Top MLB Hall of Fame Candidates Ranked

This Sunday, baseball legends Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens will receive their twelfth opportunity for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Contemporary Era Committee will consider their candidacy, along with six other nominees. However, based on voting patterns, the odds don’t seem favorable for Bonds and Clemens.

In their previous attempt in 2023, both players received less than four of the sixteen possible votes. Other players with known ties to performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), such as Rafael Palmeiro and Mark McGwire, also performed poorly on their ballots, each receiving under five votes. Notably, Palmeiro and McGwire were not included in this year’s voting slate.

The Hall of Fame does not disclose specific totals for candidates who receive fewer than five votes. New rules stipulate that any candidate receiving fewer than five votes will be ineligible for the next Contemporary Era vote in 2028. If they were to appear again and again fail to secure at least five votes, their chance of entry into Cooperstown would be permanently closed. Consequently, candidates with two failed ballots are considered ineligible for future ballots.

This year’s ballot features several players linked to PEDs, including Bonds, Clemens, and Gary Sheffield. Additionally, there are two players making their fourth appearance on the committee’s ballot: Don Mattingly and Dale Murphy. Three candidates are appearing for the first time: Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kent, and Fernando Valenzuela. Just like the writers’ ballot, a candidate needs 75% support (12 out of 16 votes) to achieve induction.

Top MLB Hall of Fame Candidates Ranked

1. Don Mattingly

From 1984 to 1989, Mattingly led Major League Baseball in slugging percentage and excelled defensively, showcasing his elite skills. Injuries later impeded his performance as he aged, which partially explains his peak 28% voting rate in his first year among writers over 15 attempts.

Despite a decline in his stats, Mattingly ranks among only 33 players since the integration of baseball to achieve a .300 batting average with 3,300 total bases. He’s also commended for his discipline, recording more walks than strikeouts.

2. Jeff Kent

As the second baseman with the most career home runs and RBIs, Kent also holds the record for games played in the cleanup position. He had a lifetime batting average of .290 while managing to hit .300 with runners in scoring position.

• First infielder in the expansion era to bat .300 and slug over .500 in scoring situations (over 2,000 plate appearances).
• Highest postseason OPS among second basemen (.880, minimum of 150 appearances).

3. Dale Murphy

A dominant player in the 1980s, Murphy was an All-Star and MVP candidate for seven consecutive seasons, winning the MVP award twice and earning five Gold Gloves. He holds an OPS of .854 across more than 1,000 games as a center fielder, joining an elite group of only four other players to achieve both five Gold Gloves and that OPS benchmark.

4. Fernando Valenzuela

Though he stopped being an elite pitcher by age 26 and had a mediocre career afterward, Valenzuela’s early dominance was remarkable. He posted substantial strikeout numbers, innings, and complete games for the Dodgers, which established him as a cultural phenomenon and the centerpiece of “Fernandomania.” His accomplishments early in his career leave a lasting legacy.

The upcoming voting holds significant implications for all these candidates, especially given the stringent eligibility guidelines and historical voting trends. With the new rules in effect, this year’s balloting could determine the future of several influential former players in baseball history.