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2026 Hall of Fame Ballot Features Controversial Legends

11/3/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The National Baseball Hall of Fame announced the 2026 Contemporary Baseball Era Committee ballot, which includes eight candidates: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kent, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, Gary Sheffield, and Fernando Valenzuela.
Bonds and Clemens are associated with performance-enhancing drugs and previously failed to secure enough votes on the traditional ballot.
Sheffield received 63.9% of the votes in his final eligibility year in 2024.
A 75% vote is needed for induction, with results revealed on December 7 during MLB's Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida.
Valenzuela passed away in October 2024.

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Story summary

The National Baseball Hall of Fame announced the 2026 Contemporary Baseball Era Committee ballot, which includes eight candidates: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kent, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, Gary Sheffield, and Fernando Valenzuela.
Bonds and Clemens are associated with performance-enhancing drugs and previously failed to secure enough votes on the traditional ballot.
Sheffield received 63.9% of the votes in his final eligibility year in 2024.
A 75% vote is needed for induction, with results revealed on December 7 during MLB's Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida.
Valenzuela passed away in October 2024.