Baseball Hall of Fame ballots 2026: The Athletic’s voters explain their selections
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- The 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame class will be announced next Tuesday, with 27 players on the ballot, including 12 newcomers, and voting conducted by over 400 Baseball Writers’ Association of America members.
- Voters express varied criteria for selection, balancing peak performance, longevity, character, and the impact of performance-enhancing drug (PED) allegations, leading to differing views on players like Félix Hernández, Andruw Jones, Manny Ramírez, and Álex Rodríguez.
- Several writers highlight the evolving standards for evaluating pitchers, noting how modern usage patterns and reduced innings affect traditional benchmarks like wins and strikeouts, with Hernández cited as a dominant pitcher of his era despite lower counting stats.
- Some voters emphasize personal ethics and character
