for his tally to be revealed.  Clemens won an MVP, seven Cy Youngs, seven ERA Titles, five Strikeout Titles, and compiled a record of 354-184 with 4,672 Strikeouts.  There is no way anyone on this committee should vote for Bonds without Clemens or vice versa.

Carlos Delgado,  TOR 1993-2004, FLA 2004 & NYM 2006-09, First Base.  Delgado was a two-time All-Star who powered 473 Home Runs with 1,502 RBIs while also securing three Silver Sluggers.  While Delgado did not win an MVP, the Sporting News named him the 2003 Major League Player of the Year.  On the Modern ballot, Delgado lasted only one year (3.8% in 2015), but that ballot included 13 players who made the Hall, including Bonds, Clemens, Kent, Sheffield, Curt Schilling, Mark McGwire, and Sammy Sosa.

Jeff Kent, TOR 1992, NYM 1992-96, CLE 1996, SFG 1997-2002, HOU 2003-04 & LAD 2005-08, Second Base.  A five-time All-Star, Kent won the 2000 NL MVP and earned four Silver Sluggers.  Kent smacked 377 Home Runs with 2,461 Hits and 1,518 RBIs.  On the Modern ballot, Kent finished as high as 46.5% (his last time on the ballot), and this is his Senior ballot debut.

Don Mattingly, NYY, 1982-95, First Base.  Mattingly was one of the best hitters in the 1980s, batting over .300 for six consecutive seasons (1984-89) and winning the 1984 AL Batting Title.  A six-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger recipient, Mattingly also won nine Gold Gloves.  Injuries derailed him by 1990, and his Hall of Fame candidacy went off the track with it.  Mattingly still had 2,153 Hits and 222 Home Runs, and he later became a Coach and Manager, and won the 2020 NL Manager of the Year.  The highest he finished on the Modern ballot was his first attempt (28.2% in 2001), but in 2023, on his third Veteran’s ballot, he had 50% of the votes.

Dale Murphy, ATL 1976-87, PHI 1990-92 & COL 1993, Outfield.  Murphy won back-to-back National League MVPs (1982 & 1983), was a two-time Home Run champion, and went yard 398 times.  The seven-time All-Star won four Silver Sluggers, five Gold Gloves, but never made it to 30%.  He has, however, been in the Senior vote three times, and in 2023, he had 37.5% of the tally.

Gary Sheffield, MIL 1988-91, SDP 1992-93, FLA 1993-98, LAD 1998-2001, ATL 2002-03, NYY 2004-05, DET 2007-08, & NYM 2009 Outfield.  A member of the 500 Home Run club (509), Sheffield went to the All-Star game nine times, won five Silver Sluggers, and a Batting Title.  A World Series Champion with the Marlins, Sheffield finished with 63.9% in his final year on the ballot (2024), and is on his first Senior ballot.

Fernando Valenzuela, LAD 1980-90, CAL 1991, BAL 1993, PHI 1994, SDP, 1995-97 & STL 1998, Pitcher,  Fernandomania took over the sports world in 1981, when Valenzuela won the Rookie of the Year, the Cy Young, and led the Dodgers to a World Series win.  He was also a six-time All-Star and had a record of 173-153 with 2,074 Strikeouts.  Previously, he was on the ballot for only two years and had never been on a Senior Ballot.

The results will be announced on December 7 at 7:30 EST on the MLB Network. 

One of the Los Angeles Dodgers' legendary pitchers passed away days before the Dodgers will face the New York Yankees in the 2024 World Series.

Fernando Valenzuela, who took over the hearts of Los Angeles in the early 80s, passed away yesterday.  He was 63 years old.

From Navojoa, Mexico, Valenzuela was a late call-up in 1980.  Due to an injury to Jerry Reuss on the eve of the 1981 Opening Day, he got the call and began the season by winning his first eight decisions.  He finished the season as 13-7 with a league-leading 190 Strikeouts and would win the National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award.  The Dodgers won the World Series that year, and Fernandomania was the toast of the baseball world.

