Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Don Mattingly, and Dale Murphy have advanced to the next round of voting on the Hall of Fame’s contemporary baseball era committee ballot. Joining them in the upcoming vote are former Toronto Blue Jays players Carlos Delgado and Jeff Kent, as well as Gary Sheffield and the late Fernando Valenzuela.
The committee, consisting of 16 members, will convene on December 7 during the winter meetings in Orlando, Florida. To secure induction, a candidate must receive a 75 percent vote. The elected individuals will be officially inducted on July 26 alongside those chosen in the Baseball Writers’ Association of America vote, set to be announced on January 20.
Albert Belle, Rafael Palmeiro, and Curt Schilling did not make the cut after their previous appearance on the contemporary era ballot in December 2022. Fred McGriff had been unanimously elected with 16 votes during that round. Mattingly garnered eight votes, Schilling seven, Murphy six, while Belle, Bonds, Clemens, and Palmeiro received less than four votes as reported by the Hall.
The Hall of Fame restructured its veterans’ committees in 2022 to focus on different eras, including the contemporary era from 1980 onwards. Separate ballots are now used for players and managerial staff, executives, and umpires.
These committees convene every three years, with the next rounds planned as follows: contemporary managers, executives, and umpires in December 2026, classic era candidates in December 2027, and contemporary era players revisited in December 2028.
The December 2027 ballot marks the first opportunity for Pete Rose to be included in a Hall ballot since Commissioner Rob Manfred’s decision in May, following Rose’s passing in September 2024. The Hall’s rules prohibit individuals on the permanent ineligible list from being considered for induction.
A new rule announced by the Hall in March states that candidates receiving fewer than five votes will not be eligible for the next three-year cycle’s ballot. Repeated failure to secure five votes would result in permanent exclusion from future consideration.
In their final BBWAA ballot appearances, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens fell short of election. Bonds received 260 out of 394 votes, while Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner, had an impressive career record. Gary Sheffield, a nine-time All-Star, and Fernando Valenzuela, a six-time All-Star and Cy Young Award recipient, are also on the upcoming ballot.
Don Mattingly and Dale Murphy had notable careers but faced challenges in the voting process. Jeff Kent, a five-time All-Star second baseman, and Carlos Delgado, a power-hitting outfielder, are also in contention for Hall of Fame induction.
The BBWAA’s historical overview committee determined the current ballot, ensuring a diverse and knowledgeable selection process for the Hall of Fame induction.
