Derek Jeter honored with Hall Of Fame induction by Yankees.
Derek Jeter, an outstanding player with a remarkable career that includes 14 All-Star appearances and five World Series titles, along with outfielder Larry Walker, were the two players selected for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame following the results of the voting announced on Tuesday night.
Jeter, the renowned shortstop for the New York Yankees, received an impressive 99.7 percent of the votes, narrowly missing a unanimous selection by just one vote, a feat only achieved previously by his teammate Mariano Rivera.
While Jeter was a first-year eligible candidate, Walker, who played for the Montreal Expos, Colorado Rockies, and St. Louis Cardinals, reached the Hall of Fame in his tenth and final year of eligibility, securing 76.6 percent of the vote, exceeding the required 75 percent threshold by six votes.
Despite Jeter’s more prominent career, Walker made a lasting impact with his exceptional performance on the field, winning the National League’s Most Valuable Player award in 1997 and claiming three batting titles along with seven Gold Glove awards for his defensive prowess in right field.
Both Jeter and Walker will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, on July 26, alongside Marvin Miller, the influential players’ union leader, and catcher Ted Simmons, who were previously chosen by the Modern Baseball Era committee for enshrinement.
Pitcher Curt Schilling, a close contender in the voting with 70 percent support, will have two more chances for induction. Meanwhile, pitcher Roger Clemens and slugger Barry Bonds, despite their tainted histories involving performance-enhancing drugs, received over 60 percent of the votes, positioning them in fourth and fifth place respectively and giving them two more years of eligibility for future consideration.
