2025 Contemporary Ballot: Who Could Make Baseball’s Hall of Fame

The National Baseball Hall of Fame’s 2025 Contemporary Baseball Era player ballot is out, and people are already arguing about it. Eight former stars made the list, each representing decades of baseball history.

This vote isn’t just about stats. It’s tangled up with questions about PEDs, how long these players lasted, and what they meant to the game. When the 16-person committee meets in December, they’ll have to decide if these legends finally get into Cooperstown—or if they’re left waiting again.

Breaking Down the 2025 Contemporary Baseball Era Ballot

The ballot includes Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kent, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, Gary Sheffield, and Fernando Valenzuela. Each player made a unique impact on Major League Baseball.

They’ve all got impressive stats, but there’s always something—controversy, injuries, or just bad timing—that’s kept them out so far.

Voting Process and Timeline

A 16-member committee will handle the voting. That group’s made up of Hall of Famers, longtime execs, and veteran media voices.

Each voter can pick up to three players. Results drop on December 7, 2024, live on MLB Network. Anyone elected joins the 2026 Hall of Fame class.

This ballot rotates every three years, so players from different eras get their shot in the spotlight.

Returning Candidates and Notable Absences

Bonds and Clemens are back, even though they barely got any votes in 2022. Mattingly and Murphy also return, having done a bit better last time but still falling short.

Some names are missing now. Curt Schilling and Rafael Palmeiro, for example, didn’t make the cut this time around.

New Restrictions on Weakly Supported Candidates

There’s a new rule: if a player gets fewer than five votes more than once, they’re off future ballots. This rule doesn’t affect the current group, though.

The Case For – and Against – Each Player

Here’s a quick look at the eight:

• Barry Bonds – He’s the all-time home run king, but the PED cloud just won’t go away.
• Roger Clemens – Seven Cy Youngs, third in strikeouts, but steroid talk follows him everywhere.
• Carlos Delgado – Always a power threat, yet his postseason résumé feels light.
• Jeff Kent – More home runs than any second baseman, though some say his defense wasn’t up to par.
• Don Mattingly – MVP and Yankees captain, but injuries cut his best years short.
• Dale Murphy – Two MVPs, but his numbers dropped off fast later on.
• Gary Sheffield – Hit over 500 homers and terrified pitchers, but his name pops up in steroid discussions and his glove didn’t help his case.
• Fernando Valenzuela – “Fernandomania” was a real phenomenon. He meant more to fans than his stats might show.

The Legacy Question

Why have these guys been kept out? Sometimes it’s PED suspicions. Sometimes it’s shaky defense, a short peak, or no championships.

Bonds and Clemens would be obvious choices if it was just about performance, but their stories are a lot messier.

Impact Beyond the Diamond

Valenzuela’s case isn’t about leading in stats. He inspired a whole generation, especially in the Mexican-American community.

Mattingly, too—he was the face of the Yankees in the ’80s, and that meant something bigger than his numbers.

Looking Ahead to December

The December vote is coming up, and speculation is already swirling. Will the committee focus on candidates’ numbers, or will their stories carry more weight?

If several get in, maybe the Hall is finally opening its doors a bit wider—even for the controversial greats. But if not, well, it seems the Hall will stick to its usual, stubborn gatekeeping.

This ballot really underscores something about baseball immortality. Cooperstown isn’t just about stats—it’s about what a player stands for, too.

On December 7, we’ll see which of these eight finally join the legends, and who’ll have to keep waiting. History’s not always in a hurry to make up its mind, is it?

 
Here is the source article for this story: Who could make the Hall of Fame? The case for — and against