Saturday, January 27, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
Last Tuesday, Adrian Beltré was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He joins Todd Helton and Joe. Mauer to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in July.
Beltré played for twenty-one seasons for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Seattle Mariners, the Boston Red Sox, and the Texas Rangers. Beltré debuted at nineteen for the Dodgers to be their third baseman, but he wasn’t ready for the major leagues.
During his time with the Dodgers, Beltré played satisfactorily despite having a botched appendectomy in 2001. He was the best third baseman at grabbing grounders down the third base line barehanded and threw accurately to first. His best year in a Dodger uniform was 2004 when he led the National League in home runs with 48 and finished second in the National League MVP balloting.
Since the Dodger owner Frank McCourt didn’t want to pay Beltré, as a free agent, Beltré signed a 5-year $64 million contract with the Mariners. Since Safeco Field had a huge outfield, Beltré struggled offensively.
In 2009, Beltré signed a one-year $9 million contract with the Red Sox. His performance helped to revive his career when he finished ninth in the American League MVP.
In 2010, Beltré signed a 5-year $80 million contract with the Rangers where Beltré became a Hall of Famer. As a Ranger, he collected both his two thousandth and three thousandth hits. He played an instrumental role in the Rangers going to the 2011 World Series where they lost. He didn’t become an All-Star until he became a Ranger.
Beltré won five American League Gold Gloves.
If Beltré hadn’t debuted at nineteen, he might have had a better career. His election to the Hall of Fame rewards his persistence and determination to be the best baseball player he could be.
