Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens are set to receive another opportunity for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame through the contemporary era committee ballot, which will take place on December 7. The committee, consisting of 16 voters, will review candidates such as Bonds, Clemens, and others, with a 75% vote required for induction. The regular ballot results from the Baseball Writers’ Associate of America (BBWAA) will be announced on January 20, 2026.
The contemporary era committee ballot includes holdovers like Bonds, Clemens, Don Mattingly, and Dale Murphy, while others such as Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kent, Gary Sheffield, and Fernando Valenzuela will also be on the ballot for the Class of 2026. The committee, part of a restructured system by the Hall of Fame, now considers the contemporary era and classic era separately. Contemporary managers, executives, and umpires will be evaluated in December 2026, while classic era candidates will be considered in December 2027. Each committee meets every three years, with the next contemporary era ballot due in December 2028.
Bonds, Clemens, and Rafael Palmeiro are polarizing figures due to their association with the steroids era, which has marred their legacies. Bonds, who was dropped from the BBWAA ballot after receiving only 66% of votes in 2022, is still the MLB’s all-time home run leader with 762 round-trippers. Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner, maintains the third most strikeouts in baseball history. Despite their accomplishments, the committee’s vote in December 2026 will be crucial in deciding their potential induction into the Hall of Fame.
The December 2027 ballot will mark the first opportunity for Pete Rose to be considered for induction, following his suspension from MLB being lifted after his death in September 2024. The decision will be made by the Hall of Fame’s contemporary era committee, and while Bonds and Clemens continue to have significant support, the outcome of the December 7 vote remains uncertain. Whether they can clear the 75% threshold and secure their place in Cooperstown will hinge on the committee’s evaluation, marking a final push for these legends of the game.