Jeff Kent Elected to baseball Hall of Fame

ORLANDO, Fla. – Jeff Kent was overcome with emotion after being elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame, more than 17 years after playing his final game.

“Absolutely unprepared. Emotionally unstable,” he said following Sunday’s vote announcement. “My thoughts are so clouded right now.”

Kent received 14 votes from the 16-member contemporary era committee,surpassing the 75% threshold needed for induction. Unfortunatly, stars linked to steroid use, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, were among seven players who didn’t receive enough votes this time around.

Kent will be inducted in Cooperstown, New york, on July 26, alongside any players chosen by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, whose results will be revealed on January 20.

“I hugged my wife after the call,” kent said, his voice breaking. “I told her a lot of the game just came rushing back to me. It reminded me of ‘no crying in baseball.’ Well, I was balling when I left the game because all that emotion just overwhelms you.”

A five-time All-Star, Kent finished his 17-year career with a .290 batting average, 377 home runs, and 1,518 RBIs. He played for the Toronto Blue jays (1992), New York Mets (1992-96), Cleveland Indians (1996), San francisco Giants (1997-2002), Houston Astros (2003-04), and Los Angeles Dodgers (2005-08).

He holds the record for the most home runs (351) by a second baseman. Some of Kent’s best seasons came while playing with the Giants, alongside the home run king, barry Bonds.

“I think I turned the double play better than anyone in the game during my era,” Kent added.