Jeff Kent to Enter Cooperstown Wearing Giants Cap, Joined by Beltrán and Jones in Hall of Fame Class of 2026
The Hall of Fame has officially announced its cap selections for the Class of 2026, and for Giants fans, there’s no surprise at the top: Jeff Kent will be immortalized in bronze wearing the San Francisco Giants cap. It’s a fitting tribute for one of the most productive second basemen in MLB history-and a player whose peak years were undeniably tied to the Bay.
Kent’s six-season run with the Giants wasn’t just good-it was Hall-worthy. He racked up three All-Star selections, launched over 20 home runs in multiple seasons, and drove in 100+ RBIs like clockwork.
The crowning moment? His 2000 NL MVP award, a season where he was the engine behind a powerful Giants lineup.
Kent didn’t just play second base-he redefined what offensive production could look like from the position. With 377 career home runs, he holds the all-time record for home runs by a second baseman, and he leads that list by a wide margin.
His final long ball, fittingly, came at Oracle Park in 2008-against the Giants, no less.
While San Francisco was where Kent truly became a star, his career spanned across several teams. He began with the Blue Jays, had stints with the Mets, Guardians, Astros, and Dodgers, but it was in orange and black that he left his biggest mark.
In recognition, the Giants have announced plans to retire his No. 21 jersey-a move that fans have long been waiting for. And with more potential Hall of Famers on the horizon, San Francisco could be gearing up for another round of celebrations in 2027.
Joining Kent in this year’s Hall of Fame class are Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones, who will be enshrined wearing Mets and Braves caps, respectively.
Beltrán’s career is one of versatility, longevity, and elite production. A switch-hitter with rare combination of power and speed, he played 20 seasons across seven teams, but it’s the Mets who’ll be represented on his plaque. And it makes sense-he earned five of his nine All-Star selections in New York, where he consistently put up All-Star-caliber numbers and helped lead the team through some of its most competitive years in the 2000s.
Still, Beltrán’s story can’t be told without Kansas City, where he broke into the league and made his first All-Star team, or Houston, where his 2004 postseason heroics became the stuff of legend. Later stops with the Yankees, Cardinals, Rangers, and Giants added further depth to a career that was as well-traveled as it was impactful. But when it came time to choose a cap, the Mets stood out as the team where he reached his highest level of sustained excellence.
As for Andruw Jones, there was never much doubt about the cap choice. He’ll go in as an Atlanta Brave, and rightfully so.
Jones burst onto the scene as a teenager in the 1996 World Series and quickly became one of the game’s premier center fielders. His glove was elite-10 Gold Gloves say as much-but he also brought serious power to the plate, especially during his prime years in Atlanta.
For a decade, he was a cornerstone of a Braves team that seemed to win the NL East every year.
All three players brought something unique to the game-Kent with his power at a traditionally light-hitting position, Beltrán with his five-tool versatility and postseason flair, and Jones with his defensive wizardry and middle-of-the-order presence. Now, they’ll be forever linked as members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
And for fans of the Giants, Mets, and Braves, the caps on those plaques will feel just right.