Three Legion Baseball alums elected into 2018 Hall of Fame class

Three former American Legion Baseball players, Trevor Hoffman, Chipper Jones and Jim Thome, were announced as members of the much-anticipated 2018 National Baseball Hall of Fame class.

Jeff Idelson, president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y., announced the results on MLB Network on Wednesday night. Thome and Jones were first-ballot Hall of Famers.

Hoffman, Jones and Thome will be the 75th, 76th and 77th Legion alums in the Hall of Fame, with 14 former Legion players inducted in the last five years. They will be enshrined on July 29 and will be joined by fellow Legion alums Jack Morris and Alan Trammell, both of whom were elected to this class through the Modern Era Committee in December.

Hoffman played American Legion Baseball in his hometown of Anaheim, Calif. He was inducted in the Hall of Fame on his third ballot after missing in 2017 by just five votes.

Jones played American Legion Baseball for Post 6 in Deland, Fla., from 1986-1989 with his stellar play earning him the top pick in the 1990 MLB draft.

Jones’s 19-year career with the Atlanta Braves featured eight All-Star Game appearances, a National League Most Valuable Player award in 1999 and a World Series title in 1995.

The third baseman was named the 2000 American Legion Baseball Graduate of the Year.

Thome played Legion Baseball for Bartonville Limestone Post 979 in Illinois and became a fan favorite over his lengthy professional career. He played for six different teams, including the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies.

He was a five-time All-Star and earned the Roberto Clemente Award, given to the player "best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team."

Joining Jones, Thome, Morris and Trammell in this class are Vladimir Guerrero and Trevor Hoffman.

For a full list of American Legion Baseball players in Cooperstown, click here.