The Hall of Fame Case for Andruw Jones

Slowly and steadily, Andruw Jones is getting his respect. In 2024, in his seventh appearance on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot, the former outfielder eclipsed the 60% mark in support.

Why is that important? It’s rarified space for a candidate.

In the history of Hall of Fame voting, only six players have reached 60% in voting support who have not yet been elected.

60% Support in Hall of Fame Election, Not Yet Elected

• • Barry Bonds

• • Roger Clemens

• • Curt Schilling

• • Gary Sheffield

• • Billy Wagner

• • Andruw Jones

Three of the players on that list were tied to steroid use. One (Schilling) has been kept out of Cooperstown because of his controversial mouth, which runs more than Willie Wilson between first and third. Billy Wagner is also on the 2025 Hall of Fame ballot, and most likely will be elected, barring a surprise from the electorate.

But what of Jones, what will his fate be? Given history: it seems probable that the five-time All-Star center fielder will get the 60 or so additional votes he needs to reach election. The question is whether that will happen in 2025 or 2026.

Let’s look at the Andruw’s most impressive credentials.

Andruw Jones: Master Defender and Power Threat

Achievements from the career of Andruw Jones:

• • Posted 58 Wins Above Replacement before age 30, the seventh highest total for a center fielder. Only Ty Cobb, Mickey Mantle, Mike Trout, Tris Speaker, Willie Mays, and Ken Griffey Jr. accumulated more WAR before 30.

• • Hit 342 home runs before his 30th birthday, becoming just the 10th player to do that, as of 2006. His 342 HR before 30 ranked 7th all-time, tied with Hank Aaron.

• • Hit 30+ HR in seven seasons.

• • Drove in 100+ runs in five seasons.

• • Hit 434 career home runs in a 17-year career.

• • Won 10 consecutive National League Gold Glove Awards as a center fielder.

• • Led NL in putouts by an outfielder six times. Only two center fielders have exceeded that mark: Richie Ashburn and Max Carey, both Hall of Famers.

• • Led the NL in Defensive WAR four times.

• • Finished in top ten in WAR for position players six times.

• • Won two-thirds of the Triple Crown in 2005, when he slugged 1 HR and drove in 128 runs.

• • One of only 15 players with at at least 10 Gold Gloves and 5 All-Star selections.

• • One of three players with a 50-home run season, 10+ Gold Gloves, and 5+ All-Star Game selections. The others are Willie Mays and Ken Griffey Jr.

• • Member of two pennant-winning teams with the Atlanta Braves. Hit 10 post-season home runs.

Jones’ achievements largely occurred prior to his age-30 season. But he was playing regularly in the major leagues when he was 19, which means he accumulated impressive numbers as a “young” player.

But, Jones has similar or superior numbers to some center fielders in the Hall of Fame.

Andruw Jones Compared to Hall of Fame Center Fielders