Watch LIVE: Electees discuss joining Hall’s Class of 2024
Beltré, Mauer and Helton, who appeared on at least 75% of Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballots and will be inducted on July 21, are together in Cooperstown, N.Y., today to discuss their election with the media. Watch a live stream here.
The first-ballot election of Beltré, a member of the 400-homer club and one of the best defensive third basemen of all time, was seen as a foregone conclusion. Mauer, meanwhile, became just the third catcher to get in on his first ballot, joining Iván RodrÃguez and Johnny Bench. Helton reached baseball immortality in his sixth year on the ballot, completing a remarkable rise to the 75% threshold after appearing on just 16.5% of ballots in his first year.