On Sunday, Toronto Blue Jays legends Roger Clemens and Carlos Delgado will find out if they’ll make the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. as part of the class of 2026.
As we kick off the Baseball Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla., a 16-person committee will vote for who gets into the Hall of Fame via the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee. Clemens and Delgado are part of that ballot along with Jeff Kent, Gary Sheffield, Fernando Valenzuela, Dale Murphy, Don Mattingly and Barry Bonds.
Clemens and Bonds are the two-highest profile names, as their steroid connections prevented them from making the Hall of Fame through 10 years on the traditional ballot. This is their best chance to get to the Hall of Fame.
A player needs 12 of 16 votes to reach the Hall of Fame. That’s 75 percent.
As noted by Atlanta Braves Insider Grant McAuley, the group of voters includes Hall of Famers Ferguson Jenkins, Jim Kaat, Juan Marichal, Tony Perez, Ozzie Smith, Alan Trammell, and Robin Yount. Others on the list include Mark Attanasio, who owns the Milwaukee Brewers and Doug Melvin, who also works for the Brewers. Arte Moreno, owner of the Los Angeles Angels, and Kim Ng, former general manager of the Miami Marlins, are also on the committee alongside Tony Reagins, Terry Ryan, Steve Hirdt, Tyler Kepner and Jayson Stark.
About the Contemporary Baseball Era Ballot:
From the Hall of Fame website:
The Era Committees consist of three different electorates: The Classic Baseball Era, consisting of the period prior to 1980 and including Negro Leagues and pre-Negro Leagues stars; and the Contemporary Baseball Era, consisting of the period from 1980 to present day. The Contemporary Baseball Era is split into two separate ballots – one ballot to consider only players who made their greatest impact on the game since 1980, and another composite ballot consisting of managers, executives and umpires whose greatest contributions to the game have come since 1980.
This ‘Era’ is up for induction in 2026, and then not again until 2029, as the Eras rotate in terms of eligibility.
The Delgado File
One of the most feared sluggers of the late-1990s and 2000s, Delgado spent 17 years in the big leagues, including 12 with the Blue Jays. Lifetime, he was a .280 hitter with 473 home runs and 483 doubles. He led the major leagues in RBIs (145) in 2003 and had nine seasons of 100+ RBIs or more. He had 11 seasons of 30+ homers or more, including eight of those with the Toronto.
He was a two-time All-Star with the Jays and a three-time Silver Slugger.
The Clemens File
Better known for his time with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, Clemens spent two magical seasons North of the Border.
He led the American League in ERA both seasons he was with the Jays and led baseball in innings pitched (264.0) in 1997. He won the Cy Young both seasons and made the All-Star team in both years. Furthermore, went a combined 41-13 in 67 starts and he threw nine complete games.
Though he’ll be forever marred by his connection to the Steroid Era, his time with the Jays is the stuff of legends.
Need to know
If either play is selected for the Hall of Fame, they’ll be inducted in July of 2026.
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