Beltrán, Jones, Kent inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame

Carlos Beltrán, Andruw Jones and Jeff Kent were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday in Cooperstown, New York, before an estimated crowd of 12,000 fans Source: clarin. The ceremony also featured 57 living Hall of Famers, the largest gathering of its kind.

Heritage and family

Both Beltrán and Jones paid emotional tribute to their home islands and families. Jones, the first player from Curaçao to be enshrined, called his induction a union of Cooperstown and Curaçao forever. He honored his late father, Henry Jones, saying, 'Everything he taught me had a purpose' Source: clarin. Beltrán, the sixth Puerto Rican in the Hall, declared, 'We are proud, we are a small island in the Caribbean, full of passion, love, and people with a great heart' Source: cnn.

Controversy and legacy

Beltrán did not directly address his role in the 2017 Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal, but thanked writers who voted for him and those who did not, saying he appreciated their perspective Source: clarin. He chose to wear a New York Mets cap on his plaque, explaining, 'New York shaped my life' Source: cnn. Beltrán's career includes 2,725 hits, 438 home runs, 312 stolen bases, and a 1999 Rookie of the Year award Source: cnn.