Beltré, Helton, Mauer: Trio of legends headed to Hall of Fame

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America Hall of Fame ballot boom was back in a big way with the announcement of a three-person Class of 2024 on Tuesday night.

Masterful third baseman Adrián Beltré and decorated Twins catcher Joe Mauer both achieved entry into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on their first BBWAA ballot, while power-hitting Rockies first baseman Todd Helton was elected on his sixth try, in results revealed on MLB Network.

The BBWAA-elected trio will join Contemporary Baseball Era Committee electee Jim Leyland in an induction ceremony to be held on July 21 at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, N.Y.

• Complete 2024 Hall of Fame voting results

“It’s something I never even dreamed of,” said Beltré, who joked about letting the Hall’s call go to voicemail when he was given the news. “I can’t even believe I’m going to be on the same podium with those guys.”

• Complete Hall of Fame coverage

Players must have their names checked by at least 75% of ballots submitted. Beltré had 95.1% support, Helton reached 79.7%, and Mauer, at 76.1%, made it by just four votes. Closer Billy Wagner (73.8%) fell just five votes shy of entry and will have his last chance in 2025.

Slugger Gary Sheffield (63.9%) was not able to get the requisite support in his 10th and final try. But two other players -- center fielders Andruw Jones (61.6% on his seventh ballot) and Carlos Beltrán (57.1% on his second ballot) -- finished above 50%, continuing to build support that could get them in on future ballots.

• Here's to the players who fell off the 2024 HOF ballot

The election of Beltré, a member of the 400-homer club and one of the best defensive third basemen of all time, was seen as a foregone conclusion. But with several holdovers trending upward and Mauer also reaching eligibility and faring well in public ballot tracking, there was an influx of intrigue to a writers’ voting process that had netted a grand total of two new Cooperstown entrants in the previous three years (David Ortiz in 2022 and Scott Rolen in 2023).

“Very emotional,” Mauer said of his election. “Obviously leading up to today, you reflect on all the people who have an impact on your career and who you are as a man. A lot of emotions. It’s been a whirlwind, that’s for sure.”

• Hall of Fame inductions by year

Helton had to wait a while longer, having first appeared on the 2019 ballot. He pumped his fist when the awaited call finally came through.

“I was pretty nervous,” Helton said. “I really didn’t think the phone was going to ring. When it rang, I was still in shock.”

Here’s a look at the players chosen by the BBWAA voters to enter the hallowed Hall.

• Highest voting percentages in HOF history

Adrián Beltré
The 44-year-old Beltré, who becomes just the fifth player born in the Dominican Republic to reach the Hall of Fame, was widely considered the one mortal lock on this ballot, even accounting for the first-timer penalty that some voters apply in certain cases. He had earned this pat on the back ... though he would famously recoil if you tried to touch his head.

Beltré mounted an unimpeachable Hall case that, unusually, revolved more around his 30s than his 20s. His powerful bat and magnificent glove were constants at a stage of his career in which many others decline, and that left him with the round numbers, the accolades and the reputation to enter the Hall easily. He is the only infielder other than Derek Jeter to notch 3,000 hits and win five Gold Gloves.

“I always wanted to be the best I could be,” Beltré said. “I enjoyed playing the game and wanted to play hard. With that came accumulating some stuff that put me in the position I’m at today.”

All told, in 21 seasons with the Dodgers, Mariners, Red Sox and Rangers, Beltré had 3,166 hits, 477 homers and the third-highest Baseball-Reference Wins Above Replacement (93.5) mark of any third baseman in history. He finished in the top 10 of the MVP voting six times, including a runner-up finish with the Dodgers in 2004.

It was not until Beltré’s age-31 season in 2010 – on a one-year pillow contract in Boston – that his Hall case took off. He had slumped at the end of a five-year stay in Seattle but reignited his career with a Silver Slugger season in which he led the Majors with 49 doubles. It led to a six-year free agent contract with the Rangers, for whom he became a franchise icon and a key piece of the club that went to Game 7 of the 2011 World Series. Three of his four All-Star appearances and four of his five postseason appearances came with Texas.

