Carlos Beltrán, Andruw Jones and Jeff Kent enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame

Puerto Rico and Curaçao may be small islands, but the support they showed was massive when elite centerfielders Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday. Both joined second baseman Jeff Kent as new members in front of an estimated crowd of 12,000 fans at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, with 57 other Hall of Famers on stage, creating the largest gathering of current Hall of Famers. Jones’ speech was almost like a love letter to his native country, Curaçao. “There is no easy way to get here from the small island of Curaçao, more than 3,000 miles away,” Jones said. “But today, Cooperstown and Curaçao are united forever.” The longtime Atlanta Braves outfielder, 10-time Gold Glove winner and five-time All-Star, is the first player from Curacao to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. But he said he didn’t intend to be the last. He highlighted players who followed him, including Ozzie Albies and Kenley Jansen, as part of the Curaçao legacy started by Hensley “Bam Bam” Meulens. Among the highlights, Jones’ tribute to his late father, Henry Jones, stood out. He said his father used to hit him flyballs from pole to pole to teach him how to track the ball and develop strong wrists while rolling a sledgehammer. “Everything he taught me had a purpose,” Jones said. “Henry Jones was a legend on Curacao, a great player in his own right. And I’m not here in Cooperstown without his constant coaching. Dad, we did it.” Chants of “Puerto Rico” erupted before Beltrán even uttered a word. And every time he mentioned his native island, the crowd cheered and waved flags. “Everywhere I played baseball, I always tried to represent my island,” Beltrán said. “I tried to do my best for the organizations I played with, but I also wanted to represent Puerto Rico.” The 20-year veteran and 1999 AL Rookie of the Year went through each organization he played for, thanking them for the different lessons each provided. The New York Mets received the most praise. “When people ask me why I chose (the Mets cap), I have to say this,” he said. “Guys, it’s simple. Every organization shapes your career. New York has shaped my life.” When discussing the teams he played for, Beltrán gave specific examples of some of his saves, including watching teammates Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell “play through pain” in Houston. But he didn’t mention winning the World Series with the Astros in 2017. That title is causing controversy due to an illegal sign-stealing scheme and Beltrán’s involvement in it. Beltrán did not directly address the scandal, but commented on those who may or may not have voted for him, for whatever reason. “To the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, I want to thank you for putting me in the Hall of Fame. … And for those who didn’t (vote for me) – who saw things differently – I want to thank you too. I appreciate your perspective,” he said. “If baseball has really taught me anything, I mean I hope that in life we ​​continue to measure ourselves by the same standards that we used to measure others.” Beltrán received 84.2% of the BBWAA vote to enter the room on his fourth try. Jones scored 78.4 percent in his ninth year of eligibility, eclipsing the 75 percent needed for induction. Kent was elected by a much smaller panel last December, the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee, after dropping out of the BBWAA ballot when his eligibility expired in 2023. The 2000 NL MVP with the San Francisco Giants played for six teams during his 17-year career and set the all-time record for second basemen. An uncompromising player, Kent showed a softer side during induction weekend. Before he even spoke, Kent needed tissues to wipe tears from his eyes after looking at his parents in the crowd, he said at a news conference after the ceremony. “I was more emotional during the 35 to 40 minutes I sat there than during the speech,” he said. “I thought I was going to be a wreck and I’m glad it’s only half a wreck.” In his speech, Kent recounted how his baseball career took a turn when his father offered him a deal: If he got a college scholarship, he would buy him a pickup truck. Kent gave up motorcycle racing and focused on school and baseball and eventually earned a scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley. In return, he got a van which he still owns. “It sits in my garage to just remind me that some of the simplest things can change the entire direction of your life,” Kent said. Associated Press reporting.