Phillies Star Has HOF Ground To Make Up

Former Philadelphia Phillies star Chase Utley is lagging behind in early returns for the 2024 Class of the Baseball Hall of Fame — but not that far behind.

The first 25 Hall of Fame ballots have been catalogued by the BBWAA’s Hall of Fame ballot tracker and Utley was listed on 15 of the 25 ballots, giving his 60% of the vote so far.

A candidate needs 75% for induction.

Utley, a second baseman, is on the ballot for the first time. He spent 2003-15 with Philadelphia before spending the final three seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

At the plate he slashed .275/.358/.465 with 1,885 hits, 411 doubles, 259 home runs, 1,025 RBI, 1,103 runs and 154 stolen bases. He helped the Phillies win the 2008 World Series.

He was a six-time All-Star, a four-time Silver Slugger and finished in the Top 10 in MVP voting three times.

The tracker estimates that there will be 384 ballots cast, which would require an estimated 288 votes for induction. Votes are to be completed by Dec. 31 with inductees to be announced on Jan. 23.

The 2024 induction ceremony is set for July 21.

One player — former Texas Rangers third baseman Adrián Beltré — was listed on all 25 ballots.

After 25 votes, the following players have at least 75% of the votes, the percentage needed for induction — Todd Helton (88%) and Joe Mauer (84%). The 2024 induction ceremony is set for July 21 in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Whoever earns induction will join former manager Jim Leyland, who was voted in on the Contemporary Baseball Era Managers/Executives/Umpires ballot at the Winter Meetings.

Twenty-three writers have made their votes public since ballots were sent out to members of the Baseball Writers Association of America last month. Those ballots are cataloged by members of the BBWAA for transparency. Two other voters have turned in their ballots but chosen, for now, to remain anonymous.