Today, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, celebrated the induction of its new members in a public ceremony. Three accomplished players and one record-setting manager were included in the list of entrants. Their praises were sung, and each entrant told stories of their playing days, fond memories of their teammates, and why the game of baseball means so much to them. Here are your 2024 Baseball Hall of Fame inductees.
Adrian Beltre
Third baseman Adrian Beltre was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Beltre was one of the most accomplished players of his generation, and he was wired to hurt you in so many ways. His career stats include 3,166 hits, 477 home runs, 1,707 RBIs, and 636 doubles.
His other professional accomplishments include winning five Gold Gloves, making four All-Star Game appearances, and setting career records for third baseman for games played, runs batted in, and runs scored.
Beltre only played in one World Series, but he made it memorable. As a member of the Texas Rangers in the 2011 Series, Beltre batted .300 and hit two homers and two doubles while driving in three runs. His Rangers, however, lost a heartbreaking seven-game series to the St. Louis Cardinals.
During his speech today, Beltre thanked the Rangers’ fans. “To the Rangers fans, you have embraced me since day one. Your support for me and my family is incredible. Thank you so much. You guys are the best. And, like they say, everything is bigger in Texas. You guys show me big love. I love you all.”
Todd Helton
First baseman Todd Helton was a force of nature during his 17-year career with the Colorado Rockies. He was a five-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger honoree, and three-time Gold Glove Award winner. He remains the Rockies’ all-time leader in hits, home runs, runs scored, runs driven in, games played, and total bases.
In addition, he led Colorado in its 2007 pennant-winning year. His Rockies faced the Boston Red Sox in the Fall Classic, and despite Helton’s two doubles and .333 average, the Red Sox swept Colorado four games to zero. Helton’s only other playoff appearance was in 2009, when his Rockies were defeated three games to one by the Philidelphia Phillies in the National League Division Series.
The sweet-swinging Helton was not a lock to make Cooperstown. The Hall of Fame seemed like a distant, moving target that always seemed to elude him. In his sixth year of eligibility, he was finally inducted with 79.7 % of the vote of the Baseball Writers Association.
In his speech, he thanked his dad. “This would have meant as much, if not more, to him than it does me. When I was young, my dad taught me how to swing a bat and how to pitch a ball. But most importantly, beyond the relentless coaching, my dad made me believe I could stand up here today.”
Joe Mauer
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A local kid makes good. When Joe Mauer and his brothers grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, they dreamed of playing for the Minnesota Twins. A member of a celebrated St. Paul sports fan, Mauer started to garner a cult following even as a teenager playing youth baseball.
Then it was on to Cretin-Derham Hall High School, where he became a three-sport star in football, basketball, and baseball. He was so accomplished in football that Florida State University offered him an athletic scholarship to play quarterback for the Seminoles.
And the rest, as they say, is history. The Minnesota Twins drafted Mauer first overall in the 2001 Amateur Draft over pitcher Mark Pryor. Joe then went to work rewriting the Twins record book, winning three batting titles, one MVP award, and earning a spot on six All-Star teams.
And though he suffered some later career injuries and an eventual move to first base, Joe still finished his Twins tenure with 2,123 hits, 428 doubles, 923 runs batted in, and 1018 runs scored. He also won three Gold Gloves for his exceptional work behind the plate.
Joe was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Mauer grew emotional during his speech today when he talked about his father, Jake Jr., his mother, Teresa, and his grandfather, Jake Mauer. Remembering his father and grandfather, Joe said. “I hope they are both looking down this afternoon with pride, knowing that all their time and hard work helped me get to this podium, standing here as a Hall of Famer.”
And in crediting his mother, he remarked that she was the “ultimate example of humility.”
Hall of Fame Welcomes Jim Leyland
Jim Leyland was one of the best managers of his generation. It was widely known throughout the baseball community that you could not out-manage Jim Leyland. As a testament to his greatness, former players Barry Bonds and Gary Sheffield are attending their first Hall of Fame induction ceremony to see Leyland enshrined.
During his long and illustrious career managing in the “bigs,” Leyland ended up with a record of 1,769-1,728, winning three Manager of the Year awards and one World Series title with the Florida Marlins. Leyland was the ultimate teacher, and he could get the best out of all his players.
Leyland had a knack for turning around floundering franchises. He rejuvenated the Pirates, Marlins, and Tigers by being a communicative motivator and a master strategist.
An emotional Leyland spoke of his friend and long-time coach Gene Lamont at his induction ceremony. “It was unbelievable to have your closest friend standing next to you in the dugout through the good times and tough times. I knew he wouldn’t miss this for anything. It’s just a bond. I have so much respect for him. He’s one of the smartest and best baseball men that I’ve ever been around, and I was so proud that he was there today, and I thought it would have been totally unfair not to talk about him.”
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