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Carlos Beltrán: A Cinch Hall Of Famer Next Year

Carlos Beltrán must wait another year for his call from Cooperstown, but to many, he is already a Hall of Famer - Image Credit: MLB

NEW YORK, NY — Carlos Beltrán will eventually be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame after coming up short a third time for the class of 2025. It’s inevitable and next January at this time he will get the call.

The disappointment of course will go away, it always does because Beltrán is a cinch to be inducted. This year, though, the competition was ahead of him receiving 70.3 percent among vote getters among 394 ballots cast, That was fourth behind Billy Wagner, CC Sabathia, and Ichiro Suzuki.

So for now the walls at Cooperstown will not have a place for Beltrán, they will next year. I am not eligible to vote in this esteemed process as a non member of the Baseball Writers of America, though if I had the privilege Beltrán would have another vote.

Carlos Beltrán gained more voting support in third-year on HOF ballot – Image Credit: MLB

This year they got it right and no doubt that Ichiro was a first ballot Hall of Famer and should have been unanimous. Wagner also in his 10th and final appearance on the ballot would have received my vote, as is with Sabathia.

The selection process towards enshrinement is always a subject of debate.

Billy Wagner finally received the call from Cooperstown on his 10th and final year on the HOF ballot – Image Credit: MLB

Career statistics and at times off the field with negative factors play a role with the voters, need I mention the steroid stigma of Alex Rodríguez and Manny Ramírez who will never have their names enshrined in the Hall.

New York certainly represented. Ichiro and brief playing time with the Yankees, Sabathia played a major role in a Yankees 2009 World Series championship and the numbers, Wagner as an elite closing pitcher with the Mets. Sabathia, signed as a high profile free agent and history with the then known Cleveland Indians is expected to be inducted as a Yankee.

Ichiro Suzuki and CC Sabathia made the Hall of Fame on their first-year of eligibility – Image Credit: MLB/Bill Menzel/Latino Sports

Wagner with Phillies roots, I can’t answer as to what cap will designate his enshrinement. Ichiro is all about the Seattle Mariners.

And Beltrán looks at next year with a Houston Astros history, the 2017 sign cheating scandal that rocked baseball. Through a memorable seven season career with the Mets (.280 average, 149 home runs, 559 RBI and 100 stolen bases) helping them to the NLCS in 2006. That year he hit a career-high 41 home runs with 115 RBI and scored 127 runs.

So Beltrán is a cinch for enshrinement and with numbers. Now an assistant to David Stearns, the director of baseball operations for the Mets, Beltrán was always considered one of the all-time best switch hitters with a career 435 home runs, 1,587 RBI and .279 batting average.

Carlos Beltrán and José Iglesias celebrate on the field with their loved ones after the Mets’ Game 4 2024 NLDS clinching win – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports

And also with a Yankees history, Beltrán hit 58 home runs in three seasons. He was all New York and I was fortunate to have covered his many accomplishments. Beltrán was always accessible to the media and with colleagues that was always a plus.

His charitable contributions to youth baseball programs in the city held a special meaning to a ballplayer with roots from Manati, Puerto Rico. There he established a reputable baseball learning academy for underprivileged youth.

Like many MLB Puerto Rican athletes, Carlos Correa grew up watching and idolizing Carlos Beltrán – Image Credit: MLB

The nine-time All-Star and winner of three Gold Gloves would never complain about falling short of a goal, nor this Hall of Fame vote falling short for the third time. He is eligible for seven more ballot years and next year should be the one.

The scandal also stings with that Mets connection, briefly hired as the manager and quickly released by the then Wilpon ownership. Since then, Beltrán has been considered as a managerial candidate yet teams have not come forward. And that scandal could still be playing a role in that decision, though Beltrán has said to me on numerous occasions the time will come for an opportunity.

Carlos Beltrán still paying the price for the Astros cheating scandal?  – Image Credit: MLB

Said former Mets manager Terry Collins to the New York Post about the Beltrán connection scandal and not being a starting player, coming up short for the Hall, “I think he’s being overly penalized. He lost the managerial job because of this. He paid the price. He’s a Hall of Fame player and he needs to be in the Hall of Fame.”

Some baseball higher ups informed me also they believe Beltrán is still paying the price, though optimistic next year will be his time. One said, “It’s in the past that scandal. You can’t hold that against him as a non player and deny him enshrinement. “

It wasn’t gambling or suspensions from a steroid scandal that rocked baseball. I always believed that Beltrán was a culprit. I always said that the late Pete Rose should have been enshrined because his records and historic accomplishments are recognized in the Halls up in Cooperstown.

One of the greatest hitters to ever step up to the plate, Pete Rose – Image Credit: AP

But for years, Rose was bypassed even with a Veterans Committee because he placed bets on his team. To me that was not justified because Rose is baseball’s all-time hits leader and records on the field that were accomplished should not have denied him enshrinement.

But with Carlos Beltrán, it is totally different. He will get the call next year and it is rightfully deserved. He will not strike out a fourth time.

Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and contributor at LatinoSports.com – Twitter: @Ring 786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso

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