Carlos Beltran will go into Hall with Mets’ cap on plaque

Carlos Beltran, who spent seven of his 20 major league seasons in Queens, N.Y., will have a New York Mets cap on his plaque at the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Beltran joined the Mets as a free agent in 2005, helping the franchise reach Game 7 of the 2006 National League Championship Series. He is currently a special assistant with the Mets. The Puerto Rican star earned four of his nine All-Star berths while calling Shea Stadium and Citi Field home.

Beltran began his career with the Kansas City Royals. He played parts of seven seasons in Kansas City before he was traded to the Astros in July 2004. Carlos Beltran played for seven teams over 20 years in the majors, including two stints with the Astros.

‘Greatest individual growth’

“I didn’t do this alone,” Beltran said in a statement released by the Hall. “Every team I played for shaped my journey, and I’m grateful to all of them. With the Mets, I experienced my greatest individual growth and success. I’m honored that my Hall of Fame plaque will feature the Mets logo, and I’m proud that every team I played for will be listed on the plaque.”

Beltran played three seasons with the Cardinals and parts of three with the Yankees. He also had brief stints with the Giants and Rangers.

Beltran’s former Astros teammate Jeff Kent, who was elected into the Hall of Fame by an Era Committee in December, will have a Giants cap on his plaque. Kent, widely considered the best slugging second baseman in history, won his National League MVP Award while a member of the Giants in 2000.

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He played for six teams over 17 years in the majors. Kent played parts of six seasons with the Giants, earning three of his five All-Star berths in San Francisco. He was also an All-Star with the Astros in 2004 and Dodgers in 2005. Kent played five seasons each with the Mets and Dodgers.

Kent also played one season with the Indians and one with the Blue Jays.

“Each of the stops along my career path was important to me, but it was with the Giants where I had the most success and spent the most time during my career,” Kent said. “I am grateful to all my teammates, managers, coaches, friends and fans who supported me and helped make this plaque in Cooperstown a reality.”

Braves cap for Jones

Not surprisingly, Andruw Jones will have a Braves cap on his plaque. Jones played 12 of his 17 seasons in Atlanta. He also played two seasons with the Yankees and one each with the White Sox, Dodgers and Rangers.

Cooperstown is calling your name.

Make history with us as the game’s greatest legends welcome Carlos Beltrán, Andruw Jones and Jeff Kent into the Hall of Fame this summer: https://t.co/LcrMdFVS91 pic.twitter.com/O8oXdFwMcy

— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) January 23, 2026

“The Braves were the team that gave me my first opportunity to chase the dream I wanted since I was a little kid,” Jones said. “I am proud to wear the ‘A’ on my plaque, which will also pay tribute to all my teams. I am most appreciative of all the cities and franchises I represented.”

^{Featured art by Nancy L. Ford/National Baseball Hall of Fame.}