#hall-of-fame

#hall-of-fame

Mets legend David Wright's Hall-of-Fame credentials had been pretty cut and dry. When healthy, he was on a fast track to Cooperstown, but spinal stenosis derailed his career during his age-32 season in 2015, relegating him to one of the more prominent what ifs? in recent baseball history. Yet the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) appears to be taking his entire journey, and just how good he was during his peak years, into consideration, which surprisingly bodes well for potential enshrinement down the road.

Anyone who receives 75% of the vote or more will join second baseman Jeff Kent as part of the 2026 Hall of Fame class. This year's class of newcomers to the ballot is headlined by southpaw Cole Hamels, though the lefty won't be inducted on his first ballot. Outfielder Manny Ramirez is entering his final year on the ballot and will surely miss out on induction due to PED usage during his career, as steroid era legends like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens have before him.

A year ago, I wrote of the 2025 candidates for the Hall of Fame, "This year's ballot is probably the weakest since the early 2000s." Well, the 2026 edition is probably even weaker. The 2025 ballot at least featured newcomers Ichiro Suzuki and CC Sabathia, who were elected along with Billy Wagner. Pitcher Cole Hamels is the only newcomer to the ballot in 2026 with more than 50 career WAR.

The Braves likely remain involved in many of the conversations focusing on adding a starting pitcher. And with the added bonus of not having traded away any prospects to feel their offseason needs, they could always pivot to the trade market as well. The good thing is that many avenues remain available for the Braves to strengthen their already strong rotation, even if it could into the new year when the move finally occurs.

Pat LaFontaine has waited long enough - and New York Islanders fans have waited right along with him. On Saturday afternoon at UBS Arena, one of the most electrifying, beloved, and downright iconic players ever to wear the Islanders crest will finally take his rightful place in the Islanders Hall of Fame. And let's be honest: this honor is long overdue. Hall of Famer. Franchise pillar. Face of an era. Pat LaFontaine has been all of that and more.

Impact free agents like Devin Williams and Dylan Cease have already signed, and the trade market has been buzzing all winter long with deals like the Brandon Nimmo for Marcus Semien swap, Boston's acquisition of Sonny Gray, and last night's five-player deal between the Pirates and Red Sox. The activity should only ratchet up from here leading up to and throughout the meetings, with plenty of exciting moves to come in the next few days.

LA Clippers guard Chris Paul is retiring after this season -- his 21st campaign in the NBA, sources told ESPN on Saturday.

Bruce Bochy is nearing a deal to return to the Giants in an advisory role. CEO Greg Johnson first told Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle on Tuesday that the sides were working on a deal. Bochy confirmed to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic this evening that he's in the process of finalizing a special assistant position. He'll be on hand as an excellent resource for first-year manager Tony Vitello.

Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Don Mattingly and Dale Murphy were held over on the Hall of Fame's contemporary baseball era committee ballot and will be joined next month by former Toronto Blue Jays Carlos Delgado and Jeff Kent, along with Gary Sheffield and Fernando Valenzuela. The 16-person committee meets Dec. 7 at the winter meetings in Orlando, Fla., and a 75 per cent vote is necessary for election.

"That's why I'm trying not to show all my emotions," Schottenheimer said. "You're going to see me skipping down the hall. I might even call the guys up and be like, 'Hey, guess who I just hung out with? He came to see me?' No, like I said, I'm a football junkie, and [he's] one of the best all time, man."

Former NFL star Shaun Alexander and his wife, Valerie, are adding another player to their team. The Seattle Seahawks' all-time leading rusher announced on the " Up & Adams Show" with host Kay Adams on Sept. 24 that Valerie is pregnant with the couple's 14th child. "We're just now starting to tell people, but No. 14 is in the belly," Alexander said. "We're just now starting to tell everybody."

Fred Warner is in the eye of the 49ers' defensive hurricane. New teammates are swirling around him. He is not calm, however. He is All-Pro Fred, and that means he is hollering, hustling, and huddling up with intensity. He's still the one out there chirping and yelling and screaming and getting everybody pumped up, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said. So, he hasn't changed in that regard. The game hasn't jaded him, if that makes sense.

Though it's difficult to call a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee underrated, that label applies to the newest center in Springfield, Massachusetts. As of 2021, Howard was one of 26 players in NBA history with at least five first-team All-NBA nods. The other 25 were named to the league's 75th Anniversary Team that year. Howard was not.

The White Sox will celebrate late owner and Hall of Fame inductee Bill Veeck with unique game day events during Saturday's 6:10 p.m. CT game against the Cleveland Guardians at Rate Field, coined "Bill Veeck Night."

"This is why I played football," Sterling said, referring to his younger brother, who wrapped his arm around him and had tears streaming down his face.

Jared Allen, known for his signature cowboy hat and celebratory calf-roping act, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame after a successful 12-year NFL career.