The Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) recently announced the names of the thirty-three players on the 2021 Hall of Fame ballot. Among the list of candidates are twelve newcomers, including Adrián Beltré, Joe Mauer, and Chase Utley.
Adrián Beltré is a four-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove Award winner. He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, and Texas Rangers during his 21-year career. Beltré is one of only four players in MLB history to have 3,000 hits and 400 home runs. He also holds the record for most hits by a foreign-born player.
Joe Mauer is a six-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove Award winner. He spent his entire 15-year career with the Minnesota Twins and is the only catcher in MLB history to win three batting titles. Mauer is also the only catcher to have a .300 batting average, .400 on-base percentage, and .500 slugging percentage in a single season.
Chase Utley is a six-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger Award winner. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers during his 16-year career. Utley is one of only three players in MLB history to have 2,000 hits, 300 home runs, and 200 stolen bases. He also holds the Phillies’ franchise record for most home runs.
The other nine newcomers on the 2021 BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot are: Mark Buehrle, Lance Berkman, Roy Oswalt, Andy Pettitte, Scott Rolen, Billy Wagner, Gary Sheffield, Omar Vizquel, and Todd Helton. Each of these players has had an impressive career in Major League Baseball and will be hoping to be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.
The 2021 BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot is an exciting one with twelve newcomers who have had remarkable careers in baseball. Adrián Beltré, Joe Mauer, and Chase Utley are just a few of the many talented players on the ballot this year. It will be interesting to see who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.
