The 2024 MLB Hall of Fame class is set, as three new members will be enshrined in Cooperstown — Adrian Beltre, Todd Helton, and Joe Mauer.
The Braves had a few former players very close to receiving the nod, but none was more impactful than longtime centerfielder Andruw Jones. He fell a little over 13% short of the 75% threshold at 61.6% of the votes, which is up from 58.6% last year. Jones has three more years left on the ballot. There’s a very good chance he still gets in, but it’s going to be close.
Andruw Jones’ career may have come to a screeching halt, but for ten years, he was one of the five most valuable players in the game. He was also the greatest defensive centerfielder in the history of the game, and there’s really no argument. Anytime a player is quite literally the best at something in the history of the game, he probably deserves a spot in the Hall-of-Fame.
However, Jones wasn’t just all defense. He also slugged 434 home runs, most of which came before his age-31 season. And remember when I said he was a top-five player in the game over the span of a decade? I wasn’t lying. From 1998-2007, Andruw Jones ranked third in WAR among all players, behind only Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez. Given both of those guys were busted for steroids, one could argue Jones was the best clean player over the span of a decade. That’s a guy who belongs in the Hall of Fame.
For example, Joe Mauer is now a first-ballot Hall of Famer. No disrespect to him, but Jones accrued more than seven career WAR over his career.
Jones isn’t the only Braves player that was snubbed this year, however. Bill Wagner, who spent the final year of his illustrious career in Atlanta and posted a 1.43 ERA over 71 appearances at 38-years-old, fell just five votes short.
Wagner still has one more shot to make it in next year. If he doesn’t, it’s a travesty. He’s one of the best relief pitchers in the history of the game. If relievers are allowed in the Hall of Fame, which they are, he belongs in Cooperstown.
Gary Sheffield also fell short in his last year on the ballot. He spent two years in Atlanta and nearly won an MVP with the Braves, finishing third in 2003. Sheffield hit .292 for his career and racked up over 500 home runs, but questions about his steroid usage clearly played a factor in him not being voted in.