Valenzuela did not speak English when he was called up, and his portly body did not look athletic at all.  Still, he had an infectious smile and undeniable charisma, and he became a fan favorite among all Dodgers fans, Hispanic or not. 

He went on to have three more top-five Cy Young finishes, was a six-time All-Star, a two-time Silver Slugger, and a one-time Gold Glove winner.  Valenzuela also played for California, Baltimore, Philadelphia, San Diego, and St. Louis and had a record of 173-152 with 2,074 Strikeouts.   Following his playing career, Valenzuela worked for the Dodgers on their Spanish Language broadcasts, and stepped aside a week ago to focus on his health.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the fans, friends and family of Fernando Valenzuela.

Regular visitors of Notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB.  Once that is done, we intend to look at how each team honor their past players, coaches and executives.  As such, it is important to us that the Seattle Mariners have announced that the Los Angeles Dodgers will retire Fernando Valenzuela’s #34 this August.

The Dodgers accidentally discovered Valenzuela as they were scouting a Shortstop in Mexico.  They were dazzled by the rotund hurler and signed him, buying out his Mexican League contract in 1979.  A year later, he was a September callup, and in 17.2 Innings, he never allowed a run.  It didn't take a clairvoyant to see what might happen in 1981.

"El Toro" helped the Dodgers win the 1981 World Series.  That season, he won the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young, making him the first player to accomplish that in the same year.  Valenzuela was the opening day starter, and everyone in Los Angeles took the Mexican star to heart.

The mania surrounding Valenzuela cooled, but he was still an elite pitcher for many years.  He was an All-Star each year from 1981 to 1986, and he had three more top-five finishes in Cy Young voting.  Valenzuela would have three 200 Strikeout years, and he was also a decent batter, winning two Silver Sluggers, as well as aiding L.A to a World Series win in 1988.

Valenzuela will join Pee Wee Reese, Tommy Lasorda, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges. Jim Gilliam, Don Sutton, Walter Alston, Sandy Koufax, Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson and Don Drysdale who have their number retired by the Dodgers.

Pitchers had better careers, but many of those never captured the imagination of baseball fans like Fernando Valenzuela.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Fernando Valenzuela for this impending honor.

In 1981, a "mania" took over Los Angeles.  Some would say it took over the entire baseball world.  That was "Fernandomania" in honor of Mexican hurler Fernando Valenzuela.

The Dodgers accidentally discovered Valenzuela as they were scouting a Shortstop in Mexico.  They were dazzled by the rotund hurler and signed him, buying out his Mexican League contract in 1979.  A year later, he was a September callup, and in 17.2 Innings, he never allowed a run.  It didn't take a clairvoyant to see what might happen in 1981.

"El Toro" helped the Dodgers win the 1981 World Series.  That season, he won the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young, making him the first player to accomplish that in the same year.  Valenzuela was the opening day starter, and everyone in Los Angeles took the Mexican star.

The mania surrounding Valenzuela cooled, but he was still an elite pitcher for many years.  He was an All-Star each year from 1981 to 1986, and he had three more top-five finishes in Cy Young voting.  Valenzuela would have three 200 Strikeout years, and he was also a decent batter, winning two Silver Sluggers.

The All-Star years were over by 1987, and he played until 1997, with stops in California, the Mexican League, Baltimore, Philadelphia, San Diego, and St. Louis.  He retired with 173 Wins and 2,074 Strikeouts.

Pitchers had better careers, but many of those never captured the imagination of baseball fans like Fernando Valenzuela.

In 2019, he was one of four players to have a plaque in recognition as a Legend of Dodger Baseball, but that might be rescinded, as that was reserved for great players who were not in the Baseball Hall of Fame.  In 2023, the Dodgers reversed course, and announced that his #34 would be retired by the team.

In 1981, a "mania" took over Los Angeles.  Some would say it took over the entire baseball world.  That was "Fernandomania" in honor of Mexican hurler, Fernando Valenzuela.