Why I Am Delighted Jeff Kent is Getting a Plaque in Cooperstown Next Summer

 

This evening the Contemporary Era Committee announced that Jeff Kent will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame next summer as part of the Class of 2026.

Kent earned 14 out of 16 votes from the committee. Other candidates under consideration included Carlos Delgado (9 votes), Don Mattingly and Dale Murphy (6 votes apiece) with Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Gary Sheffield and Fernando Valenzuela receiving fewer than 5 votes.

While I would have been pleased to see Mattingly, Murphy or Valenzuela elevated, I am quite delighted and pleasantly surprised that Kent was chosen. Indeed, Kent was caught off-guard by the news. I made his case while he was on the BBWAA ballot in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023. In the 10 years Kent spent on the BBWAA ballot, he never received more than 50% of the vote. Kent was not well liked by the writers and some of his teammates. I'm glad that a supermajority of the Contemporary Era Committee overlooked whatever personality quirks Kent may have had and focused on the numbers.

And what numbers!!!

Over 17 seasons, Kent collected 2,461 hits for a lifetime batting average of .290 with 377 HR and 1518 RBI. Of those 377 HR, 351 were slammed while playing second base. No second baseman has more HR at the position than Kent. He was named to five NL All-Star Teams and earned the NL MVP in 2000. 

On a personal note, I remember Kent's MLB debut. I was finishing up my first year at Carleton University in April 1992. One Sunday afternoon in the dorm floor TV room, the Toronto Blue Jays were hosting the Baltimore Orioles. Up comes Jeff Kent. In unison, everyone in the room asked, "Who is Jeff Kent?" Kent then slammed a Jose Mesa pitch off the left field wall for a double. That answered that question.

Of course, it took a while for Kent to cement his reputation. Before the end of the season, Kent was dealt to the New York Mets in exchange for David Cone who would help the Blue Jays win their first ever World Series title that fall. 

Kent had some decent seasons at Shea and also briefly played with the Cleveland Indians. But it was with the San Francisco Giants where Kent blossomed after he was acquired prior to the 1997 season in exchange for the popular Matt Williams. In his six seasons in San Francisco, Kent drove in 100 plus runs every year. Yes, hitting behind Barry Bonds helped. But you still have to hit the ball. 

While with the Giants, Kent was part of the 2002 NL championship team which fell short in the World Series to the Anaheim Angels. Kent also played two seasons with the Houston Astros (when they were still in the NL) and four seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers enjoying one 100 RBI campaign with each team. 

Here's something else which is remarkable. While Kent's 351 HR are the most by a second baseman, his 1413 RBI at the position are second only to Detroit Tigers' legend Charlie Gehringer who knocked in 1427 runs.

I am glad the Contemporary Era Committee saw something in Jeff Kent to render him worthy of a plaque in Cooperstown. It's too bad the BBWAA couldn't or wouldn't see it. Kent will be formally inducted into Cooperstown on July 26, 2026.