The Contemporary Committee spoke last night and opened the doors of Cooperstown to Jeff Kent and Jeff Kent alone. Of the 16 votes that were on the committee, Kent received 14, clearing the threshold needed
to join the game’s elite.
What’s been reported is that of all the other candidates, none were really that close to getting enough votes. The final tally looks like this:
- Carlos Delgado – 9 votes
- Dale Murphy – 6 votes
- Don Mattingly – 6 votes
- Barry Bonds – less than 5 votes
- Gary Sheffield – less than 5 votes
- Roger Clemens – less than 5 votes
- Fernando Valenzuela – less than 5 votes
That’s an interesting bloc of people picking what they believe to be among the very best in the game. Delgado receiving the next highest amount is surely something I wouldn’t have seen coming had I place bets on who finished where. The question is: did they get it right? Should Kent have been the only one elected?