2024 Hall of Fame Elects: Adrian Beltre, Todd Helton, and Joe Mauer
Al Messerschmidt/WireImage
The 2024 Baseball Writers’ Association of America have voted in Adrian Beltre, Joe Mauer, and Todd Helton. Their names will be forever enshrined into the Cooperstown Museum as historical figures in baseball.
Adrian Beltre was drafted in 1998 by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He left the Dodgers for the Seattle Mariners in 2005 and played till his 2012 trade to the Boston Red Sox. He retired in 2018 with the Texas Rangers having been a 4-time all-star player, five-time Gold Glove Award winner, four-time Silver Slugger Award winner, 2004 home run leader, and Rangers Hall of Famer. He was voted in on 95.1 percent of the ballots this year.
Joe Mauer was drafted in 2004 and spent 15 years with the Minnesota Twins retiring in 2018. He was a six-time all-star player, won three Gold Glove Awards, was a five-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and the only catcher to win a batting title three times in the American League. This was his first year of eligibility and he received 76.1 percent of the ballot votes to be indicted.
Todd Helton played a 17-year career with the Colorado Rockies after being drafted in 1997. He is a five-time all-star player, three-time Gold Glove Award winner, four-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and in 2000 he won a batting championship and was RBI (Runs batted in) leader. Retiring in 2013 this was his sixth year on the ballot, and he was elected with 79.7 percent of the votes.
Jim Leyland was also voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this past December as a manager. Starting his career in 1986 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He left to manage the Miami Marlins in 1997 and led them to the World Series. He continued his career with the Rockies in 1999 for only one season. He was picked up by the Detroit Tigers in 2006 and retired in 2013. He was named manager of the year in 1990, 1992, and in 2006.
Gary Sheffield came close with a 63.9 percent vote in his last year on the ballot. He retired with the New York Mets in 2009 as a nine-time all-star, five-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and 1997 World Series winner. Falling short in his eighth year on the ballot was Billy Wagner with a 73.8 percent vote. He retired in 2010 as a seven-time all-star and is part of the Houston Astros Hall of Fame.
