On Sunday, Jeff Kent was honored with induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the special Contemporary Baseball Era Committee. This panel is responsible for evaluating players whose significant contributions to the game occurred since 1980. Kent’s remarkable achievement was secured with 14 out of 16 possible votes, which translates to an impressive 87.5%. This substantial majority comfortably surpassed the required 75% threshold for induction. Notably, Kent stands as the sole player among the eight candidates on the 2025 ballot who achieved this milestone.

The ballot also included Carlos Delgado, Don Mattingly, and Dale Murphy, each receiving six votes, which amounted to 37.5%. Additionally, four other former stars, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Gary Sheffield, and Fernando Valenzuela, each received fewer than five votes. Consequently, these four players are now ineligible for future consideration under a new rule that eliminates candidates who fail to secure at least five votes on the ballot.

Kent, a 57-year-old baseball legend, had an illustrious 17-year major league career spanning from 1992 to 2008. Throughout his career, he donned the jerseys of six different teams: the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros, and Los Angeles Dodgers. During his time in the major leagues, Kent amassed an impressive total of 377 career home runs. Notably, he holds the record for the most home runs ever hit by a second baseman.

Kent’s remarkable career was further recognized with five All-Star selections, including four starts in the prestigious Midsummer Classic. He also won four Silver Slugger Awards, solidifying his status as one of the game’s most accomplished players. However, his most extraordinary year came in 2000 when he was named the National League Most Valuable Player. That year, Kent achieved remarkable feats, including a batting average of .334, 33 home runs, and an impressive 125 RBIs. 

For traditional position-player benchmarks, Kent stands alone: among all players who spent at least 75% of their games at second base, he is the only one ever to compile 350+ home runs, 550+ doubles, 1,500+ RBIs, 1,300+ runs scored, and 800+ walks. 

Kent’s path to Cooperstown, however, was far from easy. He had previously appeared on the ballot of the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) for 10 years, but never came close to his highest support was just 46.5% in his final year of eligibility in 2023. 

The 2025 induction underscores the distinct purpose of the Contemporary Era Committee: to afford a second chance to notable players whose careers unfolded in recent decades but who were overlooked by the writers. This year’s ballot featured big-name stars, including some among the most prolific sluggers and pitchers of their generation, yet Kent’s clean profile and consistently strong performance evidently resonated most with the panel. 

Kent will formally enter the Hall as part of the Class of 2026. The induction ceremony is scheduled for July 26, 2026, in Cooperstown, New York.

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