Braves legend Dale Murphy is among the eight names on the Contemporary Baseball Era ballot, while Andruw Jones enters his ninth year on the BBWAA ballot with his “best shot” yet at induction.
ATLANTA, Ga. – Two of the Atlanta Braves’ most iconic players, Dale Murphy and Andruw Jones, are once again in the Hall of Fame spotlight as the 2026 class consideration begins.
On Monday, Nov. 3, the National Baseball Hall of Fame announced the eight names under consideration on the Contemporary Baseball Era ballot, with Murphy headlining the list.
Meanwhile, Andruw Jones enters his ninth year on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) ballot, trending closer than ever to the 75% needed for induction.
Dale Murphy’s Second Chance
Murphy, a two-time NL MVP, is on the Contemporary Era ballot for the second time after falling short of induction in 2022. He is joined by fellow holdovers Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Don Mattingly, along with new additions Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kent, Gary Sheffield, and Fernando Valenzuela.
The results will be announced on Dec. 7 during a 16-member committee vote, where a player needs 12 votes (75%) for election.
The Case for Murphy (Peak): Murphy’s case is built on his absolute dominance in the 1980s. He won back-to-back MVP awards (1982-83) and finished in the top 10 in voting for four consecutive seasons. During that stretch, he earned five Gold Gloves, four Silver Slugger awards, and was a seven-time All-Star.
The Case Against Murphy (Longevity): His sudden performance decline after the 1987 season has been the major factor holding him back. His final career totals of 398 home runs and 2,111 hits are just shy of the traditional benchmarks.
Braves Hall of Famer Chipper Jones advocated for Murphy on 680 The Fan, arguing that his peak performance is all that should matter.
“He had a 10-year shelf life of dominant play. I mean, what do you need? Silver Sluggers? Ok. He’s got them. Need some Gold Gloves? He got them, too. MVPs? Yeah, he’s got two of those. So … he had a pretty damn good 10-year run.”
Andruw Jones: “Knocking on the Door”
Braves legend Andruw Jones is on his ninth year of eligibility on the BBWAA ballot, and this is widely considered his “best shot” yet at getting inducted.
With a lackluster group of first-time names on this year’s ballot (led by Ryan Braun and Cole Hamels), Jones is the top returning vote-getter.
Last Year’s Vote: In the 2025 class voting (which took place in 2024), Jones received 66.2% of the vote, up from 61.6% the year prior and tantalizingly close to the 75% threshold.
The Case For Jones: His case is one of the most unique in history. He is arguably the greatest defensive center fielder of all time, winning 10 consecutive Gold Gloves. He combined this with significant power, blasting 434 home runs—a feat that puts him in rare company.
The Case Against Jones: Like Murphy, Jones saw a rapid decline after age 30 due to knee issues, which limited his defensive ability and made him a liability at the plate.
Even if Jones barely misses out this cycle, he will be on the ballot for the final time next year. The 2026 BBWAA Hall of Fame class results will be announced on Jan. 20.
