COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — The Hall of Fame ballot released on Monday features 14 new candidates, including renowned outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and celebrated pitcher CC Sabathia. They join 14 returning candidates, highlighted by reliever Billy Wagner.
Among the newcomers are pitcher Félix Hernández, outfielder Carlos González, and infielders Dustin Pedroia and Hanley Ramírez. They are joined by a notable group that includes reliever Fernando Rodney, second baseman Ian Kinsler, second baseman/outfielder Ben Zobrist, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, as well as catchers Russell Martin and Brian McCann, and outfielders Curtis Granderson and Adam Jones.
Returning candidates from previous ballots include the steroid-tainted stars Alex Rodriguez (134 votes, 34.8%) and Manny Ramirez (125 votes, 32.5%), along with Andruw Jones (237 votes, 61.6%) and Carlos Beltran (220 votes, 57.1%). Other holdover candidates include Chase Utley (111 votes, 28.8%), Omar Vizquel (68 votes, 17.7%), Jimmy Rollins (57 votes, 14.8%), Bobby Abreu (57 votes, 14.8%), Andy Pettitte (52 votes, 13.5%), Mark Buehrle (32 votes, 8.3%), Francisco Rodríguez (30 votes, 7.8%), Torii Hunter (28 votes, 7.3%), and David Wright (24 votes, 6.2%).
Wagner, who garnered 284 votes and 73.8% support in the 2024 voting, came just five votes short of the required 75% for induction when third baseman Adrian Beltré, catcher/first baseman Joe Mauer, and first baseman Todd Helton were elected. This marks Wagner’s 10th and final appearance on the ballot.
Notably, Gary Sheffield’s candidacy has been discontinued after he received 246 votes, amounting to 63.9% in his final year on the ballot. He will, however, be eligible for consideration by the committee evaluating contemporary era players in December 2025.
Eligible voters for the Hall of Fame include BBWAA members who have maintained 10 or more consecutive years of membership. Completed ballots must be postmarked by December 31, with the results scheduled to be announced on January 23. Those elected will be inducted on July 27, alongside any candidates chosen on December 8 by the hall’s classic baseball committee, which will consider eight players and managers who made their greatest contributions to the sport prior to 1980.
Ichiro Suzuki made history in 2001 when he joined Fred Lynn (1975) as one of the only players to be named AL Rookie of the Year and AL MVP in the same year. Over his illustrious career, Suzuki was a two-time AL batting champion and a ten-time Gold Glove winner, achieving a career batting average of .311 with 117 home runs, 780 RBIs, and 509 stolen bases during his time with the Seattle Mariners (2001-2012, 2018-2019), the New York Yankees (2012-2014), and the Miami Marlins (2015-2017). He also set a record with 262 hits in 2004.
CC Sabathia, a six-time All-Star and 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner, helped lead the New York Yankees to a World Series championship in 2009. He finished his career with a record of 251 wins and 161 losses, an ERA of 3.74, and 3,093 strikeouts – ranking third among left-handed pitchers behind legends Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton, over the course of 19 years playing for teams such as Cleveland (2001-2008), Milwaukee (2008), and the New York Yankees (2009-2019).
Félix Hernández, the 2010 AL Cy Young Award winner and a six-time All-Star, also showcased remarkable talent, earning AL ERA titles in 2010 and 2014. He completed his career with a record of 169 wins and 136 losses, a 3.42 ERA, and 2,524 strikeouts, primarily with the Seattle Mariners from 2005 to 2019. Notably, he pitched the 23rd perfect game in Major League Baseball history against the Tampa Bay Rays on August 15, 2012.
Carlos González achieved status as a three-time All-Star and a three-time Gold Glove winner, and in 2010, he won the NL batting championship. Over his career, he boasted a .285 batting average, hitting 234 home runs, driving in 785 RBIs, and stealing 122 bases. He played for teams including the Oakland Athletics (2008), the Colorado Rockies (2009-2018), the Cleveland Indians (2019), and the Chicago Cubs (2019).
Dustin Pedroia, a celebrated four-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner, contributed significantly to the Boston Red Sox’s World Series victories in 2007 and 2013. With a career batting average of .299, he recorded 140 home runs, 725 RBIs, and 138 stolen bases from 2006 to 2019, winning the AL Rookie of the Year award in 2007 and the AL MVP award in 2008.
Hanley Ramírez, who was recognized as the 2006 NL Rookie of the Year and the 2009 NL batting champion, also made his mark as a three-time All-Star. He finished his career with a batting average of .289, 271 home runs, 917 RBIs, and 281 stolen bases, playing for teams including the Boston Red Sox (2005, 2015-2018), the Florida/Miami Marlins (2006-2012), the Los Angeles Dodgers (2012-2014), and the Cleveland Indians (2019).
Additionally, the classic era committee is reviewing the candidacies of baseball legends Dick Allen, Dave Parker, and Luis Tiant, alongside Tommy John, Steve Garvey, Ken Boyer, and former Negro League players John Donaldson and Vic Harris.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