“At the time, I was a contract year guy, I was always trying to find motivation for me to perform better,” Beltré said. “I appreciated the fact that the Rangers gave me that chance to come to their ballpark and their city and be a part of the great team they already had. The way the front office and my teammates received me, it was a great combination for both. Once I got there, I just felt comfortable with the fan base. Everything about Texas and Arlington clicked for me.”

Todd Helton
Helton, 50, played his entire 17-year career with the Rockies -- a fact held against him early in his ballot eligibility because of Coors Field’s notoriously hitter-friendly offensive environment. In his first year on the ballot in 2019, his name was checked on just 16.5% of ballots.

• 10 top moments for Rockies star Helton

But over time, the voters recognized that, while Helton did put up a phenomenal .345/.441/.607 slash with 227 home runs in 4,841 plate appearances at Coors, he was no slouch on the road, either. In 4,612 road plate appearances, he slashed .287/.386/.469 with 142 home runs. The .855 away OPS is higher than that of such Hall of Famers as Dave Winfield (.841), Eddie Murray (.838) and Tony Gwynn (.835).

“It’s kind of weird in Colorado,” Helton said. “Pitchers get hurt, and they say they can’t throw in thin air. Hitters get dinked because they play in Colorado. You don’t get to pick where you play, and you always want to hit better in your home park. I’m not embarrassed or anything about my home or road numbers.

• Helton among biggest risers in HOF voting history

"Going on the road after playing in Colorado is hard. The ball breaks more, and it’s a huge adjustment to make those changes midseason. It is a good place to hit, but there are some drawbacks and toughness about going there and playing there.”

A five-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger, Helton also earned accolades for his glovework at first base, winning three Gold Glove honors. He led the Majors with a .372 average in 2000. He had consecutive seasons with 100 extra-base hits in 2000 and 2001. And he finished his career with more walks (1,335) than strikeouts (1,175).

Helton will join Larry Walker, who was elected into the Hall in 2020 and inducted in 2021, as the only Rockies represented in Cooperstown’s hallowed plaque gallery. Together, they have overcome the curse of Coors in this voting system.

“I think Larry Walker moved that needle more than me,” Helton said. “He paved the way for me. ... He made it all right for the voters to vote for a Colorado position player.”

Joe Mauer
Though his case was more complicated than that of fellow first-timer Beltré, the 40-year-old Mauer nevertheless achieved entry into the Hall as arguably the best catcher of his generation. He is just the third catcher to get in on his first ballot, joining Iván Rodríguez and Johnny Bench.

“I admired those guys and looked up to those guys,” Mauer said. “I just have the utmost respect for the Hall of Fame, the players who went ahead of me and have done great things. I’m just all over the place with emotions. I can’t wait to get there and show my kids some of the history of this beautiful game.”

• The top 10 moments of Joe Mauer's career

The St. Paul, Minn., kid made good on his 2001 selection as the No. 1 overall Draft pick by his hometown Twins to become a six-time All-Star, five-time Silver Slugger, three-time batting champ and the 2009 AL MVP. He was a member of four division-winning Twins teams.

• Mauer just the 3rd catcher elected on first ballot

Though his catching career was cut short by concussions and five seasons as essentially a league-average first baseman complicated his Cooperstown case, Mauer made enough of an impact at his primary position to stand among the greatest to ever don the tools of ignorance. His .306 career batting average is tied for the sixth highest among catchers with at least 3,000 plate appearances, and his .388 on-base percentage is tied for third. He’s the only catcher with three batting titles, and his total of 44.6 bWAR during his 10 years as the Twins’ primary catcher from 2004-13 was by far the best at that position in that timeframe.

In his MVP year, Mauer led the AL in average (.365), OBP (.444) and slugging percentage (.587) while hitting a career-best 28 homers. He finished his career with 2,123 hits, 143 homers, 428 doubles and 923 RBIs.

“Being a St. Paul guy and to join that group of St. Paul guys in the Hall of Fame with Paul [Molitor] and Dave Winfield and Jack Morris,” said Mauer, “really means a lot to me.”