Adrian Beltre, Todd Helton and Joe Mauer were elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday.
The Baseball Writers’ Association of America voted on the Class of 2024, who’ll join former manager Jim Leyland when they are inducted in Cooperstown, New York, later this summer.
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Beltre received 95.1% of the vote in his first year on the ballot.
A member of the 3,000 hits club, Beltre played 21 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers.
Beltre was an elite defender in addition to being a fearsome hitter. He received five Gold Gloves and two Platinum Gloves for top defender in the league.
Beltre has the most hits of any player born outside the United States. He totaled 3,166 hits, 477 home runs and tallied a career .286 batting average.
“I’m honored,” Beltre said. “This is something that is amazing to be even just on the ballot, and to be able to now call myself a Hall of Fame is something I didn’t even dream of. I always wanted to be a decent baseball player, a good baseball player, but I never thought about being in the Hall of Fame. Now that I’m in, it’s really an honor.”
Helton, like Mauer, spent his entire career with one team.
Playing for 17 seasons, Helton won the National League batting title with the Colorado Rockies in 2000. He finished with 2,519 hits, 369 home runs and a career .316 batting average.
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Helton had 1,355 walks in his career, more than his 1,175 strikeouts.
Helton received 79.7% of the vote in his sixth year on the ballot.
“I was pretty nervous,” Helton said. “I really didn’t think the phone was going to ring, and when it rang, I was still in shock. When it said ‘Hall of Fame’ on it I was very happy, and you know, this is something you don’t play for but obviously it’s the greatest award you could have as a baseball player.”
Mauer played in 15 seasons all for the Minnesota Twins. A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, Mauer competed for his hometown team throughout his career.
Mauer won the Most Valuable Player award in 2009 after hitting a league-leading .365 and reaching base at a .444 clip.
Mauer owned a .306 lifetime batting average and he added 428 doubles and 143 home runs. In addition, he earned three Gold Gloves and six All-Star selections.
“It was unbelievable,” Mauer said. “I kind of laid low during that time of a possible call and just spent it with family. And now I just sneak into my office because the number is growing with friends and family down here in my basement, so definitely thrilled to get that call. But very emotional and obviously leading up to today you reflect on all the people that’ve had 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.”
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Players are elected into the Hall of Fame if they are named on at least 75% of the ballots cast by the BBWAA. There were 385 ballots submitted in the 2024 election, according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
If a player receives at least 5% of the vote, they’ll remain on the BBWAA ballot for up to 10 years.
There were no blank ballots submitted this year and there was a 97.7% return rate of the 394 ballots mailed to voters, according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Induction Weekend is July 19-22 and the Induction Ceremony is July 21.
Additionally, Ford C. Frick Award winner Joe Castiglione for baseball broadcasting and BBWAA Career Excellence Award winner Gerry Fraley for baseball writing will be inducted.
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