MLB’s all-time leader in home runs by a second baseman was the only player receiving enough votes from the Contemporary Era Committee.
Former American Legion Baseball player Jeff Kent was the only player elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame via the Contemporary Baseball Era ballot, with results announced Dec. 7.
Kent, who played Legion Baseball in Bellflower, Calif., will join 89 other Legion Baseball alumni enshrined in Cooperstown, N.Y., when the Class of 2026 is inducted on July 26, 2026.
Three other alumni — Alex Gordon, Matt Kemp and Rick Porcello — are in their first year of eligibility on the Baseball Writers Association of America ballot. Results of that ballot will be announced Jan. 20.
Kent was one of six former Legion Baseball players on the Contemporary Era ballot, along with Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, and Gary Sheffield. Carlos Delgado and Fernando Valenzuela rounded out the eight-man ballot, but Kent was the only player to receive at least 12 votes required for election to the Hall. Kent received 14 votes from the 16-member committee.
Prior to his role as color commentator for the 2010 American Legion World Series, his second year doing so, Kent talked about his experience playing American Legion Baseball.
“American Legion Baseball was a stepping stone in my career, and I am thankful for it,” Kent said. “Every opportunity a baseball player gets to develop his talent, it should be taken. Never forget that there is no shortcut to success. It takes desire, determination and a dedication to not allow anything to get in the way of that success.”
Kent finished his major league career with 377 home runs, the most ever by a second baseman. He also finished second at the position with a .500 slugging percentage and third with 1,518 RBIs.
Kent spent 17 years in the major leagues with Toronto, the Mets, Cleveland, San Francisco and the Dodgers. He was a five-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and was the National League MVP in 2000, beating out Bonds, his teammate with the Giants.
- Baseball