The National Baseball Hall of Fame has released the eight nominees for the Contemporary Baseball Era Ballot for potential induction in 2026, defined as players whose primary contributions were after 1980. The candidates up for consideration are Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kent, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, Gary Sheffield, and Fernando Valenzuela. Candidates will have to appear on 75 percent of the ballots of the 16 voters, who have not yet been announced.
Barry Bonds would be a no-doubt Hall of Famer were it not for suspicions of performance-enhancing drug use during his career. He hit 762 career home runs, most in baseball history, and set the single-season record with 73 in 2001. He won seven MVP Awards, eight Gold Gloves, 12 Silver Slugger Awards, two batting titles, two home run titles, and was a 14-time All-Star in his career with the Pirates and Giants. He set a single-season record with 232 walks in 2004, and has the most walks in baseball history. But testimony from a federal investigation involving steroid supplier BALCO indicated Bonds used performance-enhancing substances.
Roger Clemens was one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball history, pitching for the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees, and Astros, but his Hall of Fame candidacy has also been clouded by allegations of performance-enhancing drug use. Over 24 seasons, he won 354 games, struck out 4,672 batters (third all-time), and led the league in ERA seven times, finishing at 3.12. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards—more than any pitcher in history—along with an MVP Award, two pitching Triple Crowns, and was an 11-time All-Star. He won two World Series titles with the Yankees and recorded two 20-strikeout games.
Carlos Delgado was one of the premier power hitters of his era, finishing his 17-year career with 473 home runs, 1,512 RBIs, and a .929 OPS with the Blue Jays, Marlins, and Mets. A two-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger, Delgado led the American League in RBIs and OPS in 2003 and posted eight seasons with 30 or more home runs.
Jeff Kent was one of the greatest offensive second basemen in MLB history in his 17-year career with the Blue Jays, Mets, Indians, Giants, Astros, and Dodgers. He hit 377 home runs, most ever by a player at the position, and drove in 1,518 runs. The 2000 National League MVP, Kent was a five-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger. He produced eight consecutive seasons with 20 or more home runs and 90 or more RBIs, and with Bonds, led the Giants to the 2002 pennant.
Don Mattingly was one of the most popular players of his era and the heart of the Yankees throughout the 1980s. A career .307 hitter, Mattingly won the 1985 American League MVP, nine Gold Gloves, three Silver Sluggers, and a batting title. From 1984 to 1989, he averaged 27 home runs, 114 RBIs, and 198 hits per season. Chronic back problems cut his career short, and he never reached the postseason in his 14 years with the Yankees. Mattingly managed in the big leagues for 12 seasons and was named the 2020 National League Manager of the Year with the Marlins.
Dale Murphy was a two-time National League MVP and one of baseball’s top sluggers in the 1980s. Over 18 seasons, mostly with the Braves, he hit 398 home runs, drove in 1,266 runs, and won five Gold Gloves and four Silver Slugger Awards. A seven-time All-Star, Murphy was known for his power, durability, and integrity—playing in 740 consecutive games at one point. He led the league in home runs in back-to-back years, and is one of 14 players to win back-to-back MVP awards.
Gary Sheffield was one of the most feared hitters of his generation, combining elite bat speed with plate discipline in a lengthy 22-year career with the Brewers, Padres, Marlins, Dodgers, Braves, Yankees, Tigers and Mets. He hit 509 career home runs, recorded a .292 batting average, and walked nearly as often as he struck out. A nine-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger, Sheffield won a batting title in 1992 and finished in the top ten of MVP voting six times. His candidacy has also been complicated by connections to the BALCO scandal.
Fernando Valenzuela became a cultural phenomenon with “Fernandomania” in 1981, captivating fans with his screwball and unique delivery. That season, he won both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards, leading the Dodgers to a World Series title. A six-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, and Gold Glove winner, Valenzuela won a title in 1981 with the Dodgers. He won 173 games over 17 seasons with the Dodgers, Angels, Orioles, Phillies, Padres, and Cardinals.
The results of the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee vote will be announced live on MLB Network at 6:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, Dec. 7.
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