The New York Mets have an illustrious history, and the team got word today that three former Mets, first baseman Carlos Delgado, second baseman Jeff Kent and multi-positional slugger Gary Sheffield, will be added to the ballot for the Hall of Fame’s contemporary baseball era committee to consider. The ballot already includes Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Don Mattingly and Dale Murphy, all of whom were held over.
The 16-member committee meets on Dec. 7 at the winter meetings in Orlando, Florida, and a 75-percent vote is necessary for election. Those who are elected will be inducted on July 16, along with anyone chosen in the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWA) vote, the results of which will be announced on January 20.
This version of the Hall of FAme’s veterans committed was restructured in 2022 for the third time in 12 years. The structure is designed to consider both the contemporary era, which baseball defines as beginning in 1980, along with the classic era, according to an AP story via ESPN. There are two separate ballots, one for players, with another covering managers, executives and umpires. Each committee meets every there years.
Delgado spent four seasons with the Mets, with his best seasons coming in 2006 and 2008, when he blasted 38 home runs in both years. His lifetime stats include 473 home runs to go with 1512 RBIs, along with a final average of .280 when this last stat was more important.
Sheffield was considered one of the most feared hitters in baseball throughout his career, and he hit 509 home runs while playing for over a half-dozen teams. Sheffield spent his final season with the Mets in 2009, and he hit ten home runs to go with 43 RBIs and a .276 average. Sheffield did hit the 500th home run of his legendary career as a Met, though, so his last stop was a memorable one.
Of the three, Kent spent the most time with the Mets. His bWAR while playing in Queens was a remarkable 8.4, according to an article written by Chris McShane of Amazin Avenue, and Kent hit 377 home runs in his career. He made his final appearance on the Hall of Fame ballot in 2023, getting 46.5 percent of the votes he needed to be inducted.
Fred McGriff was the last Hall of Fame member to be elected via this committee, with the other stars who were considered either falling short or being dropped from the ballot.