Class of 2024 honored, humbled by induction
The Cooperstown team of legends increased to 346 with the additions of Adrian Beltré, Todd Helton, Jim Leyland and Joe Mauer.
With their bronze plaques waiting, the quartet gave their induction speeches before a crowd of 28,000 on the afternoon of Sunday, July 21. In the two-and-a-half hour ceremony held under ideal conditions – party sunny, a slight wind and temperatures in the mid-70s – at the Clark Sports Center, thousands of fans came to witness annual rite, this, the 75th edition, while thousands more watched live on MLB Network.
Continuing a summer tradition that dates back to 1939, the 2024 induction was held on stage with 47 returning Hall of Famers seated behind the newest Hall of Famers. The four members of the Class of 2024 would speak of their families, thank teammates, coaches and managers, have the occasional emotional moment, and try their best to put into words what being a Hall of Famer now means to them.
“As I’ve said many times before, the National Baseball Hall of Fame Plaque Gallery is an extraordinary place,” said Hall of Fame Chairman of the Board Jane Forbes Clark at the start of the event. “And no one has described it better than Hall of Fame board member Ozzie Smith, a St. Louis Cardinals legend, a member of the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2002, when he said: ‘To have a plaque in the gallery, just think about it. You work hard at your craft, you make it to the top of a mountain, it’s those type of moments that you realize the impact you’ve had on people’s lives, where you can create memories that last a lifetime. It’s what makes this game so great.’
“I don’t think that there’s a man sitting behind me who would disagree with Ozzie.”
As part of the ceremony, and just prior to the induction speeches, Clark presented each of the new honorees with their Hall of Fame ring.
“Those of you who know me know I’d be more comfortable doing anything other than standing up here talking about myself. I’m just a ballplayer and anyone in the media can attest to that fact. So, with that in mind, thank you to the media for making the most of what little I gave you,” Helton said. “To say I’m humbled by this honor does not begin to cover how I feel standing here today.
“My dad passed in 2015. This would have meant as much if not more to him than it does me. When I was young, my dad taught me how to swing a bat and how to pitch the ball but most importantly beyond the relentless coaching my dad made me believe I could stand up here today. My dad had a brief history in the minor leagues with the Minnesota Twins. And after that he poured his passion for baseball into me.”
Helton was a two-sport star before embarking on 17 seasons of almost unparalleled offensive excellence with the Colorado Rockies. The lefty swinging first baseman was a five-time All-Star who finished his career with a .316 batting average, .414 on-base percentage and .539 slugging average to go along with 592 doubles, 369 homers, 1,401 runs scored, 1,406 RBI and more walks (1,335) than strikeouts (1,175). He is one of only 11 retired players in history with at least a .300 batting average, .400 on-base percentage, .500 slugging percentage and 350 home runs.
A star at the plate and in the field, Beltré played 21 seasons for the Dodgers, Mariners, Red Sox and Rangers. One of just 12 players in Major League history with 3,000 hits and 400 homers, he ranks 18th all-time in hits with 3,166, the most hits ever by a third baseman. The first Dominican Republic native to reach the 3,000-hit mark, when he retired, he had more hits than any player in Major League history born outside of the United States. A four-time All-Star and a four-time Silver Slugger Award winner, he won five Gold Glove Awards and two Platinum Glove Awards, finishing in the top 10 in his league’s MVP voting six different seasons.
“I want to express how grateful I am to be here today,” Beltré said. “So much greatness behind and now being part of this elite group it’s really an honor and I’m humbled.
“Everyone has their own experience in baseball and in life. My path to Cooperstown has been shaped by the people who spent time teaching me every step of the way. With their help, I continue to learn and improve to make my way here.”
Leyland was a minor league catcher who made it as high as Double-A before embarking on a 22-season career as a skipper in the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies and Detroit Tigers. The 23rd manager honored in Cooperstown, he was elected by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee.
Leyland ended his managerial career with 1,769 victories – which currently ranks 18th all time – along with six first-place finishes, three pennants and the 1997 World Series title with the Marlins. A three-time Manager of the Year winner – twice with the Pirates in 1990 and 1992 and again with the Tigers in 2006 – Leyland’s team also finished second five times. He finished in the Top 2 of his league’s Manager of the Year voting six times.
“I’d like to thank every player that ever played for me in the minors and the majors,” Leyland said, “because I’m here today because of you and the four organizations that gave me the opportunity to manage their major league team.”
After introducing his wife, he joked to uproarious laughter, “I was having coffee with Katie a couple of weeks after I was elected to the Hall of Fame. And I casually said, ‘Katie, can you believe in your wildest dreams that I’ve been elected to the Hall of Fame?’ And Katie replied, ‘Jim, you’re not in my wildest dreams.’”
In closing, Leyland addressed baseball fans directly.
“No matter which Hall of Famer you’re here to support today, or which team you cheer for, your presence is always felt,” Leyland said. “On your feet in the ninth with the home team clinging to a one-run lead. Turning on your television for the first game of the World Series and seeing 50,000 fans waving towels hoping and praying that this may be their year. Or a little boy or girl getting their first autograph and scurrying back to the stands to show Mom and Dad their latest treasure.
“Ladies and gentlemen, that’s you. That’s baseball. And this is the Hall of Fame.”
Selected first overall in the 2001 amateur draft by his hometown Minnesota Twins, Mauer spent his entire 15-season big-league career excelling before the locals. He led the American League in batting average three times – no catcher in AL or NL history had previously won more than two. The six-time All-Star’s other accolades include five Silver Slugger Awards, three Gold Glove Awards and the 2009 AL Most Valuable Player Award.
“As tough as it is to get into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, it might be just as tough to sum up what this game, this honor, and this moment truly means to me,” Mauer said. “Even if I had all the time in the world, I’m still not sure I could properly put it into words. But today I’m grateful for the chance to try my best to describe what it means to be here with all of you.”
Mauer ended that day’s ceremony summing up his baseball journey.
“To stand here today and say that I’m now a small part of baseball’s history is a statement that will never fully sink in for me,” he said. “This moment is truly a dream come true. Thank you again to all who believed in me, supported me and helped me achieve this remarkable honor.”
Bill Francis is the senior research and writing specialist at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
