It’s official: Texas Rangers legendary third baseman Adrián Beltré is in the Hall of Fame.
Now all that’s left? Actually putting him in there.
With his impending induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, The Dallas Morning News has put together a highlight reel of all our best stories from the career of Adrián Beltré, from his World Series runs with the Rangers, to his historic 3,000th hit, his retirement, and ultimately his voting-in to the Hall. That’s to go along with all the other astonishing, inspiring, interesting and sometimes outright goofy things Beltré did during his 21-year major league career.
Below is everything Rangers fans need to know about Beltré's upcoming induction, along with our Best of Beltré.
Hall of Fame induction details
When: July 21, 12:30 p.m.
Where: Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Broadcast: MLB Network; MLB.com (streaming)
The best of Beltré
Baseball knows Rangers’ Adrían Beltré as a Hall of Famer. To his family, he’s just ‘Dad’
Too often, players are boiled down to sets of numbers: Homers, OPS, WAR and, now, exit velocity.
In Beltré's case, the argument for the Hall of Fame was built on, among other numbers, 3,000 hits and five Gold Gloves. Too often, fans know little about the man inside. Beltré's passion made him more three-dimensional, but it hardly reveals the picture of the man in his entirety.
For that, you have to go to his family. They will tell you the stories of Adrian Beltré, Hall-of-Fame dad.
How Adrián Beltré became a Texas-sized legend, undeniable Hall of Famer as a Ranger
When the Rangers went shopping in the aftermath of their first trip to the World Series, they were simply looking for the final pieces.
They settled on a two-time Gold Glove-winning third baseman, Adrián Beltré, who had also, at times, displayed big power and flashed an impressive bat.
What they didn’t know they were getting: A Hall of Famer.
‘Like a diamond’: Dominican-born Adrián Beltré was always destined for greatness
Felipe Alou was the second native of the Dominican Republic to reach the big leagues. Nearly three decades later, the Dominican was a burgeoning baseball factory.
Everywhere Alou went when he was back home, somebody stopped him to tout their child as the next Dominican star. Alou would smile and entertain them for a few minutes. What was the harm?
But even for Alou, this one was a bit much: The kid in question was 2.
And, all things considered, he might have undersold the kid.
The kid: Adrián Beltré.
With Lou Gehrig’s mitt and Babe Ruth’s bat, Adrián Beltré is having Hall of Fame-level fun
On the makeshift display in the Baseball Hall of Fame museum, Babe Ruth’s bat rests in front of the helmet in which Adrian Beltré recorded his 3,000th hit.
The visual is clear: They are both treasures. Ruth received the exact percentage of votes (95.1%) in 1936 as Beltré did in his first year of eligibility.
“It’s not really sinking in,” Beltré said. “There should be a Hall of Fame of Hall of Famers. No way I’m near a Mike Schmidt. Willie Mays? Babe Ruth? I can mention hundreds. This is sacred ground. No way I’m in the same category. It’s just mind-boggling.”
Visualizing Adrian Beltre’s march to 3,000 hits
On July 30, 2017, Texas Ranger third baseman Beltré collected the 3,000th hit of his career with a double off Orioles’ pitcher Wade Miley. Beltre became the 31st player in Major League Baseball history to reach the 3,000-hit milestone.
Take a tour of each and every one of Beltré's 3,166 career base knocks below.
Which hat?
There was a short-lived question about which baseball cap Adrian Beltre would don on his Hall of Fame plaque that will remain in Cooperstown. But, predictably, Beltre will be wearing a Rangers hat when the plaque is unveiled on July 21.
“Looking back, I played more years in Texas than anywhere else and I believe my time with the Rangers represents the peak of my career, individually and from a team standpoint.”
More on Beltre...
— 10 things to know about Adrian Beltre as Rangers’ legendary 3B is voted into Hall of Fame
— Adrian Beltre joined by fellow Texas Rangers legends for first pitch at MLB All-Star Game
— Ex-Rangers GM Jon Daniels looks back at Texas’ signing of Hall of Fame 3B Adrián Beltré
— Adrian Beltre began his Rangers career as a decent second option. This is what he became
— Rangers icon Adrian Beltré will elevate the Baseball Hall of Fame once elected. Here’s why
— For Adrián Beltré, Rangers’ clubhouse culture was key component of Hall of Fame journey
— Who could have envisioned this? Why Adrian Beltre’s 3,000 story is unlike any Ranger’s ever
— For Adrian Beltre, his Rangers Hall of Fame ceremony will be about his kids — both real and symbolic
— Adrian Beltre and Chuck Morgan made their special Rangers HOF night about others, not themselves
— ‘It got me deep’: Relive the emotional final moments of Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre’s career
Who else is being inducted?
Todd Helton, Colorado Rockies — The first baseman spent his entire career with the Rockies, slugging 369 home runs and 2,519 base hits.
Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins — Catcher/first baseman who similarly spent his full career in Minnesota. A former MVP and 3-time Gold Glover.
Jim Leyland, manager — Managed just under 3,500 games between the Pirates, Marlins, Rockies and Tigers. Won the World Series with Florida in 1997.
Gerry Fraley, former Dallas Morning News writer — The longtime DMN baseball writer, who died at age 64 in 2019, was named the 2024 winner of the Baseball Writers Association of America’s Career Excellence Award. He will be honored posthumously during the Hall of Fame induction weekend.
Twitter: @dmn_rangers
Find more Rangers coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
